In The Glass Castle, the Walls children go through significant trials throughout the duration of their childhood. Because they are so young, it takes years before they realize that they are being treated poorly by their parents. While a discussion of the themes of guilt and redemption, as mentioned in this question, is definitely valid, a third complementary and interconnected theme of forgiveness is applicable to this discussion and perhaps even necessary.

More specifically, a pattern of emotional behaviors winds through many of the interactions between Jeanette and her parents (her father, Rex, in particular): first, Jeanette experiences a guilt trip intended to make her feel bad for doubting the situation at hand; then, as she matures, Jeanette finds ways to forgive her parents for their damaging parenting; and finally, through the long and arduous task of forgiving her parents, Jeanette can let go of some of her resentment inspired by the guilt and enjoy a sense of redemption, which frees her from much of the negative feelings associated with the guilt.

The memoir The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls chronicles her calamitous childhood created by her often abusive and neglectful parents. Guilt and redemption are repeated themes throughout the memoir, as Walls finds ways to view her childhood and her parents through the perspective of love, though sometimes with frustration. Walls often expresses having survivor’s guilt: she was able to emerge from her childhood and become a successful, healthy, and productive adult. This is something she did by focusing on herself and her own survival; on the other hand, her youngest sister, Maureen, was diagnosed with schizophrenia, something that may have been exacerbated by this abusive and unstable childhood, something that causes Walls much guilt. Walls’s own redemption is visible throughout the book in her constant refusal to dwell on any self-pity and her determination to treat her parents with love and never to blame them. By viewing her deeply unstable and abusive childhood through the gaze of one who became very independent and self-sufficient because of it, she’s able to find redemption as an individual.