Ordinary Feelings in Judith Guests Ordinary People :: Judith Guest Ordinary People Essays

Ordinary Feelings in Ordinary People Ordinary People is a book that examines the flavour of a typical American family that seems to have it all together. It exposes the major conflicts among them pain, misunderstanding, hurt, pardonness, and eventually if possible healing. Conrad - with the story told mostly through his perspective, he being the angiotensin converting enzyme furthering the resulting course of events and at the same time the protagonist and antagonist ? is the chief(prenominal) character of the story. While boating on a lake with his older brother, a fierce gale picks up capsizing their boat and eventually leading to the remnant of his brother when he drowns. A failed suicide attempt by Conrad reveals how oftentimes he blames himself for the tragic turn of events and the lack of communication between him and his parents. The act of healing is painfully slow till the end. Conrad visits a psychiatrist, the conflict with his engender continues to grow and he somewhat patches up the relationship with his father. In the in truth end, Conrad learns he cannot replace his dead brother and can only be himself he is prepared for whatever might come. There are many a(prenominal) important themes and subjects addressed in the book. Most importantly is how Conrad deals with his emotions and comes to accept and forgive what has happened to him. And the author shows us that this can only be d iodine by love, support, and trust. Conrad thinks by not expressing his emotions he is less vulnerable but sooner he drifts farther apart from his family. The ordeal of attempted suicide and interference has left him feeling insecure and vulnerable and he instinctively puts up shields. Trying to appear calm and determined on the outside, he is politic very confused, angry and is afraid he slip away once again only to kill himself. He still feels responsible for his brothers death ascribable to the fact his mom doesnt want to for give him and the only way to retaliate himself is to deny, suppress, and control his feelings lest they give him away. It is not until the very end when Conrad?s father, Calvin lastly stops skirting around the subject but tells him that he loves him and that they lastly develop a sense of trust and security in one another -