On Golden Pond Essay

Mark Rydells On Golden Pond is a drama that emphasizes the stages great deal of various ages endures. Utilizing Erik Eriksons Psychosocial Stages as learned in Dr. Malones descriptor, each of the main characters fecal matter be placed inwardly a stage and their age-re slowlyd crises analyzed. As this plastic film is a drama, it was relatable to the audience, prompting personalized reactions as well as implementing invigoration examples of some of the theories studied in Malones class. Perhaps the most signifi put upt character, Norman Thayer is a delineate to be reckoned with. A grumpy old miser, Norman may come out of the closet at times to not fully be capable of pickings care of himself however, he is slake genuinely sharp.Norman demonstrates Eriksons utmost(a) stage, termed slow Adulthood, which features the issue of integrity versus despair. A person in late adulthood is much more concerned with his long-term future, destruction, than someone in a younger life s tage. Early in the film Ethel remarks that death is all Norman thinks closely, to which Norman responds, death is the most fascinating issue he has to think about. Besides looking into the future and comprehending death, a person in late adulthood, looks back upon his life and if he is snug with his life, aside and presently, he feels a sense of integrity. However, if the person is dissatisfied with his life he is in a crisis of despair. It is obvious Norman is not satisfied with his life when he begins to browse the newspapers in search of a job. Norman a lot fall outs mad at e preciseone almost him, only if this anger is really direct at himself. For example, in the fire scene, Norman yells at baton but really Norman is mad at himself. Ethel points out to Billy that Norman yells to remind himself he still can. Norman feels powerless as his aged body betrays him. Although Norman was smart alek and grumpy throughout the movie, he was much more pleasant aft(prenominal) bond ing with Billy.Billy was a much occupyed remedy to Normans despair. Being around such a carefree yet, tenacious adolescent had a really positive influence on Norman. Instead of sitting around thought process about the inconveniences of be older, Norman is sharing hobbies and various things with Billy. This sharing completes the generativity versus stagnancy crisis. Norman is giving back by connecting with Billy therefore, Norman feels accomplished. Norman sacks there are still things he can do beforehand he dies. The turning point in Normans crisis is when he and Billy release Walter the fish, explaining they figured if he has lived this long, he deserves to keep spiritedness. This comment says a lotabout how Norman is coping with getting older. Norman reminds me of some(prenominal) stack combined, but there is someone in particular that Norman reminds me of. His grumpiness and smart remarks remind me of my cause matriarchal grandfather. My grandfather actually just reac hed late adulthood so I guess there is still a chance that he could case an issue of despair. He has not had to deal with the issue of despair I believe because he still spurts. He births a dairy and he still runs it. My grandfather a kindred(p) Norman wants to keep working, and unlike Norman he still has the chance to.My grandfather is fourteen daytimes younger than Norman and I believe that their physical differences are because of this. It will be interesting to see how capable my grandfather is at eighty years old. Norman in addition reminds me of my paternal grandmother because she like Norman can be pessimistic about the future. I realize now after this class that she is not trying to be negative. Rather, she is just trying to be realistic and remind herself and us that we should value this time we still sacrifice together. Lately she has been babysitting my younger cousins more ofttimes and this has had a real positive effect. No one likes to sit around and feel as i f they do not book a purpose so tasks and hobbies appear to be important in late adulthood. Watching Norman take was also unverbalised to bear because he reminds me of my grandfather and others. In game school, I worked as a waitress in a caf and several of my customer were people in late adulthood and these are the people Norman also reminds me of. As beautiful as life is, it can be hard to watch someone get older. When our bodies do not work the way they used to, people feel betrayed. I grew very close to some of my customers and when one of them was sent to a retirement inhabitancy so he could be cared for it was very sad.However, now thinking about this was the best decision to make. Ethel Thayer also is in Eriksons psychosocial stage Late Adulthood, dealing with the crisis of integrity versus despair. Unlike Norman, Ethel is very satisfied with her life and what the audience sees is a woman of integrity. For sometime I thought Ethel might still be in the stage of middle ad ulthood, but instead I think she is just a very well-adjusted older woman. Ethel likes zipper more to be outside collecting strawberries or watching the loons. Ethel makes laborious attempts to ensure her loved ones are satisfied with their own lives. She has a hard time understanding why Norman and Chelsea cannot be as satisfied and reprimands both of them. In adramatic confrontation, Ethel points out to Chelsea that regretting childhood events doesnt have to ruin your life. Although she may not be as grumpy as her husband, Ethel worries about death jut as he does. Following Normans heat attack, both Norman and Ethel realize they have precious time left together. Ethel reminds me very much so of my maternal grandmother.Even Ethel and Normans relationship resembles my maternal grandparents. later on watching this movie, I feel that I appreciate my grandmother more, and I hope to make more time to visit with her. Similar to Ethel absentminded to visit with Chelsea and Billy, my g randmother would love to see me more. Sometimes my grandmother tries to convey me advice that I do not want. Now I realize I should at least give her the courtesy of listening because who knows, one day I might find her advice relevant. Billy demonstrates the stage of adolescence. He faces a crisis of identity versus confusion. As Billy nears adulthood, he is finding himself being a child of divorce, he could possibly have a harder time doing so. In this stage, Billy is discovering his values and his place in society. Having strong role models like the Thayers can only have a positive influence. In the film Billy wants to learn from Ethel and Norman, but he also wants his freedom. Billy expresses his independence when he takes the boat for a joy ride. Norman trusting Billy to navigate Purgatory Cove gives Billy the confidence gain that a person in the identity versus confusion crisis needs.Billy also seems to have issues with feeling wanted. When he realizes that his father is t aken off to Europe, Billy feels abandoned and assumes the Thayers do not want to have him around. It surprises him to realize that they do want him around. This is another boost for his confidence. Billy reminds me of my younger brother who recently turned sixteen. My brother tries very hard to act like the men in my family, which consists of my father, my uncles and my maternal grandfather. totally of the men in my family are hard workers and self-reliant. As my brother finds his own identity I feel confident I will like who he becomes because he has such great role models. Chelsea, like more of the characters in the film is not satisfied with her life. Age wise, she is in the mid(prenominal) Adulthood stage, but she is still dealing with the crises of adolescence. In a acknowledgment to Ethel, Chelsea says that being at Golden Pond is like being a teenager all over again.Since Chelsea did not have a neat relationship with her father Norman, shehas a hard time knowing who she w anted to be. Chelsea resolves this by marrying Bill who is not confused about his identity and also by talking to Norman. Chelsea reminds me a lot of myself. When Im extraneous at college, Im very sure of myself, but when I visit back home at times I have a difficult time getting along with my father. I often want to change my father and his actions. My grandmother who reminds me of Ethel tells me that part of growing up is realizing who people are and loving them anyways. This realization helps, but my and my fathers relationship is still a work in progress. Despite being filmed in 1981, watching On Golden Pond was an sweet experience.I loved Normans humor and the relationships reminded me of those in my own personal life. Each of the characters reminded me of at least one person portentous in my life. The movie highlighted the fact that these theories covered in Malones class are indeed very much realistic. Also the film do these theories relatable, producing a greater underst anding. The movie opened my eyes and helped me understand those people who I hold close. It also made me realize that I need to work on my relationship with my parents. Using this new-found understanding, I can work on how I interact with people therefore, strengthening my relationships.