Generational shift and the American Dream in the Novels of Jeannette Walls

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. Jeannette Walls and her family saga in consideration of the American Dream
2.1 The American Dream: A Short Historical Background
2.2 Jeannette Walls- a brief biography
2.3 “Half Broke Horses”
2.4 “The Glass Castle: A Memoir”

3. The development of Lily Casey’s character
3.1 Her childhood and her parents’ influence on her education
3.2 Lily on her way to be an early feminist
3.3 Lily’s marriage to Jim
3.4 Lily - a possible role model for other women
3.5 The relationship between mother and daughter and the family

4. Rex and Rose Mary’s methods of education and values of life- their way of bringing up their four children in “The Glass Castle
4.1 The relationship between Rex and Rose Mary including their visions and hopes for the family
4.2 Symbols and metaphors in Rex’s and Rose Mary’s world
4.3 The parents’ attitude towards status, education and work
4.4 Jeannette’s preposterous childhood between weaponry, alcohol and unfulfilled wishes for freedom
4.5 “The Glass Castle” as a symbol of the American Dream

5. Conclusion
5.1 Generational shift concerning educational concepts of Lily, Rose Mary
and Jeannette
5.2 How the American Dream comes to reality in both novels

6. My personal comment

7. Bibliography

8. Appendix