Search for Identity in Judith Guests Ordinary People :: Judith Guest Ordinary People Essays

Search for Identity in Ordinary People   When we are young, we jazz life by the day. In our preteen and teenage years, the process of self discovery begins. For some people, this could take years. For others, it could happen within a week. No matter how people discover themselves, who they really are, and what they stand behind, eitherbody goes through it. oddly the characters in the book Ordinary People by Judith Guest. As they assay through death, guilt, and a lack of understanding Calvin, Beth and Conrad eventually discover their legitimate identities.       While dealing with their source major struggle death, Calvin, Conrads father, Beth, Conrads mother, and Conrad begin their driveway to self discovery. They all deal with Conrads suicide attempt in antithetic ways. Calvin is the most concerned person or so Conrad.   Hows going it going? School. Swimming. Everything approve? Yeah, fine. Same as yesterday. What does that mean? A fa int smile. It means you solicit me that every day. Sorry. He smiles, too. I like things neat. (11)   Calvin is very concerned about Conrads well-being after his suicide attempt. Every move or execution Conrad makes, Calvin is there to question it or question Conrads health. Conrad on the other hand, is nidus on convalescent from the incident. He is mainly focused on recovering from the mental damage he has caused himself and trying to begin his new life. but he cannot relax, because today is a Target Date. Tuesday, September 30. One month, to the day, that he has been home. And what are you doing Jarrett? Asking weird questions like From what? Toward what? Questions without answers. Undermining. A serious mourning (4).   After coming out of the hospital, Conrad is forced to relearn how to deal with every day situations. Learning how to establish routines and manage his own life is Conrads first step on his way to recovery and self-discovery. Beth deals with Conrads suicide attempt in a very different way, she is very enclosed and in a constant state of denial. This is just the first of many actions until she reveals her true colors. leave alone you talk to him this morning? About the clothes. Hes got a closet full of suitable things and he goes off every day looking like a bum, Cal (7).