Michaela’s Comments (group member since Oct 27, 2015)

Michaela’s comments from the Last but not Least group.

I don't think that all things happen on his birthday but like Allison said the irony that he rarely had a "happy" birthday. He was introduced to death on an early birthday and eventually died on his birthday. I think there is a reason that the author feels the need to make important parts of Eddies life on his birthday. Because what are the chances that someone dies exactly on their birthday and has such important moments on his birthday? The author, in my opinion, is subtly explaining that birthdays are more important than adding a year onto your age.

I think that he blue man is showing that every action has a reaction and like what Cassie said that sacrifice is in every decision and action that we take whether we realize it not. Eddies learns that there are things that he can't change and needs to let it go too and I think he learns to forgive from the blue man. Learning this affects the other interactions he has in heaven because he forgives his father and himself for leaving tala. Without the blue mm Eddie wouldn't have learned to forgive as easily. The blue mm expressed what the real meaning of heaven was, like gill said, forgiveness.

I feel that showing how important things happened on his birthday teaches the reader the importance of life. Since birthdays signify life having, pivotal moments happen on his birthday, for example meeting marguerite, going to a funeral, and his wife's accident, are all important experiences that happen on his birthday showing that although it's short life has many lessons and importance.

Had the captain not shot Eddie the story wouldn't be the same. Everything that happened to Eddie in his life affected his experiences in heaven. The captain was following his orders of leaving no men behind and couldn't sacrifice a soldier because they thought they saw someone. The captain didn't want to shatter eddies leg; he thought it would grow back and he would be healthy. Although this didn't happen the captain had Eddies best interest at heart. He even died shortly after making sure the land was safe for his men to travel. Eddies journey would've been much sooner and very different had the captain not shot him and saved him.

I feel that the captain is the most important person Eddie meets because he teaches Eddie of sacrifice and he comes to terms with the one thing that hurt him the most, his leg. By learning that there are bigger things in life other than his leg he changes his views and learns that he must sacrifice other things. For example, he sacrifices his grudges and how he felt towards his father later on so that he can make peace and move on. He learns to do this and let things go because of the captain and learning the lesson of sacrifice.

I feel that the somber tone pointed out by Maria is important and will contrast his journey from the end of his life through and will show that his life wasn't always so sad and the tone will change to be happier. This change could occur overtime while he looks back at his youth and life and show what changed him to be a different sadder soul.

The Glass Castle depicts the struggle of reality vs illusion. Although as a child Jeanette first loves the idea of a glass castle, she soon realizes that it is a fantasy, something her father never could. The castle therefore is a symbol of growing up, which her father never did. Right before she left for NYC Rex tries to convince her one more time to stay but she, being a mature young adult tries to explain to her father "you'll never build the Glass Castle." (238). The reality was that Jeanette needed to try and get out of the hole their parents had created which was the illusion that a glass castle, or impossible dream, could fix everything.

Jeanette's view of a home changes throughout the book. At first she she's the desert as her home never having a stable standard definition of home. But once the family moves into the adobe house she becomes attached and finally feels a house as her "home". For example "'When are we going home' I asked my dad once. 'Home?' 'Phoenix.'" (154). Then as they live in Welch she finds figurative homes, for example her new home is the school newspaper, which has a more lasting effect on her than any other home. She is always very cold towards any place she stays in Welch because she has already found her home in writing. Her tone and view of changes many times through the book.

Is there anything in the book that Jeanette doesn't view differently from the beginning to the end?

Yes we can almost feel bad for the narrator because she can't see how terribly she has it. We also feel angry that the parents let the children live this way. She doesn't see the horrible conditions she lived in because she was used to it, which we see as horrific and frustrating.

These are all great examples. Another is when the author describes her hustling at a bar. Not only was she underage but her father was there with her allowing a much older man to hit on her and eventually harass her. Her father later told her that everything was fine because he had make a lot of money because of her and how she distracted the man. This appeals to anger and disgust towards the father for allowing her daughter to be a pawn in his moneymaking scams. He never apologizes for it either which only makes the reader more infuriated with his terrible parenting and allowing his daughter who he "never let down" be sexually harassed and not do anything.

"The Glass Castle" is not only the title of the book but also a major symbol. It epitomizes Jeanette's maturing and the struggle between reality vs dreams. These themes carry throughout the book. Provide an example and explain how it relates to the glass castle and it's themes.

"The Glass Castle" is not only the title of the book but also a major symbol. It epitomizes Jeanette's maturing and the struggle between reality vs dreams. These themes carry throughout the book. Provide an example and explain how it relates to the glass castle and it's themes.

How does the author appeal to pathos throughout the book? Be specific and analyze please!

*New York City

How does a the tone of a subject (idea, object, etc) change in Jeanette's view from her time in the desert to her time in Welch and Nee York City? Provide specific examples!!

Also the Joshua tree is an example of symbolism. It encompasses the struggle that the children had to face, yet showed that they can't fight it and have to adapt which is how they learned to survive with such an unfortunate environment. Jeanette's ability to adapt like the Joshua tree led her to have a successful adulthood.

As well in the narrators childhood her constantly moving around and vivid memories will make her different from others as she grows up. The way her tone changes when she is angry with her father yet very quickly forgives him makes me think that eventually she will stop and grow cold to her parents, as seen in the first part of the book.

Is there a specific object that encompasses this theme and the symbol of an unfortunate childhood in "The Glass Castle"?

Provide and example of symbolism and analyze. Then explain how all the provided examples connect to a theme in The Glass Castle.