Difficult Circumstances and Strength of Character in The Glass Castle and Under an Afghan Sky Anonymous 12th Grade

In life, humans are faced with many challenges and though finding a solution is significant, it is how we deal with the aftermath of these situations that are of utmost importance. Afflictions are bound to happen as they are inevitable in life. Although such obstacles can often induce feelings of hurt and betrayal, such obstacles often teach valuable lessons. It is these traumatic experiences that cause growth and understanding in due time. Jeannette Walls in The Glass Castle learns from her capricious childhood that she can only rely on herself and that she must leave her neglectful parents if she wants stability in life. Likewise, Mellissa Fung in Under an Afghan Sky uses her experience as a captive to grow from her ordeal. While the protagonists of the two memoirs differ in their own experience, both explore the overcoming of grievance by turning it into a positive experience. Because the protagonists in The Glass Castle and Under an Afghan Sky undergo extenuating circumstances that force their lives to be at risk, Jeannette Walls and Mellissa Fung prove that overcoming hardships is achieved through inner strength resulting from resilience, determination and compassion, allowing for triumph over adversity.

The women in both...