Ordinary people
...ason to get up in the morning, it is necessary to possess a guiding principle”(1). This quote shows that you have to have be under your own control in order to want to live. Con needs to be under his control to live his life the way he wants, even though it may not be the best choice for him. His swim coach recognizes Con’s need for self-control and tells him “’Okay. This is it. You’re a big kid now, and actions have consequences’”(83). This quote also shows that Con has control over his to life to make decisions whether they be good or bad. Conrad has lots of control over his life, and it is easy to see why too much control for Con can be bad. Calvin Jarrett also has a need for control and uses it in a bad way similar to Conrad. Cal tries to control Con’s life, Beth’s, and especially his own life. Cal controls Con’s life telling him how to behave. After an argument between the whole family, Cal and Con are talking. Con is asking his dad to apologize to his mom for him because Con was yelling at her, “’…you tell her, will you? Tell her I’m sorry.’ ‘Why don’t you tell her?’”(113). This quote shoes that Cal wants to stay under his own control and not fall under Con’s control. Cal also wants to have control over Beth but she will not go under his control. During an argument Cal says, “’Beth. Please. Let’s just go upstairs.’ ‘No. I will not be pushed… I will not be manipulated,’”(112). Cal also has control over his own life that will cause him to do bad things. Cal begins drinking more alcohol. He knows that alcohol is bad for him but he is in control of his life and will not stop. Cal wants to have control over his whole family and himself which turns out like Con, ending up poorly. Beth Jarrett too has a need for control and has control over everyone in the family, including herself. Beth has control over Con and shows it by saying that he has to tell her everything. “’I can’t stand this, I really can’t! If it’s starting all over again, the lying and the disappearing for hours, the covering up- I won’t stand it!’”(110). B...