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Coming Of Age In Joseph Conrad's Ordinary People

678 Words3 Pages

Surviving through the death of a loved one, especially a brother is not ordinary. Surviving once again through a suicide attempt is not ordinary. Conrad has already faced more than a teenager has should, being forced to grow up even more than he is able to so he can cope with the pain. This can also be seen with Calvin who is also trying to cope with a failing marriage and keeping his son alive. The stories show just how mirrored the two men are in their ways of action through their reversal of the coming of age story. A coming of age story is the character in the story goes through a life altering situation forcing them to grow up along the way to find comfort throughout the situation. However in Ordinary People, Conrad and Calvin have already …show more content…

Burger even though both were opposed to seeing him at first. For Conrad, seeing Burger is him being able to have a friend who can motivate him and not bring up relapsing memories of his brother. Burger is that someone neutral in every situation to understand and impose this new control that Conrad has found on what can trigger him at any moment. Conrad finds comfort by coming to Burger who is able to pull him out of his depression and help him to not blame himself so much. From personal experience, Burger is what every person needs in their life a way to vent without being criticized for their views on what is happening in the world around them. On the other hand, when Calvin goes to Burger it is more a turning point in the book as Calvin beings to mirror Conrad’s actions. Seeing Burger was the first step where he needed to discuss the bottled up feelings that he was hiding due to his wife neglecting anyone but herself in this time of need. Calvin was not happy and wouldn’t be if he continued to be with Beth due to the same reasons Conrad was facing. She couldn’t love them the way both of them needed to be loved by their mother and wife in this darkened period of

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