Response #3

     The article "Two Classes, Divided by 'I do'" by Jason DeParle is an article that primarily analyzes the significance of marriage and education to the widening scale of inequality. DeParle's main objective is to portray the dramatic differences between the economically stable two parent family and the strenuous conditions of a single mother family. The story develops with contrasting anecdotes in similar situations of the Faulkner's and the Schairer's. There is a drastic distinction in the amount of opportunities, emotional support, and general quality of life between the two families. The importance of education and the role of a father for a prosperous family is especially emphasized throughout the article. "Two Classes, divided by "I Do'" is an article that questions and endeavors into the whole theme of the American Dream. Therefore, it holds relevancy to the novel The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls and the overall theme of our class.
    Both Jeannette Walls and Jason DeParle's works question and endeavor into the characteristics of current inequalities throughout society, the ideology of family, and the enigma of the American Dream. Furthermore, they both use anecdotes to build an emotional connection between the reader and the families depicted in the article/novel. The style of delivery is distinctly different, but both the article and the novel are alike in this respect. The two compositions are also different in that DeParle clearly identifies the superiority of the economically stable, whereas The Glass Castle does not.
    I prefer the complexity and expressiveness of The Glass Castle. Adding on, the intricacy of Walls' stupendous journey leaves the story open for interpretation (such is the beauty of literature). However, DeParle's article holds an advantage in that it is more straightforward and relatable to the mass. The Faulkner's and Schairer's are ordinary Americans living as members of society, in complete contrast to the extremities that the Walls family endured. It can be safely said that the attributes and perspectives of the Faulkner's and Schairer's are shared by many American families, whereas it is much more difficult to grasp the outlook behind quintessential nonconformists such as Rex and Rosemary Walls.
   The correlation between "Two Classes, Divided by 'I do'"and The Glass Castle raises many questions: Are there concrete traits of the American Dream, or does it differ based on the person? Is marriage more an economical thing than an emotional one? How are we going to change this? Are the Faulkners truly happy? Where are the boundaries between conformity and nonconformity?