Mea Culpa: Destructive Guilt In Ordinary People

When inexplicable tragedy occurs, human nature dictates that those who are affected assume guilt. It is a common tendency, often carrying powerful and negative consequences. The novel Ordinary People by Judith Guest targets this universal truth, narrating the story of the Jarret family and the guilt-ridden path they travel after the loss of one son, and the attempted suicide of the other. Using characterization, relationships of those characters, and symbolism, Guest effectively deals with the …

…as a strength and support for one another, isolating themselves in guilt, and slowly ripping apart the familial ties. Allowing his guilt to become reflected in his tangible actions, Conrad refuses to die a painless death, deeming himself unworthy of it, and mutilating himself in a suicide attempt. All these instances convey the same message; the only achievement reached by embracing guilt is the demolition of the few precious things tragedy has yet to shatter.