Tuesdays With Morrie:An Old Man, A young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson

A Book Review

Prepared by:

Ferdinand T. Diano

Danilo B. Mahilum Jr.

IV-BSPT

Period

Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, A Young Man and Life’s Greatest Lesson was published in the year 1997 which is on Contemporary World (1946-present).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

He was Born in New Jersey, 1958. In 1979, he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts, where met and studied under his beloved professor, Morrie Schwartz, the title character of Tuesdays With Morrie, and Albom complete his Masters degree from Columbia University in New York.

Mitch AlbomHe began his career as a sports journalist, writing articles for newspapers such as the The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Detroit Free Press where he was employed from 1985 until his reunion with Morrie in 1995.

THE AUTHOR’s MENTOR

He was born in 1916 and graduated from New York's City College, and went on to win a fellowship to the University of Chicago where he was awarded a Ph.D. in sociology.

Morrie Schwartz

In 1959, he began teaching sociology at Brandeis, a nonsectarian Jewish-sponsored university, established in 1948.

It was not until 1995, when he was dying from ALS, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, that Morrie ended his career as a professor.

Summary and Plot

Chapter Summaries

The Curriculum

Mitch Albom opens the novel with background information on Morrie Schwartz. Morrie was one of Mitch’s favorite professors, in college, at Brandeis University. Mitch introduces Morrie to his parents and gives him a briefcase for a gift. They hug; and when Mitch steps back he can see that Morrie is crying.

The Syllabus

Morrie could sense that his health was suffering, when he could nolonger dance; this was even before he was diagnosed with ALS. Morrieloved to dance to any music and even with or without a partner.

As he aged into his seventies, breathing became harder, walkingmore challenging, and sleep troubling; he began to see doctors and wasdiagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which is also known asLou Gehrig’s disease. Despite his terminal illness, he kept swimming, withhelp of course, and even insisted on teaching a class at the University.

The Student/ The Audiovisual

Mitch explains what has happened to him since he last saw Morrie on his college graduation day. He moved to New York City with high hopes of becoming a musician. However, upon the death of his uncle he soon saw his life to be too short to waste time playing at empty venues, committing to unreliable bands, and writing songs which he thinks will never be heard. Mitch decided to continue his education at Columbia University, obtaining his Masters Degree in Journalism.

The Student/ The Audiovisual

One evening as he was flipping through the television channels, he heard the voice of Ted Koppel ask, “Who is Morrie Schwartz” (23)?

The chapter then flashes back to the first time Mitch met Morrie: it was their first class together in the spring of 1976. It was a small class and Morrie asked Mitch what he preferred to be called. Upon telling Morrie that his friends call him “Mitch”, Morrie told him that he hopes one day Mitch will think of him as a friend.

The Orientation/ The Classroom

Mitch arrives at Morrie’s house still on the phone with a producer about one of his stories. He does not want to end the call so he pretends he is looking for something in his car. When Morrie sees Mitch, he hugs him with so much affection, after almost sixteen years of not seeing him. The two sit in the house and Morrie begins to speak about his looming death.

Mitch and Morrie talk for over two hours that day, mostly about Morrie’s sickness. Mitch eventually leaves to catch his returning flight and hugs Morrie good-bye.

The Orientation/ The Classroom

These chapters flashback to Albom’s college years; Mitch nicknamed Morrie, “Coach” and recalls the lunches they ate together in the cafeteria.

Mitch began appreciating the study of human relations and caught Morrie’s contagious passion for books. They would often talk after class and Mitch even consulted Morrie advice about this confusing stage of his life.

Taking Attendance

A few weeks after his visit with Morrie, Mitch flies to London to cover Wimbledon. He notices the slough of printed tabloids and hungry reporters around him. He thinks of Morrie and their conversation.

When Mitch arrives back in Detroit, the unions at his newspaper had gone on strike. Mitch was currently out of his newspaper job. He called Morrie and the two agreed to meet again the following Tuesday.

Taking Attendance

The chapter then flashes back to Mitch’s sophomore year in college when he began to meet Morrie outside of the classroom for discussions. Mitch talks to Morrie about his aspirations in life because Morrie listens, unlike Mitch’s father who wants him to be a lawyer.

First Tuesday

Mitch visits Morrie for the second time. Mitch notices a stack of newspapers that Morrie had obviously read. Mitch is surprised that Morrie is keeping up-to-date with the news. They discuss a bit of news going on in the world and Morrie cries.

