The Similarity Between Two Children

The main characters in The Glass Castle and "A Mother in Mannville", Jeanette and Jerry respectively, are similar to each other, despite the fact of their very different upbringing. Jeanette had both parents and siblings whereas Jerry was an orphan and alone. Even though they clearly had completely different experiences growing up, both were raised in emotionally detached environments, both grew into independent children and both longed for love and care.

To begin with, Jeanette and Jerry were both brought up in challenging environments, lived in poverty and lacked parental attention. Since Jeanette’s parents didn’t have stable jobs or a source of income, the family lived in a shabby house, or rather, shelters. Rex and Rosemary Walls were so selfish and self-centered that they took no responsibility of taking care of children. Likewise, Jerry, an orphan in rags, had been raising himself in a remote orphanage since he was 4. Jerry's situation could be better developed.

Consequently, both of the children developed a strong independence as they grew up. Jeanette cooked for herself from the age of three and she carefully explained her method. Because the pan was too heavy for her, she poured the water over and over again into the pan but never asked for help. She didn’t cry after a severe burning.  Jerry also exhibited a strong independent streak. He earned money himself by chopping wood and delivering milk. The writer in the story was astonished by his “splendid” pile of chopped wood which he keep on doing for a long time in orphanage. Jerry also had to look after younger children in orphanage even when he was still a small boy.

  

Due to their lack of parental attention, both children are eager for love and care. Jeanette enjoyed the days in hospital and would have liked to live there forever. The “delicious” meals served in hospital and the frequency of sheet changing satisfied her well. She even got excited when the nurse gave her a piece of gum. As for Jerry, he made simple excuses to come and sit with the author, and even waited until late night when the author forgot him. He also enjoyed the intimate relationship with her dog, Pat.

Leo Tolstoy once put it, all happy families are happy alike, all unhappy families are unhappy in their own way. But after taking all these factors into account, I had to say that Jeanette and Jerry are alike in aspect to background, personality and desire regardless of the kind of place they were brought up.