Forgiveness In Judith Guest's Ordinary People

Forgive But Don’t Forget Forgiveness, needed by the ones who offend but can only be given to by the ones who are offended. In Judith Guest novel Ordinary People forgiveness is needed throughout by major characters and minor ones too. Guest shows that forgiveness is needed from other before you can forgive yourself through the main character Conrad. He thinks he made an unforgivable mistakes and blames himself for the result of it but he can find forgiveness through the help of a ‘ doctor, family, and friends.
Conrad blames himself for his brothers Buck death. After Bucks death Conrad becomes very depressed and suicidal. Conrad needs to be forgiven by others before he can forgive himself.“he rolls onto his stomach, pulling the pillow tight around his head, blocking out the sharp arrows of sun that pierce through the window”(2). Guest makes this clear in her writing by using words in a negative way’s to show how Conrad feels. This should be a relaxing way to wake compared to the screaming of an alarm clock or family member, but to Conrad this is just as bad. Conrad clearly doesn’t like the morning most people would like to be woken up by the sun on their face probably one of the most enjoyable ways to wake up. This isn’t the only time That Guest uses words in a negative way. “the unmistakable shuffling shoulders-bent walk. mostly old men but some younger ones, too, in the dull, dusty-maron bathrobes, side flapping loosely, like the drooped wings of dying birds” …show more content…
Guest shows that forgiveness is needed from other before you can forgive yourself. throughout Ordinary People by major characters and minor ones too. through. He thinks he made an unforgivable mistakes and blames himself for the result of it but he can find forgiveness through the help of a doctor, family, and friends. Forgiveness, needed by the ones who offend but can only be given to by the ones who are