On Golden Pond Essay

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On Golden Pond is a 1981 award winning film is about family relationships and how they can change over time. An example of how characters and people can change over time is proven by Erikson’s model of personality developmental. This can show how different ages can affect the way people act and why. An example of how ages can affect what stage you’re in and how you act is the differences between Chelsea and Norman Thayer. Norman Thayer, an 80-year-old man, who is obviously in his “older adult” stage of life, is in the “despair” category of the “integrity vs despair” when it comes to Erikson’s model. Norman often speaks of death, either in a joking manner or confronting his thoughts and fears about how he is becoming useless and is no longer needed. “I guess its not safe to have me around here anymore.” Norman has passed through all the stages of infant to middle-age adult and is now reviewing his life accomplishments, dealing with losses, and preparing for death. Norman has lost some of his memory …show more content…

She had already been divorced and was shown to have had multiple boyfriends and admirers. Throughout the story she doesn’t get along with her father and speaks of her miserable childhood and seems to be stuck in the past. “Don't you think that everyone looks back on their childhood with a certain amount of bitterness and regret about something? You're a big girl now. Aren't you tired of it all? Bore, bore. It doesn't have to ruin your life, darling. Life marches by, Chels. I suggest you get on with it.” Chelsea seems to be stuck in the past because she believed her father was never impressed or satisfied by what she had done and is still looking for that intimacy she never received as a child. She is still conflicted on her identity and was never