3: The Glass Castle 129-179

"'I hate Erma,' I told Mom.
'You have to show compassion for her,' Mom said. Erma's parents had died when she was young, Mom explained, and she had been shipped off to one relative after another who had treated her like a servant. Scrubbing clothes on a washboard until her knuckles bled-that was the preeminent memory of Erma's childhood. The best thing that Grandpa did for her when they got married was buy her an electric washing machine, but whatever joy it had once given her was long gone.
'Erma can't let go of her misery,' Mom said. 'It's all she knows.' She added that you should never hate anyone, even your worst enemies. 'Everyone has something good about them,' she said. 'You have to find the redeeming quality and love the person for that.'
'Oh yeah?' I said. 'How about Hitler? What was his redeeming quality?'
'Hitler loved dogs,' Mom said without hesitation." (Walls 144)

I liked this excerpt because it shows the Mom's great understanding and knowledge of humans. Jeannette's mom said that "You should never hate anyone, even your worst enemies." (Walls 144). Jeannette's mom is brilliant and has learned to accept all types of people. She teaches her children the importance of acceptance and even though she has gone through many hard times herself, she always thinks on the bright side of things and does not get down on people. I think that the mom is so accepting because she knows what it feels like to be judged since she has been judged her whole life. The mom does not want anyone else to have to feel how horrible it feels to be simply hated. The authors message is that people are not solely bad people, everyone has something to give. She has carried through the important lessons of life to her children who are also very understanding despite how badly people treat them. Their family has great morals and do not rely on money to let them live their lives happily and without anger.
Jeannette's mom knows that Erma has suffered her whole life. She says that 'Erma can't let go of her misery.' (Walls 144) She knows that she can't provide a much better life then Erma had for her own kids but does not want her kids to have the same attitude that Erma has now that her life is better. Jeannette's mom wants her kids to have an optimistic view on life even if their lives are not perfect. People can still have good attitudes and do not need material goods to stay happy. The Walls have the tight bond of their family which has molded them into accepting, happy people.