Family Interactions in Jeannete Walls’ Glass Castle

Abstract

Family interactions play an important role in an individual’s development. These interactions however
play a particularly important role for many in poverty because of the propensity of such families to move
around more frequently and to face traumas together, thereby potentially relying more heavily on one
another. This kind of family dynamics is clearly illustrated in Jeannette’s Walls memoir, The Glass Castle.
Because of the particular insular environment within which Jeannette grew up, the interactions and
patterns posses much importance. Walls family can be characterized as a dysfunctional one which
details the joys and struggles of author‘s early life with crazy parents and later graduating towards
maturity. The Walls children learned to care for themselves and eventually found their way to
prosperity. The Glass Castle is truly astonishing memoir permeated by the intense love of a peculiar but
loyal family.