The flashback in this section takes place in one of Mitch’s college classes with Morrie. Morrie enters the room and is silent for about fifteen minutes. The students become uncomfortable which thus leads into a discussion regarding silence. Morrie tells Mitch, after the class, that Mitch reminds him of himself.

Second Tuesday

This second Tuesday Mitch and Morrie discuss feeling sorry for yourself. Morrie says that he feels sorry for himself in the mornings when he realizes how much feeling or movement he has lost; he cries and then gets on with his day.

Mitch recalls a specific class with Morrie during his junior year in college. Morrie had everyone in the class stand and turn their backs to one another. He wanted each student to fall backwards in trust that their assigned partners would catch them. Only one student in the class completed the assignment.

Third Tuesday

Mitch brings a tape recorder to Morrie’s in order to remember their discussions. They discuss regrets and how culture prevents us from thinking about such things until we are near our death.

On the plane ride home that day, Mitch made a list of all of the questions he had for Morrie.

During Mitch’s senior year in college, Morrie convinced him to write a sociology thesis on sports. Mitch is very proud of his work and momentarily considers returning for graduate school.

The Audiovisual part II/ The Professor

The “Nightline” show did a follow-up story and Ted Koppel once again interviewed Morrie. He mainly asked him what he will do when he can no longer speak and move his hands.

Morrie then read a letter that he wrote back to one of the viewers and we find out that Morrie lost his mother when he was a child. Albom then presents us with Morrie’s childhood background.

Fourth Tuesday

Morrie is now becoming dependant on an oxygen machine but still meets Mitch on this fourth Tuesday. They discuss death and how most people do not believe that they are ever going to die. Morrie tells Mitch that once one learns how to die, they learn how to live.

With this said, Morrie asks Mitch that if he could accept the fact that he could die at any time, would he still work as much as he does. He suggests that Mitch find some sort of spiritual development.

Fifth Tuesday

This Tuesday Morrie and Mitch discuss family and children. Morrie again emphasizes the importance of love, especially love from a family. He feels that if he did not have the love and support from his family, that he would have nothing at all.

Morrie then discusses the joy he had in raising a family and asks about Mitch’s own family.

Fifth Tuesday

Mitch has a younger brother who was always a family favorite. He moved to Europe after high school and caught pancreatic cancer just as their uncle had. His brother would not allow any of the family members to help him while he battled cancer, which made Mitch angry.

Mitch then recalls a memory of him and his brother sledding when they were children. The sled went in front of a car and the boys jumped off to safety. The two were filled with pride at having just skipped death.

Sixth Tuesday

Mitch arrives at Morrie’s once again with his usual food supply. Morrie’s wife, Charlotte, answers the door for the first time and she tells Mitch that Morrie is not doing so well this particular day. She also tells him that Morrie has not eaten any of the food that Mitch has been bringing because he can no longer eat solid foods.

Sixth Tuesday

As Mitch and Morrie start talking, Morrie talks of “detaching” (103) himself. He says that if one is too afraid of an experience a certain emotion, they he or she will never be able to detach themselves. The two discuss other emotions and the fears that come along with them inhibiting people to let go of the fear and to experience the emotion.

Morrie tells Mitch that he does not want to die in a state of fright and that he would rather die peacefully

The Professor part two

After Morrie received his PhD, he spent time working at a mental hospital near Washington, DC. Morrie ended up working at the hospital for five years and even befriended some of the patients.

Following his work at the hospital he went to Brandeis to teach. He taught classes on social psychology, mental illness and health; he focused more on personal development than career skills.

The Seventh Tuesday

This Tuesday Morrie and Mitch discuss the fear of ageing. Morrie has finally surrendered to his illness: he can no longer go to the bathroom by himself. Instead of being frustrated he is enjoying all the people around him who are helping him and taking care of him.

Morrie describes why he thinks it is beneficial to age: to learn more, gain a better understanding of your life and to experience growth.

Eighth Tuesday

Influenced by a quote from the newspaper, Morrie and Mitch discuss money and power. Morrie lived his life enjoying simple pleasures such as dancing, singing and laughing. He explains in this chapter how he sees society being brainwashed into thinking that “more is good” (124).

Morrie tells Mitch that in order to feel satisfied, people should offer to others, what they have, whether it be a skill or simply just listening.

Ninth Tuesday

The previous day, someone had asked Morrie if he was afraid of being forgotten after he was dead. He feels that since he has been involved with so many people in close ways, that he is not so worried about being forgotten.

