Ordinary People 2

Jay Lampkin Death, guilt, and forgiveness are experienced by everyone in life. In the novel Ordinary People, Judith Guest explores these episodes of life extensively through Beth, Calvin, Conrad, and Buck Jarrett. Buck, Conrad’s older brother, died in a boating accident. Beth, Calvin, and Conrad Jarrett all must encounter, and deal with emotions of loss, guilt, and forgiveness in order to accept Bucks death. Beth Jarrett, Conrad’s mother and Calvin’s wife, has …

…is the only thing one can count on to give them strength for that endurance. Conrad finally learned to express his emotions and became a much happier person. Death, guilt, and forgiveness are experienced by everyone, but with these also comes happiness, laughter, and friendship. Calvin and Conrad both learned this lesson, and even Beth did in her own way. This family learned to accept Bucks death, and learned to forgive and love one another.