Argumentative Essay On The Glass Castle

The title of the book, The Glass Castle, is repeated throughout the book as a dream that her father had. The family knew that he would never actually build the castle, but her father still talked about it like he would actually do it, and Jeanette would believe him. Jeanette's father made her many promises, but he did not follow through with the promises. Whenever she questioned him about the promises he made to her he justs says, “Have I ever let you down?” Jeanette knows that he had let her down but she does not say it, and she had “heard that question at least two hundred times” (Walls 210). For example, for her birthday Jeanette asks her father to stop drinking. He promises her that he would do anything for her “if it’s humanly

A growing problem in schools around the country is the topic of censoring books from children based on parents and teachers’ beliefs on what’s appropriate for students. There’s no doubt in my mind that The Glass Castle is filled with adult themes not primarily written for a younger audience. The Glass Castle is a memoir written by Jeannette Walls’ life, largely her childhood with her parents and siblings, and her breaking away from her parents to become a relatively successful adult. The novel contains events of sexual assault and substance abuse, Jeannette’s parents raise her and her siblings horribly and there’s plenty of violence scattered throughout the book- Jeannette tries to shoot another child from her school at one point. However, this doesn’t mean this book should be banned from schools. This book should be allowed to be read by at least high school students not only because of how well-written and a good read it is, but the various lessons about life it offers to the reader, largely through Jeannette’s father.

First, the author argues, “When engaging in critical literacy, readers question reality and entertain multiple perspectives about particular topics, attitudes, and behaviors” (Graff). Challenged and banned books are beneficial to readers. These banned books help students evaluate more difficult pieces of literature, which could be used in the future. Jennifer Graff states, “...Book censorship helps us think critically about the power of the written word as well as the relationships between individuals, texts, and contexts, to paraphrase Lawrence Sipe (1999)” (Graff). Banned and challenged books allow readers to see the truth--from the past, future, or present--written by the author. Readers can apply these ideas to real-life situations successfully. In the article, On Reading and Sharing Banned Books, the topic of “...heightened sensitivity about what and how we say things,” and needing, “ongoing conversations about how literature can be part of our lives without undue stress and controversy” is exposed (Graff). Books are written for many reasons, to inform persuade, entertain, and relax; however, with books censorship, finding relaxing or entertaining books is extremely difficult. Without censorship, readers could easily discuss these now controversial topics without worry. The purpose of the book, good moral, and potentially

The main reason was because the book mentioned discussions of being drunk, smoking cigarettes, profanity, and using God’s name in vain. Criticizer Diana Verm stated "The book had a bunch of very bad language in it. It shouldn’t be in there because it’s offending people.” Altom Verm also said "It's just all kinds of filth.” Just because you find “offensive” terms in the book, doesn’t mean it has to be barred from everybody. Alton Verm has stated he hasn’t read the book. (yourhoustonnews.com Kassia Meck) His only reason for wanting it to be banned is because he finds it “too offensive.” I find it nefarious that a book can be banned just because it doesn’t fit someone’s ideal opinion. The ALA states “The ALA promotes the freedom to choose or the freedom to express one's opinions even if that opinion might be considered unorthodox or unpopular” (ALA mission statement) This just goes to show that what you believe, shouldn’t have an impact on others. I don’t believe a book should be banned from a school district for those

Children are affected by their parents when they become neglected and don’t come through for them. In the Glass Castle, a memoir written by Jeannette Walls she depicts what happens when her siblings and her are all let down, time after time, again with their parents. Their father, Rex is alway making it seem like he never does, he is continuously saying “ Have I ever let you down”. Throughout her lifetime he has only came through a handful of times. Jeanette is the only one who keeps faith in her father, after he is always letting them down. As the successful memoir escalates, Rex claims to come through for his family with the odd jobs that he gets, but still continues to let them down by spending their money on unnecessary things.

