Ordinary People and Hamlet Final Exam Study Guide

Context, Setting, and Background of Ordinary People

The novel Ordinary People takes place in Lake Forest, Illinois, during the 1970s. This setting provides the backdrop for the lives of the Jarrett family as they navigate the aftermath of a catastrophic family tragedy. At the start of the novel, the protagonist, Conrad Jarrett, has recently returned home from a psychiatric hospital where he was receiving treatment. It is noted that he has been home for exactly one month at the beginning of the story after having been away to recover from a suicide attempt.

Family Dynamics and Parental Perspectives: Calvin versus Beth

One of the central conflicts in the novel is the stark difference in how Calvin and Beth Jarrett approach parenthood and their son Conrad's unique problems. Their parenting styles and reactions to the family’s grief are fundamentally opposed. Calvin is depicted as an emotional, patient, and empathetic father who desperately wants to understand Conrad's feelings. He is a natural listener and spends a significant amount of time worrying about his son. Conversely, Beth is portrayed as distant, emotionally cold, and heavily focused on maintaining outward appearances. She is deeply uncomfortable discussing emotions and avoids dealing with the family’s underlying problems, preferring instead to move on without dwelling on the past.

In terms of their marriage, Calvin and Beth identify very different problems. Calvin would argue that the primary issue is a lack of communication and the inability to share emotions openly. He feels the family needs to talk through the past to heal. Beth, however, would say the problem lies in the fact that Calvin spends too much time focusing on Conrad and dwelling on the tragic loss of their other son, Buck. She believes that the focus should be on the future rather than the past. Before they were married, a character named Bacon gave Calvin a specific warning regarding Beth: he warned that Beth is not a "sharer" and that Calvin would eventually find himself doing all the emotional sharing in the relationship alone.

Calvin’s Identity and Approach to Fatherhood

Calvin's approach to parenting is heavily influenced by his own background. Having grown up in an orphanage, Calvin lacks a personal role model for a father figure, which makes him self-conscious and insecure about his own parenting abilities. He often blames himself when negative things happen within the family. Following the death of his son Buck, Calvin becomes overprotective and highly anxious regarding Conrad. He constantly over-analyzes Conrad's behavior because he lives in fear of losing his only remaining child.

Character Profiles: The Jarrett Family and Friends

Buck Jarrett: Buck was Conrad's older brother who died in a tragic boating accident. He is remembered as popular, athletic, and admired by everyone. He was a member of the swim team and shared many of the same friends as Conrad. His death is the catalyst for the family's collapse.

Conrad Jarrett: The novel's protagonist and the son of Beth and Calvin. Following the boating accident that killed Buck, Conrad attempted suicide and was subsequently hospitalized. At the start of the book, he struggles with a lack of motivation, a loss of purpose, and survivor's guilt. He eventually sees Dr. Berger for help and begins to rebuild his life through therapy and new relationships.

Calvin Jarrett: Conrad's father, a 41-year-old tax attorney. He is a sensitive man who grew up in an orphanage and spends most of his energy worrying about his son's mental state and trying to bridge the gap between his wife and son.

Beth Jarrett: Cal's wife and Conrad's mother. She spends most of her time golfing and socializing, attempting to maintain a perfect facade. Her inability to process her grief or show affection to Conrad eventually leads her to leave the family at the end of the story.

Dr. Berger: Conrad's psychiatrist. Conrad initially begins seeing him to gain more "control" over his life, but Berger helps him realize that true healing comes from facing his emotions rather than controlling them.

Supporting Characters in Ordinary People

Stillman: A member of Lazenby's carpool who is known to be very cruel to Conrad. Their tension eventually culminates in a physical fight after a swim meet.

Lazenby: A friend of Conrad's and a member of the swim team who drives Conrad to school. Although they have a falling out during the novel, they eventually mend their relationship.

Salan: The swim coach who is generous and wants to see Conrad succeed. He expresses disappointment when Conrad decides to quit the swim team.

Jeannine: A new student at Lake Forest and a member of the choir with Conrad. She and Conrad develop a friendship that blossoms into a romantic relationship, providing Conrad with a sense of normalcy and support.

Karen: An old friend of Conrad's from the psychiatric hospital. In the beginning, they meet for dinner and try to reconnect, but Karen is hesitant because she fears being around Conrad will pull her back into a depression. Later in the novel, Conrad learns that Karen has committed suicide, which becomes a major emotional hurdle for him.