Mitch describes how he loves the way Morrie greets him upon his entrance. Mitch admires how Morrie has such a talent as to make each person feel special when they are around him.

Ninth Tuesday

Morrie tells Mitch how important it is to stay focused and to only be present with the people who are around you. He thinks that so many people are in a hurry and do not find the time to even engage in a real conversation without thinking of something else.

Tenth Tuesday

On this tenth Tuesday, Mitch brings his wife to meet Morrie. Mitch had called Morrie earlier in the week to see how he was feeling and he asked to talk to Mitch’s wife, Janine. When she got off the phone with Morrie, she told Mitch she was coming on the next trip. They talk and Morrie asks about her career as a professional singer and he asks her to sing something for him. She sang a 1930’s song written by Ray Noble. When she finished singing, Mitch noticed tears running down Morrie’s face.

Mitch and Morrie then discuss marriage and Morrie shares with him, what he has learned through his many years of marriage.

Eleventh Tuesday

Morrie’s disease is starting to hit his lungs, which is how he predicted he would die. The physical therapist teaches Mitch how to slap Morrie on the back to break up the poison in his lungs.

Mitch and Morrie discuss our culture and the shortsightedness of most people. Later that afternoon, Mitch and Connie watch the verdict of the O.J. Simpson trial.

The Audiovisual part III

Ted Koppel and the “Nightline” crew come back for a third and final interview with Morrie. Morrie is much sicker now and is not sure he can even do the interview.

Ted Koppel and Morrie do the entire interview from Morrie’s study, since he is confined to his chair. He is noticeably weaker but successfully completes the interview.

The Twelfth Tuesday

It is the Twelfth Tuesday and Mitch and Morrie discuss forgiveness. The whole time, Mitch rubs lotion on Morrie’s feet to relieve them of some pain.

Morrie tells Mitch a story in which he never forgave one of his friends for an incident which happened years ago. He then continued to say that we also must forgive ourselves for the things we feel we should have done.

The Twelfth Tuesday

At the end of the chapter Morrie tells Mitch that if he could have had another son, he would have liked it to be Mitch.

The chapter flashes back to a conversation between Mitch and Morrie when Morrie found the place in which he would like to be buried. It is on a hill beneath a tree and overlooking a pond. He hopes that Mitch will come visit him and tell him all his problems.

The Thirteenth Tuesday

Morrie has decided to be cremated upon his death. He tells Mitch how people act as if death is contagious and how they are afraid to see it.

Morrie has been having very bad nights involving terrible coughing spells. He had recently had one so terrible that he almost felt as if he was going to die. He told Mitch that he suddenly felt at piece with dying.

The Thirteenth Tuesday

Mitch asks Morrie what he would do if he was perfectly healthy for one day. Morrie describes a simple day of being with friends and dancing.

They then discuss Mitch’s sick brother who he has been trying to reach for weeks. Mitch cannot understand how his brother wants to be left alone during this time. Morrie tells him that he will eventually find a way back to his brother just as he found him.

The Fourteenth Tuesday

Charlotte had called Mitch that day, to tell him that Morrie was not doing well but he still wanted to see him. When Mitch arrived, Morrie was still asleep and now bed ridden. He was very weak; he told Mitch that he was not doing well, and that he loved him. Mitch kissed Morrie, longer than usual, and finally began to cry.

The Fourteenth Tuesday

Morrie died on a Saturday morning with his immediate family present. The funeral was held on a damp, gray morning. Charlotte kept the ceremony small for only friends and family, although hundreds wanted to attend.

Mitch talked with Morrie in his head and noted how familiar the conversation felt. He then realized that it was Tuesday.

Overall Summary

Morrie Schwartz was Mitch Albom’s favorite college professor. At the start of the novel Albom recalls a memory from his college graduation day: he is saying goodbye to Morrie and gives him a tan briefcase with his initials on it. They hug and when Mitch steps back he sees that Morrie is crying. Mitch promises to stay in touch with Morrie but he never does after college.

Since his graduation, Mitch has become a newspaper reporter and husband. He leads a very fast paced life and is constantly working and traveling. He has become so engrossed in his work that it consumes his life .