Jeannette’s family is not your average American family. Her father was a raging alcoholic who lost too many jobs to count and her mother was an adrenaline addicted painter, who never wanted to work

Jeannette begins to rediscover her optimism right away, noting things such as “New Yorkers, I figured, just pretended to be unfriendly” (Walls 246) and “Our apartment was bigger than the entire house on Little Hobart Street, and way fancier” (Walls 247) about the apartment Lori and her rented. Jeannette was also able to chase her dreams of being a journalist and writer in NYC. “I’d never been happier in my life” (Walls 248) she said about her first journalism job, despite the fact that she was overworked and underpaid. Her life continues to get better as she attends Barnard College, moves on to bigger, better jobs, and moves in with her stable boyfriend on Park Avenue. When her parents move to NYC and visit her, she is once again able to use positively connotated words towards them, finding positives in her mother like “her face had a healthy pink glow, and her eyes were clear and bright” (Wells 278). She was also able to reflect on her relationship with her father, saying that she “could not imagine what my life would be […] without him. As awful as he could be, I always knew he loved me in a way no one else ever had” (Walls 279). In the end, the book jumps five years into the future with Jeannette inviting her family to spend Thanksgiving at her home; Thanksgiving, which was a light, happy reunion, ends with the family

Jeannette had a very challenging and awful childhood. Jeannette is forced to be independent and take care of herself in ways most children should not. She realizes at a young age that her life is unpredictable. Early in the memoir,

“Mom frowned at me… that gives it its beauty.” (p. 38) When Jeannette devises a plan to uproot the Joshua tree, which has grown sideways in the direction of the constant wind that passes over it, her mother quickly dismisses the idea. Rose Mary claims that the tree is beautiful not because it grows straight like the other trees, but rather because its struggle defines it and makes it unique. Rose Mary is typically unwilling to tamper with nature and she is particularly drawn to the unique form of the Joshua Tree. Through the figure of the tree a young Jeannette learns an important lesson about non-conformity.

In March of 2005, author Jeanette Walls published her second book, The Glass Castle, a memoir of her adventurous childhood family adventures. While The Glass Castle may have not been Jeanette’s first book, she had been writing since she was in middle school and showed a passion for the subject. However, unlike others, Jeanette has an interesting yet beautiful story about how she became the woman she is today. From reckless driving in the western desert at a young age to almost being raped multiple times, Jeanette’s memoir is a touching work of art that has touched and continues to touch the lives of so many. With that being said, it is a common controversial topic of whether or not Rex and Rose Mary were capable parents. While some may say

Her family has food, a home, and they have a stable income. These circumstances begin to diminish as the story continues. They experience one problem after another, constantly being knocked off their feet. Even when a luxury came their way, it seemed to disappear faster than it appeared. For example, when they moved into their house on Little Hobart street it seemed withstandable However, she explains, “During on particular fierce rainstorm that spring, the ceiling grew so fat it burst” (Walls 153). As the story proceeds, the determination to work to support their family that the parents once held deteriorates just as the house will continue to. As they sink deeper into poverty, Jeannette decides it’s up to her to mold the life she

The book goes through different stories including the terrible, and good things young Francie discovers while growing up. Despite the hardships life throws her way, she always finds a way to overcome it. Along the way Francie discovers a love for writing and reading. In school she loves to write, until a teacher gives her a bad grade on a piece of writing. After her father had died, she began writing truthful stories, ones about the terrible things in the world instead of

Publishers have then stated arguments against the clear statement between censorship and sensitivity. They declared there is two different states that involves the prohibition of a book, that might not be funded by the right reasons.

Once she became a high schooler, things started to become more pleasant. Jeannette joined the school newspaper and met Chuck Yeager, dad’s idol. She became more popular at school and managed to accept life there until the idea of New York came along. As soon as the idea hit, it was pursued by the children were going to move there to get away from their lives in

Censorship is made to help but in this it hurts.“A book is a loaded gun in the house next door. Burn it. Take the shot from the weapon. Breach man's mind.” This quote shows that they didn’t want people reading the books and finding out anything of their true past. Ethos