Adulthood and Life Transitions

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Adulthood and Life Transitions

The movie that I chose to view from a from a biological, cognitive, and psychosocial perspective was “Autumn in New York. The main characters of the movie were Will (Richard Gere) and Charlotte(Winona Ryder. They were two people that live life opposite of each other. Will is middle-aged man who manipulated woman and feels he needs to be in control of every relationship. Charlotte is twenty two woman who lived life full of happiness and joy because she did not what to expect in her life because of her heart condition she had. As they the two were connected their views of life changed and the both were in love with each other. Will who thought he could manipulate every relationship was not capable to do that with his relationship with Charlotte. When she explained to him about her heart condition he could of easily left her but I believe right then he wanted a different life. He wanted a life with truthfulness and some sincerity. Charlotte was woman he thought he was going to spend rest of his life with but realizes she is not going to be in his life for long so I believed he wanted to make every moment count in her life. It reminded of Erickson theory ego integrity verses depair., which involved coming to terms with one's life( Berk). He had arrive at a sense of integrity feel whole, complete, and satisfied with their achievements (Berk). He adapted to the mix of triumphs and disappointments that are an inevitable part of love relationships, child rearing, work, friendships, and community participation (Berk). He was the middle-aged person must seek new ways of being both young and old. This means giving up certain youthful qualities, retaining and transforming others, and finding positive meaning in being older (Berk). Charlotte was a very different than any other woman he met because even though she knew she had this heart condition she was going to live life every day like it was her last day. Every where she went and everything she experience was an joyous moment. Even though she did not know the relationship between her will was going to last that was the risks she was going to take. I really admired her bcause even though she had an sickness she never let that be the only focus in her life, she always felt there was more to life. Will was not a person who knew how to cope with difficult situations because when things in his life got to difficult he would dismiss the situation or the person. He did not want to dimiss Charlotte but he did something very hurtful to her. He slept with another woman thinking she would not realize it and because of the type of person he was I think he wanted to avoid the situation of what he going through was in a relationship with charlotte. He did not have the consideration of thinking how she would feel or how much it would hurt her. I feel that he did know how to cope with his situation with charlotte and how he was going to deal life after she dies . I believe by him going through this that is what made him have a better realtionship with his daughter he did not have any contact with. It was like he was entering a new stage in his life and did not know how to cope which could have been his mid life crisis at the time. Charlotte changed his life tremendously because it taught him how not be self centered and treat woman with dignity and learn to love.
When she died there was an acceptance in her death. Charlotte had an appropriate death which meant is one that makes sense in terms of the individual's pattern of living and values, preserves or restores significant relationships, and is as free of suffering as possible(Berk). When a person dies you are never prepared and never know how you are going to feel. Before Charlotte died he made her believe like there is more to life and made her feel like wanted to live especially when he decorated the tree for her and made her signed the paper so she was able toget a new heart, she wanted more in life with him but it was time for her to go because she had done her job and changed his life for the better. I believe after she died he lived his life very differently because not only did he gain a relationship with his daughter but gained a relationship with grandson. I believed it made him matured in his life and that there much more to life than trying manipulate woman. In conclusion I feel this was a very good movie it taught me even though people may be caught up in their own agenda’s people are capable of change. In death there is always some depression and there is some acceptance in coming to terms to dying and Charlotte had an acceptance that she was going to die but I feel she felt she lived the best she knew how and the impact she made on Will’s life it was time to move on. A person death always brings change because it makes you realize what you need to change about yourself. It teaches you how to cope with death and not what to do. When someone is going through a crisis in their life there is always a new meaning to life. As grief subsides, emotional energies increasingly shift toward life-restoring pursuits—meeting everyday responsibilities, investing in new activities and goals, and strengthening old ties and building new relationships (Berk).
References
Berk L. E ( 2004) Development through the lifespan(3rd e.d.). Boston. MA: Allyn and Bacon