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The definition of a sense of identity is the condition of being oneself and not another. In Ordinary People, Judith Guest refers to Conrad Jarrett as "A newborn fawn without his mother (46)." Ever since Conrad lost his brother, Buck, in a tragic boating accident, he feels guilty and that he is to blame. He loses his sense of identity, but with the help of Jeannine, Dr. Berger, and Calvin, he is able to reevaluate himself and become an "ordinary person" once again.
Con's definition of himself changes when he is with Jeannine, which is one reason why he has such deep feelings for her; he is no longer the one in need of support, the one to be babied or helped out of his depression. Jeannine, at this moment, needs him to be her support, and he takes this new role gladly, because of how strong it makes him feel. He feels as if he is her rock/her shoulder to cry on, and thus feels as he is an important part of her life. Conrad's interest in Jeannine is a sign that he is returning to a......

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Approximate Word Count: 620
Approximate Pages: 3 (250 words per double-spaced page)

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