Jeanette's memoir : The Glass Castle is a unique memoir because although it is her story , she makes us part of her story. The Glass Castle talks about the childhood of Jeannette Walls . She goes through multiple rough experiences along with her dad--being an alcoholic-- and her mom -- stubborn and uncaring towards her children-- . Throughout memories she sets clear tones which change back and forth from optimistic to pessimistic. The tone changes because of how the memories are arranged, conflicts that were going on between Jeanette and her parents,and also the dialogue that was used.
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Jeannette and Her parents disagreed on how things were done causing many unpleasant events in the memoir making the tone unhappy. For example, "'Have I ever let you down?' he asked Brian and me and then turned and walked away. In a voice so low that Dad didn't hear him, Brian said, 'Yes'" (Walls 78). During this scene Jeannette and her brothers go to school without any food, forcing them during lunch to pretend that they are reading --instead of eating-- so that the other kids don't bother asking why they aren't eating. This scene leaves us with a sad tone because no human being likes to see or hear that children aren't getting their proper meals , specially when they are incapable of buying there own food. I also think that this makes up a sad tone because when Rex comes back with groceries he says “ have I ever let you down?” and Barian replies with a “yes” which makes us feel sad and have pity over them because as a child you should always be able to trust your parents--and they couldn't. Another scenario that sets a sad tone is , "At times I felt like I was failing Maureen, like I wasn't keeping my promise that I'd protect her-the promise I'd made to her when I held her on the way home from the hospital after she'd been born. I couldn't get her what she needed most-hot baths, a warm bed, steaming bowls of Cream of Wheat before school in the morning-but I tried to do little …show more content…
The dialogue can be sad or can be full of hatred which can easily defines what the tone is. "Mom, we can't go on living like this,’ I said. ‘It's not so bad,’ she said. Between each toe touch, she was reaching up into the air.’We haven't had anything to eat but popcorn for three days,’ I said.’You're always so negative,’ she said. ‘You remind me of my mother—criticize, criticize, criticize.’ ‘I'm not being negative,’ I said. ‘I'm trying to be realistic.’ ‘I'm doing the best I can under the circumstances, ‘she said. ‘How come you never blame your father for anything? He's no saint, you know.’”(Walls189). This Dialogue makes us feel sad for Jeannette because her mother is being so arrogant towards her children which are on verge of starvation; the dialogue evokes emotions that help with finding the tone of the passage. Another quote is, “We may not have insulation," Mom said as we all gathered around the stove, "but we have each other" (Walls 177). This quote explains that no matter what obstacles the Walls family went through, they were always there for each other. This Scenario shows us that no matter how many bad times the Walls went through with each other , they had good times which set out a calm and happy tone.Lastly, “‘I think that maybe sometimes people get the lives they want.’ ‘Are you saying homeless people want to live on the street?’ Professor Fuchs asked.
Jeannette and Her parents disagreed on how things were done causing many unpleasant events in the memoir making the tone unhappy. For example, "'Have I ever let you down?' he asked Brian and me and then turned and walked away. In a voice so low that Dad didn't hear him, Brian said, 'Yes'" (Walls 78). During this scene Jeannette and her brothers go to school without any food, forcing them during lunch to pretend that they are reading --instead of eating-- so that the other kids don't bother asking why they aren't eating. This scene leaves us with a sad tone because no human being likes to see or hear that children aren't getting their proper meals , specially when they are incapable of buying there own food. I also think that this makes up a sad tone because when Rex comes back with groceries he says “ have I ever let you down?” and Barian replies with a “yes” which makes us feel sad and have pity over them because as a child you should always be able to trust your parents--and they couldn't. Another scenario that sets a sad tone is , "At times I felt like I was failing Maureen, like I wasn't keeping my promise that I'd protect her-the promise I'd made to her when I held her on the way home from the hospital after she'd been born. I couldn't get her what she needed most-hot baths, a warm bed, steaming bowls of Cream of Wheat before school in the morning-but I tried to do little …show more content…
The dialogue can be sad or can be full of hatred which can easily defines what the tone is. "Mom, we can't go on living like this,’ I said. ‘It's not so bad,’ she said. Between each toe touch, she was reaching up into the air.’We haven't had anything to eat but popcorn for three days,’ I said.’You're always so negative,’ she said. ‘You remind me of my mother—criticize, criticize, criticize.’ ‘I'm not being negative,’ I said. ‘I'm trying to be realistic.’ ‘I'm doing the best I can under the circumstances, ‘she said. ‘How come you never blame your father for anything? He's no saint, you know.’”(Walls189). This Dialogue makes us feel sad for Jeannette because her mother is being so arrogant towards her children which are on verge of starvation; the dialogue evokes emotions that help with finding the tone of the passage. Another quote is, “We may not have insulation," Mom said as we all gathered around the stove, "but we have each other" (Walls 177). This quote explains that no matter what obstacles the Walls family went through, they were always there for each other. This Scenario shows us that no matter how many bad times the Walls went through with each other , they had good times which set out a calm and happy tone.Lastly, “‘I think that maybe sometimes people get the lives they want.’ ‘Are you saying homeless people want to live on the street?’ Professor Fuchs asked.