In many great works of literature the author portrays the theme through several different characters. In Judith Guest's Ordinary People Conrad and Calvin portray the same theme regardless of their dissimilarities. Guest uses both Conrad and Calvin illustrate that to heal from life's most horrific events real communication must take place. This theme is shown in Conrad and Calvin's individual conflicts. So while the characters are different from themselves they expose Guest's central theme.

Judith Guest writes the novel in such a way that the theme is clearly portrayed through the two characters. Most importantly the story does not focus on the events that teach us the theme. The story begins after Buck, Conrad's brother, has died, and after Conrad tried to kill himself. Guest does this so that the reader can really concentrate on the recovery and not the falling apart. The novel is not about how...