Ordinary People Character Analysis

In the film, Ordinary People, character Beth, is the mother of Buck and Conrad, and the wife of Calvin. Beth is simultaneously grieving the sudden loss of her oldest child Buck, and struggling with the attempted suicide of her second child, Conrad, while attempting to maintain her marital relationship with Calvin, and her sense of identity as mannerly socialite. Buck dies during an accident when the boat he and Conrad are sailing capsizes in bad weather. Conrad is able to hold on while Buck, overcome with fatigue, releases his grip on the hull of the boat and drowns. Conrad, who takes responsibility for the death of his older brother, attempts suicide and spends a short time in a mental hospital. Calvin is encouraging family therapy. The …show more content…
These activities seemingly require little thought or emotional investment. The activates may be a means to avoid experiencing feelings of grief, but they may also be a place for Beth to redirect her need to recover a lost sense family togetherness. The actions may also be a poorly executed attempt to form a bond with Conrad, by performing menial “motherly” duties, like cooking breakfast, as a segue for a deeper emotional bond. Despite the commonness of these activities, Beth may also feel as though she is doing something special for her family. Beth emphasized that she has not just made breakfast, but it is French toast. Beth is attempting to relinquish her parental role with Buck while simultaneously continuing to, or perhaps build a parental role with Conrad (p. …show more content…
Conrad attempts to help and Beth becomes angry. This is seen as Beth refusing to bond with Conrad, and avoiding feelings of grief by meticulously maintaining daily ritual. However, it can also be viewed as another attempt by Beth to solidify a motherly role in Conrad’s life, possibly recognizing that her role in his life was too limited because Beth favored Buck, and may feel is the reason Conrad attempted suicide.
According to Worden’s 4 Tasks of Mourning, Beth has accepted the reality of the loss of her child and is engaging in Task 2, with slight attempts at Tasks 3. Beth is attempting to experience feelings of grief, however, they mostly translate into expressions of anger, especially directed at Conrad. Beth enters Bucks room to look at his possessions. According to Neimeyer, exposure to memorabilia provides an opportunity for the grieving to express feelings of sadness, anger and fear surrounding the loss (p.