Rex Walls: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
When visiting the local Zoo, what unique childhood experience does Rex give to Jeannette?
He lets her pet / get her hand licked by a Cheetah
Fire is constantly present throughout Jeannette's childhood, in what way does it symbolize her childhood as a whole?
Fire is unpredictable and destructive. Just like her family's structure, it is dangerous and chaotic yet also beautiful and powerful. It can quickly get out of control if not handled with care.
The book opens up on Jeannette's oldest memory, a traumatizing scene which takes place in her family's kitchen at 3 years old. What happens in this moment?
Jeannette sets herself on fire while cooking hot dogs alone.
What delicious yellow snack, occasionally dipped in sugar, do Lori and Jeannette enjoy when the family begins to run out of food?
Sticks of Margarine.
Rex and Rose Mary's style of parenting can oftentimes be seen as... unconventional. In what way does Rex help teach Jeannette so swim?
He continuously drops her in the water unassisted, forcing her to learn how to swim so she doesn't drown.
What desire do Jeannette's rocks symbolize in the memoir?
After getting drunk on Christmas day and ruining Christmas mass, what does Rex use his brand new lighter to set on fire?
The family Christmas tree and presents.
What do the Walls children sleep in when they do not have any beds?
Cardboard boxes.
After believing she saw something crawling on her bedroom floor, Jeannette goes to her dad for comfort. What father-daughter activity does Rex come up with as a way to comfort Jeannette?
They go demon hunting.
How does Rex "claiming" the stars like Christopher Columbus reflect his views on himself and his family as a whole?
Rex believing the stars are his to claim shows how he believes himself and his children to be exceptional and "better" than those around them. They also show his lofty and impossible dreams, literally reaching for the stars rather than staying grounded in reality.
Which event (after the hot dog event) caused Jeannette to believe that fire was "out to get her"?
When the motel she and her family were staying at burned down.
In their new big house in Phoenix, what does the Walls family do to keep it cool without AC or fans?
They leave all of the windows and doors open at night.
After buying Brian a comic book, how does Rex spend the rest of his son's birthday with him?
He takes him to the Green Lantern and gives Brian's comic book to the same prostitute he slept with.
What does the book's namesake, The Glass Castle, represent to the Walls family?
The Glass Castle represents the Walls family's hopes, hopes which they cling onto despite seeming impossible and unachievable. It represents Jeannette's naïve belief in her father and all of his broken promises.
After becoming fascinated by fire, Jeannette starts to light matches for fun. What valuable possession of hers does she melt as a result of playing with matches?
Her favorite doll, TinkerBell.
How does the Walls family deal with insects inside of their house? (Not the roaches)
They let lizards and birds live inside their house to eat the bugs.
During one year, Rex gifts his children their own stars for Christmas, Lori choosing Betelgeuse and Brian choosing Rigel. What star did Jeannette choose?
She did not choose a star, she chose the planet Venus.
The Joshua Tree is a tree which grows with the direction of the wind rather than straight up. It's described as looking mangled and chaotic, yet her mother says that its for this reason that it's beautiful. In what way does the Joshua Tree symbolize Jeannette herself?
Just like Jeannette, the Joshua Tree had to experience hardship and dysfunction while growing up, and just like the Joshua Tree, Jeannette's difficulties helped shape who she grew up to be: someone who's strong and beautiful.
At one point in the story, Rex happens to be walking by whilst Brian is trapped in a shed that's on fire. How did this fire start?
Brian and Jeannette were mixing various liquids together inside of the shed.
What does Rex use to fix the various Termite holes popping up around the house?
Empty beer cans.