Symbolism In The Glass Castle

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The most distinctive symbol is the title, The Glass Castle, which can also be seen as a motif as it is brought up numerous times throughout the memoir. The Glass Castle is merely an illusion introduced to the Walls children by their father, Rex. The project included floor plans and blueprints of a castle entirely made of glass and dependent on solar panels for electricity. At a young and naïve age, the Walls children’s innocence led them to believe their father would built The Glass Castle. Often times, it seemed Rex himself believed he would build it. The very tenacious grip on this idea portrays Rex’s desire to be a fatherly figure: to provide and take care of his family. Ultimately, Rex’s objective underlies the theme of self-sufficiency. …show more content…
Overall, the house was in poor conditions; there were holes in the roof which let in rain, the electrical appliances shocked them, it had no indoor plumbing, and in winter the children suffered because there was no insulation. Jeannette was only 10 years old at this time, and her brother, Brian, was nine. However, despite the situation the children were put in, they continued to remain hopeful for the Glass Castle. Their innocence persisted them to dig a pit behind their house as a foundation for the castle. Their determination showed but it was not acknowledged for the pit was later used as dump for their garbage. As the children began to realize the glass castle is merely a fantasy they would never obtain, the reality became clearer: they must let go of this fantasy to mature into adulthood. The Glass Castle has effectively shown the Walls children a clear distinction between fantasy and reality. Only when the children let go of the fantasy, will they truly mature. By accepting reality, Jeannette and her sibling learn that self-sufficiency is needed to gain control their lives. If Jeannette wanted a change, she should not depend on her father or family, but rather herself: “Dad was making no visible progress on the Glass Castle, and I knew that the can of yellow paint would sit on the porch unless I undertook the job myself” (158). In conclusion, Rex
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