Conrad’s Internal Struggles and the Path to Healing

Throughout the book, Conrad faces intense internal struggles including survivor's guilt, self-blame, a lack of identity, and a profound fear of feeling strong emotions or losing control. A significant moment occurs at the end of Chapter 12 when Conrad has a specific memory of Buck. This memory is significant because, for the first time, it brings him warmth and joy rather than the usual feelings of panic or guilt.

Conrad’s view on therapy, grief, and healing undergoes a massive transformation. Initially, he views therapy as a chore or something he is forced to do, and he tries to keep his emotions hidden. Through his sessions with Dr. Berger, he begins to see therapy as a safe space for honesty. He eventually learns that healing does not mean pretending everything is fine; it means accepting grief, forgiving oneself, and understanding that pain is a normal part of life. By the end of the novel, he accepts that he deserves to live.

Themes and Conclusion of Ordinary People

A major theme established by Judith Guest is that emotional suppression is fundamentally unhealthy because it prevents healing and destroys relationships. Characters like Beth, who avoid their feelings, remain stuck and isolated. In contrast, Calvin and Conrad grow because they choose to confront their emotions. By the end of the novel, the three Jarretts experience different outcomes: Beth leaves the family to live alone, unable to compromise; Calvin stays in the house, accepting the end of his marriage but achieving an emotional breakthrough with his son; and Conrad successfully begins the process of healing and repairing his social connections. A notable turning point occurs on November 5, which Calvin realizes is Buck’s 19th birthday, marking a moment of deep reflection on their loss.

Hamlet: Conflict and Plot in Act I

At the end of Act I of Hamlet, the protagonist faces a profound internal and external conflict. The ghost of his father, the former King Hamlet, appears and reveals that he was murdered by his brother, Claudius, who subsequently took the throne and married Queen Gertrude. The ghost demands that Hamlet seek revenge for this "foul and most unnatural murder." This sets up the central conflict of the play: Hamlet's struggle between his desire for justice and his hesitation and fear of making the wrong choice. This conflict leads to Hamlet’s plan to feign madness and drives the tragic events of the remaining acts.

Character Analysis and Fates in Hamlet

Hamlet: The Prince of Denmark. By the end of Act 5, he is dead. He successfully stabs Claudius and forces him to drink poison but dies himself from a wound inflicted by a poisoned rapier.

King Claudius: The manipulative King of Denmark who murdered his brother. He is killed by Hamlet in the final scene via stabbing and poisoning.

Queen Gertrude: The Queen of Denmark and Hamlet’s mother. She dies accidentally after drinking from a poisoned cup that was intended for Hamlet.

King Hamlet/The Ghost: The spirit of the former King. He was murdered by Claudius, who poured poison into his ear while he was napping.

Horatio: Hamlet’s loyal best friend. He is the only main character to survive the tragedy. Hamlet tasks him with staying alive to tell the true story of what happened.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern: Childhood friends of Hamlet who are hired by Claudius to spy on him. They are executed in England after Hamlet alters the execution letters they were carrying.

Laertes: The son of Polonius and brother of Ophelia. He is fatally wounded by his own poisoned blade during a duel with Hamlet and dies after confessing his involvement in Claudius's plot.

Ophelia: Polonius’s daughter and Hamlet’s love interest. Driven to madness by the murder of her father and Hamlet's harsh rejection, she drowns in a lagoon.

Polonius: The Lord Chamberlain and father to Laertes and Ophelia. He is accidentally stabbed and killed by Hamlet, who mistakes him for Claudius while Polonius is hiding and spying in Gertrude’s room.

The "To Be or Not to Be" Soliloquy

In Act III, Scene i, Hamlet delivers his famous "To be, or not to be" soliloquy. In this speech, he debates whether it is better to continue living and enduring the hardships of life—such as heartbreak, injustice, and disappointment—or to end one's life to escape the pain. He concludes that the primary reason people do not commit suicide is the fear of the unknown; because no one knows what happens after death, the "fear of something after death" makes people endure their current struggles. This speech highlights Hamlet's deep sadness, his tendency to overthink, and his chronic inability to act decisively, which are the defining traits of his character.