The novel recommences about sixteen years after Mitch’s graduation day; Morrie has since been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. Since Morrie’s diagnosis, he began jotting down ideas and thoughts onto scrap paper, yellow pads or even envelopes. He also wrote philosophies about living knowing death was very near. One of his friends was so taken with his writing, he sent them to the Boston Globe reporter, who wrote a feature story about Morrie. The story intrigued one of the producers of the show, “Nightline”, who then did a feature story about Morrie. Mitch happened to see the “Nightline” show and recognized his old professor. He called him to set up a visit.

Mitch began visiting Morrie every Tuesday. Their discussions ranged from the world, regrets, death, love and money; the purpose of their meetings was to discuss Morrie’s view on the meaning of life. Mitch became so intrigued by Morrie’s philosophies that he began taking notes and even recording Morrie.

Morrie’s philosophies included rejecting popular culture morals and following self-created values, loving others, and learning to accept death.

With each lesson, Morrie becomes increasingly sick; during their last meeting, Morrie was bed ridden and near death. As he and Mitch hugged for one last time, Morrie notices Mitch is finally crying.

Morrie dies a short time after. At his funeral Mitch tries having a conversation with Morrie, as he had wanted. Mitch feels a certain naturalness and comfort to this conversation and realizes that it happens to be Tuesday.

After Morrie’s death Mitch regains contact with his brother who lives in Spain and is battling cancer.

Plot

Exposition

In the Exposition, introductory material is presented which gives thereader the setting, creates the tone and presents the characters and other factsnecessary to understanding the story. The exposition takes place through the firstfour chapters. “The Curriculum” (1) tells us that there will be a class taught, on themeaning of life, by a teacher who is dying; his death would come at the end of thecourse. The author also tells us that he is the student. In the second chapter theauthor presents background information on Morrie Schwartz: the teacher. We learninformation about Morrie: he is a teacher, he loves to dance and he has beendiagnosed with ALS.

Exposition

The following chapter presents background information about the authorand narrator, Mitch Albom. We learn here that he is a sports reporter for theDetroit Free Press and that he is very wealthy and successful. “The Audiovisual”(18) is the final chapter in the exposition in which the narrator describes how hefirst knew of Morrie’s sickness, which leads him to these weekly Tuesday visitswith Morrie. After this chapter all of the background information, and majorcharacters have been introduced and from here on, the action begins to rise asMitch visits Morrie every Tuesday.

Rising Action

The Rising Action is the events that build from the conflict. There are twoconflicts in this story: the first being Morrie’s struggle with his fatal disease, ALS; thesecond being Mitch’s struggle with himself in dealing with the person he has becomeand the person who he wishes to be and the new life he wants to lead. The actionbegins to rise after Mitch sees Morrie on the “Nightline” show. He has not seen orspoken to Morrie in over sixteen years. After Mitch sees Morrie on “Nightline” hecontacts him and begins to visit him every Tuesday for lessons which all encompassthe meaning of life. The action rises throughout the novel with each new lesson as wesee Mitch struggle with his life and Morrie struggle with his impending death.

Climax

The climax is the high point of the story and also the point at which theoutcome can be predicted. The climax in this story does not happen until the lastTuesday Mitch and Morrie spend together. Throughout the novel and for the entiretime Morrie has known Mitch, he has been trying to get him to open up andexpress more emotion. When they meet again, towards the beginning of the novel,Morrie tells Mitch that he is still going to try and make him cry. After all theseyears, during their last visit Mitch hugged Morrie for what will be the last timeand began to cry. From here on the action begins to fall as we can predict theoutcome will be Morrie’s death.

Falling Action

The Falling Action is the events after the Climax, which close thestory and lead to the resolution. The falling action begins just after Morriemakes Mitch cry. Morrie dies not too long after and Mitch attends hisfuneral.

Resolution/ Denouement

The resolution is the outcome of all the events in the story. Duringone of the Tuesday lessons, Morrie says to Mitch, “you talk I’ll listen” (188);implying that after his death he still wants Mitch to talk with him just as hedid when he was alive. At the end of the novel, when Mitch is at Morrie’sfuneral he tried talking with Morrie and was pleasantly surprised at hownatural it felt. We can assume that Mitch will continue to find comfort andguidance in his life through these conversations with Morrie.

Resolution/ Denouement

With his new outlook on life, Mitch also tried contacting his sickbrother in Spain. For the first time, Mitch told his brother how much hewanted to be a part of his life and how much he loves him. At the end of thenovel we can tell that Mitch and his brother will continue to remain incontact as opposed to before.

