On Golden Pond
On Golden Pond
Erik Erickson described several developmental stages that every individual experiences according to their age. During each of these stages, individuals would be confronted with certain dilemmas. Once those dilemmas were solved and understood, the individual would move on to a different stage in life. It is how an individual responds and overcomes those dilemmas that help better explain the individual’s behavior in life. In On Golden Pond, we notice three of Erickson’s stages in the movie’s four main characters.
The first of those characters is Norman, an older man who is played by Henry Fonda. During the movie, Norman is in Erickson’s Integrity vs. Despair developmental stage. Early in the movie, we notice that Norman has been happy with his life, but he does fear death and is not entirely content with his life presently. We can clearly notice that Norman is saddened that he is no longer the boxer he was, nor a revered professor. This demonstrates the despair of his current developmental stage.
Norman’s attitude is also a clear sign of his current developmental stage. He maintains a very unyielding attitude throughout the film. His hard attitude is very obvious, especially when it comes to his relationship with his daughter, Chelsea. We can also see his dependency on his wife Ethel.
Later in the movie, we begin to see Norman enter the integrity part of the developmental stage. Norman finally begins to accept his role in life. He also realizes that his relationship with his daughter and the mistakes he has made when Billy Ray Junior’s joins the couple. Although Norman was emotionally abusive to Billy Ray, Billy Ray’s outspoken personality makes Norman realize that he is wrong. Norman then compares Chelsea’s youth to the current Billy Ray Junior and begins to realize he is in wrong.
In the end, we see Norman finally overcome his developmental stage dilemmas. He strengthens his relationship with his daughter, becomes more intimate with his...
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