Going through any traumatic event can be extremely difficult, especially when one goes through it alone. Having the assistance of those around you can make any tough situation easier, along with the ability to form a closer bond with those individuals. In Judith Guest’s Ordinary People, after the unforeseen death of brother Buck, Conrad Jarret deals with the recent death by attempting suicide. Although unsuccessful, Conrad leans on friends he meets on the journey of his recovery. In Ordinary People by Judith Guest, Guest uses Dr. Berger and Jeannine to prove that one can transform any dire situation with the assistance of positive influences.
Within Ordinary People, a teenage boy dealing with his new life after an apparent suicide attempt receives the assistance and friend he needs in …show more content…
Berger. Because Conrad has been so depressed, he has isolated himself to the point where he feels like he has no friends, people just want to watch and see what he does next. Explaining how he feels about individuals watching him closely, Conrad states, "'Everybody looking in, to see how you're doing. [...] I never saw you out there, you know? I always saw you in the box. With me.' [...] 'What I'm saying...I guess I think of you as a friend'" (Guest 138). Since Conrad feels that no one is on his side, it produces the idea that he cannot be loved or cannot do anything right. However, after a few sessions with Dr. Berger, Conrad finally starts to feel like someone does genuinely care about him, providing him with a feeling of purpose. Not only does Dr. Berger give Conrad purpose, but he also grants Conrad a place to feel like himself and vent all the emotions he's been suppressing for so long. After discovering the death of Conrad’s friend from the hospital, Karen, Conrad completely loses his once-stable composure . Seeing this, Beger quickly explains “‘Geez, if I could get through to you, kiddo, that
Within Ordinary People, a teenage boy dealing with his new life after an apparent suicide attempt receives the assistance and friend he needs in …show more content…
Berger. Because Conrad has been so depressed, he has isolated himself to the point where he feels like he has no friends, people just want to watch and see what he does next. Explaining how he feels about individuals watching him closely, Conrad states, "'Everybody looking in, to see how you're doing. [...] I never saw you out there, you know? I always saw you in the box. With me.' [...] 'What I'm saying...I guess I think of you as a friend'" (Guest 138). Since Conrad feels that no one is on his side, it produces the idea that he cannot be loved or cannot do anything right. However, after a few sessions with Dr. Berger, Conrad finally starts to feel like someone does genuinely care about him, providing him with a feeling of purpose. Not only does Dr. Berger give Conrad purpose, but he also grants Conrad a place to feel like himself and vent all the emotions he's been suppressing for so long. After discovering the death of Conrad’s friend from the hospital, Karen, Conrad completely loses his once-stable composure . Seeing this, Beger quickly explains “‘Geez, if I could get through to you, kiddo, that