Ordinary People Character Analysis Essay
Hailey Matthews
McNick
AP Literature and Composition
12 October 2017
Ordinary People Analysis Judith Guest’s Ordinary People conveys the complex emotional and physical hardships that can arise from an unexpected tragedy among a seemingly average family. The development of seventeen-year-old Conrad Jarrett, the book’s protagonist, is dire in determining how his family and friends respond to the death of his brother, Jordan. The evolution of Conrad’s character throughout the novel provides insight on the five stages of grief and the multitude of ways they can be experienced. Though teeming with pivotal moments in Jarrett’s development, one instance in particular, the death of a close friend, Karen Aldrich, is significant in determining his choice to continue to live with grief, or die without exposure to feeling. Karen’s death is indicative of Conrad’s shift towards dependency on others, anticipated …show more content…
release of emotion, and ultimate self-awareness. Post-hospitalization, Conrad’s subconscious thoughts convey the resentfulness felt in situations where he feels coddled.
Just a month upon release, Conrad’s outlook on life reveals his mindset on psychological help from Dr. Tyrone Berger. This is demonstrated within a chunk of Berger’s and Conrad’s earliest dialogue when Conrad is asked what he is doing at the session and responds with “...I had to come,” (41). Though his father, Calvin, presses him into seeing a psychiatrist, Conrad’s reluctance to depend on someone slowly diminishes as his time with Dr, Berger increases. The emotional outburst experienced after Karen Aldrich's death introduces a road with two paths into Conrad’s life—one in which he attempts suicide for the second time, and another where he reaches for emotional support. The latter is chosen when he calls out to Berger, overwhelmed with emotion, “I need to see you,” (219). Conrad’s unwillingness to rely on others in a time of need dissipates after Karen’s death when he makes the necessary choice to count on Dr. Berger for emotional
consolation. The death of his brother and his preceding attempt at suicide are what manifest Conrad’s tendency to suppress any emotion that manifests negative thoughts. Calvin mentions that neither Beth, Conrad’s mother, nor Conrad himself, cried at Jordan’s funeral. This insinuates that Conrad represses emotion during times in which he should feel the most. The opposite is displayed, after Karen’s death, when Berger admits that it might help Conrad to, “...let it out,” (221). The emotional outburst that follows up this comment is powerful enough to compensate for any lost grieving for his brother, and his fresh sorrow in regards to the loss of Karen. Conrad’s habit of holding in any negative feelings
McNick
AP Literature and Composition
12 October 2017
Ordinary People Analysis Judith Guest’s Ordinary People conveys the complex emotional and physical hardships that can arise from an unexpected tragedy among a seemingly average family. The development of seventeen-year-old Conrad Jarrett, the book’s protagonist, is dire in determining how his family and friends respond to the death of his brother, Jordan. The evolution of Conrad’s character throughout the novel provides insight on the five stages of grief and the multitude of ways they can be experienced. Though teeming with pivotal moments in Jarrett’s development, one instance in particular, the death of a close friend, Karen Aldrich, is significant in determining his choice to continue to live with grief, or die without exposure to feeling. Karen’s death is indicative of Conrad’s shift towards dependency on others, anticipated …show more content…
release of emotion, and ultimate self-awareness. Post-hospitalization, Conrad’s subconscious thoughts convey the resentfulness felt in situations where he feels coddled.
Just a month upon release, Conrad’s outlook on life reveals his mindset on psychological help from Dr. Tyrone Berger. This is demonstrated within a chunk of Berger’s and Conrad’s earliest dialogue when Conrad is asked what he is doing at the session and responds with “...I had to come,” (41). Though his father, Calvin, presses him into seeing a psychiatrist, Conrad’s reluctance to depend on someone slowly diminishes as his time with Dr, Berger increases. The emotional outburst experienced after Karen Aldrich's death introduces a road with two paths into Conrad’s life—one in which he attempts suicide for the second time, and another where he reaches for emotional support. The latter is chosen when he calls out to Berger, overwhelmed with emotion, “I need to see you,” (219). Conrad’s unwillingness to rely on others in a time of need dissipates after Karen’s death when he makes the necessary choice to count on Dr. Berger for emotional
consolation. The death of his brother and his preceding attempt at suicide are what manifest Conrad’s tendency to suppress any emotion that manifests negative thoughts. Calvin mentions that neither Beth, Conrad’s mother, nor Conrad himself, cried at Jordan’s funeral. This insinuates that Conrad represses emotion during times in which he should feel the most. The opposite is displayed, after Karen’s death, when Berger admits that it might help Conrad to, “...let it out,” (221). The emotional outburst that follows up this comment is powerful enough to compensate for any lost grieving for his brother, and his fresh sorrow in regards to the loss of Karen. Conrad’s habit of holding in any negative feelings