Morrie’s Teaching

Quotation:

Take my condition. The things I am supposed to be embarrassed about now — not being able to walk, not being able to wipe my ass, waking up some mornings wanting to cry

— there is nothing innately embarrassing about them. It's the

same for women not being thin enough, or men not being rich

enough. It's just what our culture

Lesson:

Morrie speaks these words of advice to Mitch during their eleventh Tuesdaytogether, when they talk specifically about culture. Gradually, Morrie has come toaccept his physical handicaps, just as he has come to accept his impending death. Hecomplains that the culture is wrong to deem natural physical need as sociallyembarrassing, and thus he refuses to believe that his handicaps are shameful. Inrejecting the values of the popular culture, Morrie creates creates his own set ofmores, which accommodate the physical shortcomings popular culture finds pitiableand embarrassing.

Lesson:

Morrie says this to his class in a flash back during the second Tuesday. Hehas asked his class to perform a trust fall exercise, in which the students test oneanother's trust and reliability by doing trust falls; one student will fall straightbackwards and must rely on another student to catch them. Not one student can trustanother until one girl falls without flinching. Morrie notes that the girl had closedher eyes, and says that this exercise serves as a metaphor for the secret to trust inrelationships; one must sometimes trust blindly, relying only on what they feel toguide them in their decision-making.

Lesson:

As Morrie sees it, popular culture is adictator under which the human community mustsuffer. He has already suffered enough from hisdisease, and does not see why he should seeksocial acceptance if it is not conducive to hispersonal happiness. Throughout the book, popularculture is portrayed as a vast brainwashingmachine, wiping clean the minds of the public,and replacing the inherent kindness they posses atbirth with a ruthless greed and selfish focus.

Lesson:

He uses the exercise to teach his students that trustworthiness is a qualityshared by two people in a partnership, and that each person takes a risk in trustingthe other. This risk, however, is a risk that people must take. Morrie teaches hisstudents that trust is blind; one can only judge whether or not to trust another basedon an instinctive feeling, not because of any rational judgment or method ofthinking. To trust someone is to close your eyes and fall back, hoping that theperson your instincts have told you is trustworthy will catch you and keep you fromharm

Quotation:

As you grow, you learn more. If you stayed as ignorant as you were at

twenty- two, you'd always be twenty-two. Aging is not just decay,

you know. It's growth. It's more than the negative that you're going

to die, it's the positive that you understand you're going to die, and that you live a better life because of

it.

Lesson:

Morrie speaks these words of advice toMitch on their seventh Tuesday together, whenthey discuss the common fear of aging. Morrietells Mitch that the happiness of youth is a farce,as not only do young people suffer very realmiseries, but they do not have the wisdom of ageto deal with them. Morrie has never fearedaging; he embraces it. He believes that if he wereto wish for youth, that would indicate hisdissatisfaction with the life he has lived.

Lesson:

He explains to Mitch that to fight age is fight a hopeless battle, becauseaging and death are inevitable, and a natural part of the life cycle. Morrie has livedthrough every age up to his own, and he is therefore a part of each of them. He doesnot wish to return to these particular ages, as each of them are constituents of theman he is now. He is more eager to explore new frontiers he must face in the future,even if that future is very limited. In accepting his own death, Morrie is able to savorthe little time he has left to live, instead of wasting away, frustrated and angry thathis time on earth is soon to end.

Quotation:

The truth is . . . once you learn how to die, you learn how to live.

Lesson:

Morrie says this on the fourth Tuesday in response to Mitch's questionabout how one can prepare for death. He responds with a Buddhist philosophy thatevery day, one must ask the bird on his shoulder if that day is the day he will die.The philosophy serves as a metaphor for his awareness that his death may come atany moment. The bird itself is symbolic of Morrie's consciousness that his death isfast-approaching, and his readiness to accept it when it does arrive. He hopes thatMitch will realize that this bird is on everyone's shoulder at every moment of theirlives, despite how young or old they may be.

Lesson:When he tells Mitch that one must

know how to die before one can know how tolive, he means that one must accept thepossibility of one's own death before he cantruly appreciate what he has on earth, as thesobering awareness that one day, it will all beout of reach, prompts the urge to appreciate andvalue what one can have only for a limitedperiod of time, and to use every moment of thattime doing something that one will not regretwhen the bird sings its last note.

Quotation:

After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly

precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not move quickly enough. No more playing

music at half-empty night clubs. No more writing songs in my

apartment, songs that no one would hear.

