Characters
Name: Conrad Jarret
Description: Conrad is the eighteen year old protagonist of Ordinary People.He is an only child due to his deceased brother Jordan "Buck" Jarret. He had to spend a year in a hospital after trying to commit suicide because of Buck's death. After being released, Conrad struggles in finding his way, so he begins to see a therapist, Dr. Berger. Over the course of the novel he mends relationships with his father, Calvin "Cal" Jarret and his friend Joe Lazenby. He also finds refuge in his girlfriend, Jeannine Pratt
Description: Conrad is the eighteen year old protagonist of Ordinary People.He is an only child due to his deceased brother Jordan "Buck" Jarret. He had to spend a year in a hospital after trying to commit suicide because of Buck's death. After being released, Conrad struggles in finding his way, so he begins to see a therapist, Dr. Berger. Over the course of the novel he mends relationships with his father, Calvin "Cal" Jarret and his friend Joe Lazenby. He also finds refuge in his girlfriend, Jeannine Pratt
Name: Calvin "Cal" Jarret
Description: Cal is a forty-one year old tax-attorney, married to Beth Jarret and father to Conrad Jarret and Jordan "Buck" Jarret (deceased). He grew up in an orphanage, but he is a loving, concerned husband and father. Cal always does what is best for Conrad no matter the consequence, which results in a separation from Beth.
Description: Cal is a forty-one year old tax-attorney, married to Beth Jarret and father to Conrad Jarret and Jordan "Buck" Jarret (deceased). He grew up in an orphanage, but he is a loving, concerned husband and father. Cal always does what is best for Conrad no matter the consequence, which results in a separation from Beth.
Name: Beth Jarret
Description: Beth is an upper-middle class wife to Calvin "Cal" Jarret and a mother to Conrad Jarret and Jordan "Buck" Jarret (deceased). Beth does not like to think, or talk about the past, making it hard for her to have a stable relationship with Cal and Conrad. She struggles to show love and communicate with her family ultimately leading to a separation between herself and Cal.
Description: Beth is an upper-middle class wife to Calvin "Cal" Jarret and a mother to Conrad Jarret and Jordan "Buck" Jarret (deceased). Beth does not like to think, or talk about the past, making it hard for her to have a stable relationship with Cal and Conrad. She struggles to show love and communicate with her family ultimately leading to a separation between herself and Cal.
Name: Jordan "Buck" Jarret
Description: Buck is the deceased son of Beth Jarret and Calvin Jarret and brother to Conrad Jarret. He dies in a boating accident prior to the start of the novel, so he only appears in flashback. He was the star of the swim team and idolized by everyone who knew him, especially Conrad.
Description: Buck is the deceased son of Beth Jarret and Calvin Jarret and brother to Conrad Jarret. He dies in a boating accident prior to the start of the novel, so he only appears in flashback. He was the star of the swim team and idolized by everyone who knew him, especially Conrad.
Name: Dr. Berger
Description: Dr. Berger is Conrad Jarret's reliable psychiatrist. He visits with Conrad twice a week and helps him overcome his brother's death and his attempted suicide as well as helping him gain control of his emotions.
Description: Dr. Berger is Conrad Jarret's reliable psychiatrist. He visits with Conrad twice a week and helps him overcome his brother's death and his attempted suicide as well as helping him gain control of his emotions.
Name: Jeannine Pratt
Description: Jeannine is a new student at Lake Forest School and is in the choir with Conrad. The two become close and eventually become seriously involved. Jeannine is very understanding and accepting of Conrad's past, having a shaky past of her own. Jeannine shows Conrad what it is to feel loved again.
Description: Jeannine is a new student at Lake Forest School and is in the choir with Conrad. The two become close and eventually become seriously involved. Jeannine is very understanding and accepting of Conrad's past, having a shaky past of her own. Jeannine shows Conrad what it is to feel loved again.
Name: Joe Lazenby
Description: Joe is on the swim team and is a good friend of Conrad`s and was a very good friend of Buck`s. Joe always tries to be a good friend to Conrad, even when Conrad is not a good friend to him. At the end of the novel, the two boys become good friends again.
Description: Joe is on the swim team and is a good friend of Conrad`s and was a very good friend of Buck`s. Joe always tries to be a good friend to Conrad, even when Conrad is not a good friend to him. At the end of the novel, the two boys become good friends again.
Name: Karen Aldrich
Description: Karen is a friend that Conrad meets during his time at the hospital. Six months after she is released, Karen meets up with Conrad and tells him that he needn't be so down, that he needs to enjoy life. A few months later, Karen commits suicide, sending Conrad off the wall to a point where he considers killing himself again.
Description: Karen is a friend that Conrad meets during his time at the hospital. Six months after she is released, Karen meets up with Conrad and tells him that he needn't be so down, that he needs to enjoy life. A few months later, Karen commits suicide, sending Conrad off the wall to a point where he considers killing himself again.
Other Characters in Ordinary People
Coach Salan
Kevin Stillman
Dick Van Buren
Howard and Ellen (Beth's parents)
Ward and Audrey (Beth's brother and sister-in-law)
Ray Hanley
Dr. Crawford
Coach Salan
Kevin Stillman
Dick Van Buren
Howard and Ellen (Beth's parents)
Ward and Audrey (Beth's brother and sister-in-law)
Ray Hanley
Dr. Crawford
Author: Mara Lamont
Last Edited: January 14, 2014
Last Edited: January 14, 2014