Detachment Issues Of Conrad In The Novel Ordinary People By Judith Guest

Ordinary People is Judith Guest's first novel. Published in 1976. Ordinary people is a Psychological Fiction. The story took place in Lake Forest, Illinois, the time period was in the 1970’s. The story was told from a third person omniscient and objective point of view.

Tormented by guilt following the death of his older brother Buck in a sailing accident, alienated teenager Conrad Jarrett attempts suicide. Returning home following an extended stay in a psychiatric hospital. Conrad tries to deal with his mental anguish and also reconnect with his mother Beth. She who has grown cold and angry, and his emotionally wounded father, Calvin with the help of his psychiatrist Dr. Berger.

Conrad is the protagonist of the novel. He is the youngest son of Calvin and Beth Jarrett; his older brother, Buck, died in a sailing accident before the novel's plot begins. Calvin, who is called Cal throughout the novel,and who is also the protagonist of the novel, is father to Conrad and Buck and husband to Beth Jarrett. A childhood spent in an orphanage fuels Cal's deep desire to care and provide for his family, and is a major factor in his eventual decision to become a lawyer.

Despite his material comfort, Cal harbors a deep sense of responsibility for both of his sons' misfortunes. Beth is mother to Conrad and Buck and wife to Cal Jarrett. She is the envy of many characters in the novel; she is physically attractive, driven, and a perfectionist. Her reaction to hardships tightly controlled, and usually leads her to conceal her feelings. She is emotionally distant from Conrad (he describes her as a 'deeply personal person'), and from the rest of her family as well. Dr. Berger, Conrad's psychiatrist. He is wildly different from Dr. Crawford or any of the other staff members from the hospital in which Conrad was kept for three months.

Though off-putting in his appearance and mannerisms, Berger's simultaneously relaxed and confrontational approach help Conrad recognize the difficulty and benefits of healthy relationships. Lazenby also known as Joe is one of Conrad's oldest friends; the two have known each other since early childhood, and both are members of their school's swim team. Besides Cal, he is the character who is most proactive in his attempts to help Conrad recover. Unfortunately Conrad spends much of his time distancing himself from Lazenby, which puts considerable strain on their friendship.