MovieChat Forums > Ordinary People (1980) Discussion > was Beth the worst mother ever??

was Beth the worst mother ever??


what do you think??

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No, but far from the best of course.

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I think Andrea Yates would win that title.

But yes, she was horrible. You lose one son tragically and you could have lost the other and it still does not move you to be caring or loving.

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i thought she was terrible

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I think she's up there.

You could tell from her body lanuage how much she hates just been around Conrad, some parents out there that favour a child over their other siblings to the point they'll push aside the others and focus on that one sibling. It's a horrible thing to say but she would have been happy if Conrad lost his life from suicide attempt and her and Calvin could have lived out their "perfect" life together on their own. The fact she never visited Conrad when he was psychiatric hospital and went on holiday is so cruel and heartless tells you all you need to know. And the fact Conrad tells his father that Beth hates him is heartbreaking.

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I really don’t think she’d be happy if Conrad had died from suicide - it’s just she just didn’t like or connect with him in any meaningful way . She wanted to but she was very guarded and defensive . She loved Conrad but didn’t like him - Buck was obviously the much superior son and boy in her eyes

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I don't know. If she hadn't lost a son, she wouldn't have become the person she was...so you at least have to sympathize with her a little bit.

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