The Glass Castle Characters

Billy Deel

A boy three years older than Jeannette, who lives with his dad, a drunk. He insults Jeannette when he compares their fathers, and repeatedly claims to be her boyfriend, much to her annoyance. Later he attempts to assault her while she's trying to play hide-and-seek.

Ernie Goad

A boy who acts like it's his sworn mission to drive the Walls family out of Welsh. He taunts "Garbage! You live in garbage 'cause you are garbage!" Brian and Jeannette attack him with rocks in the Battle of Little Hobart Street, and celebrate his defeat.

Rex Walls

Husband to Rose Mary, and father of Lori, Jeannette, Brian, and Maureen. He struggles with his alcoholism, often at the expense of his family.

Dinitia Hewitt

A girl who initially bullies Jeannette. After she sees Jeannette carry home one of her neighbors who was scared by a dog, she hangs back. The two later visit the pool together.

Miss Jeanette Bivens

A high school English teacher, and the faculty adviser for the school newspaper, The Maroon Wave. She convinced Rex to earn his diploma, and he named Jeannette after her.

Eric

Jeannette's first husband. Rose Mary asks Jeannette to borrow a million dollars from him to buy Uncle Jim's land. She leaves him a year after her father dies, saying "he was a good man, but not the right one for me."

John

Jeannette's second husband, and the father of 15-year-old Jessica, from his previous marriage. Proposes a toast to Rex at the Thanksgiving dinner.

Uncle Stanley

Lives with their Grandpa. His "wanking off" prevents Jeannette from wanting to bathe at their house.

Professor Fuchs

One of Jeannette's favorite teachers. She asks her students whether they think homelessness is the result of drug abuse and misguided entitlement programs, or because of cuts in social-service programs and the failure to create economic opportunity for the poor. The professor shames Jeannette, asking "What do you know about about the hardships and obstacles that the underclass faces?"

Erma

Rex's mother. "An old woman who's had a tough life." She has racist sentiments, and the kids grow to dislike her. Dislike turns to hate when Jeannette finds her touching Brian.

Mountain Goat

Rex's nickname for Jeannette. Originating from the fact that she never fell down when they were climbing mountains.

Grandma Smith

Rose Mary and Uncle Jim's mother. Jeannette remembers her for how she'd wake everyone up at dawn shouting "rise and shine, everybody!" when they stayed at her house. And also for her hot Cream of Wheat.

Lori Walls

The first child. She's closer to her mother, Rose Mary, and similarly aspires to be an artist. She's the first to leave for New York, where she becomes an illustrator.

Maureen Walls

The fourth and final child. She's distant from the family during her childhood, and prefers to hang around with her friends. When she's older she ends up stabbing her mother, and later leaves for California.

Chuck Yeager

The man Rex admired above all others. Jeannette has the chance to interview him after he gives a speech at Welsh High, so her dad helps her come up with questions to ask him. The fact that she's allowed to interview him makes Jeannette popular among her peers.

Mr. Becker

The owner of Becker's Jewel Box, and the man who gives Jeannette her first real job. He hires her for $40 a week, and doesn't trust her alone with the diamond rings in one of the display cases.

Jeannette Walls

The second child, the author, and narrator of The Glass Castle. She's the child with the most faith in her father, aspires to become a journalist, and goes to college in NY.

Brian Walls

The third child, and the only son of Rex and Rose Mary. He is especially close to Jeannette, and resents their father's drinking habits. He grows up to become a cop, and has a daughter named Veronica.

Ginnie Sue Pastor

The town whore, who has 9 kids. Jeannette visits her house one day and picks a chicken clean in exchange for some chicken rolls. Her visit causes her to realize that whoring puts food on the table.

Rose Mary Walls

Wife to Rex, and mother of Lori, Jeannette, Brian, and Maureen. She is a licensed teacher, but prefers to pursue her career as an artist.