Lesson:

Mitch reveals this resolution in the third chapter of the book, The Student,in which he describes the passionate, earnest, innocent young man he had beenbefore entrenching himself in greed and material wealth. Upon the untimely death ofhis favorite uncle, Mitch's outlook on life is forever changed. He suddenly feels thatthe time is precious, and is compelled to live his life to its fullest potential, which, atthe time, he believes is the attainment of financial success.

Lesson:

The quote serves as Mitch's explanation of how he has transformed from anhonest, hopeful young man into a money-grubbing professional who has abandonedhis long-harbored how to die before one can know how to live, he means that onemust accept the possibility of one's own death before he can truly appreciate what hehas on earth, as the sobering awareness that one day, it will all be out of reach,prompts the urge to appreciate and value what one can have only for a limited periodof time, and to use every moment of that time doing something that one will notregret when the bird sings its last note.

Setting: Time and place

Setting:

Albom begins his visits to Morrie in mid-1995, during the climax of theO.J. Simpson murder trial. Simpson, an acclaimed star football player, had beenon trial for the June 1994, murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, andher acquaintance, Ronald Goldman. Simpson had pleaded "absolutely not guilty"to the double murder, although he had been known for violence against his ex-wife and had led the police in a car chase. Major controversy surrounded jurymembers, who were said to have been racially biased in Simpson's favor.

Setting:

When in October of 1995,the jury acquitted Simpson of themurder charges, the nation suffereda severe racial division, whiteagainst black, evidenced inTuesdays With Morrie by Connie'shorror at the announcement of the"not guilty" verdict.

Setting:

In Tuesdays With Morrie, Mitch recalls how the political controversies ofthe 1970's affected his and Morrie's years at Brandeis University. Following thenation's withdrawal from the Vietnam War in 1973, and former President Nixon'sresignation from office in 1974, the Brandeis campus, like many college campusesnation-wide, was a hot bed for political debate and protest. Continuing the thread ofracial tension in Tuesdays With Morrie, is a story Morrie tells about an incident inwhich he had acted as the negotiator between the university president and a group ofblack students who felt that they were being oppressed by the school administration.

Setting:

The students had establishedtheir protesting grounds in one of theuniversity's science buildings, andhung a banner from a window thatread: "Malcolm X University." Thebanner paid homage to Malcolm X, apremier black leader and militantadvocate of black nationalism whowas assassinated in 1965.

Characters

Mitch Albom

Morrie's former student at BrandeisUniversity, and the narrator of the book. After havingabandoned his dreams of becoming a famous musician,he is disgusted by his desire for financial success andmaterial wealth, though neither fill the void andunhappiness he feels. He has been working himselfnearly to death, and suddenly finds himself out of a jobwhen the staff at the newspaper he writes for decides tostrike. Each Tuesday, he learns from Morrie, his that heneeds to reassess his life, and to value love overmoney, and happiness over success.

Maurie Stein

A good friend of Morrie'swho sends some of Morrie'saphorisms to a Boston Globe reporterwho eventually publishes a featurestory on Morrie. The reporter's articleprompts Ted Koppel to ask Morrie foran interview

Connie

Morrie's home health aidewho is always there to assist Morriein going to the bathroom, getting intohis chair, and eating his meals. She isin disbelief when O.J. Simpson isvoted not guilty by the court jury.

Norman

An old friend of Morrie's who he has long been estranged from. He hadbeen an artist, and had sculpted a bust of Morrie, a deft depiction of his features. Heeventually moved away, and shortly thereafter, did not send his regards to Morrie orCharlotte although he knew that Charlotte would be undergoing a serious surgery.Because of his carelessness, Morrie forfeits his friendship with him and refuses toaccept his apology, which he regrets, especially after his death a few yearsfollowing their break up.

Al Axelrad

Arabbi from Brandeis and a long-time friend of Morrie's. He performsMorrie's funeral service.

Rob and Jon

Morrie's two adult sons who,though they live far, often travel toBoston to visit Morrie, especially as hiscondition worsens.

Tony

Morrie's home care worker who helps himin and out of his swimming suit.

Theme

The Rejection of Popular Cultural Mores in Favor of Self-created Values

Each of Morrie's lessons contributes to alarger, all-encompassing message that eachindividual, Mitch especially, should reject popularcultural values, and instead develop his own. AsMorrie sees it, popular culture is a dictator underwhich the human community must suffer. In hisown life, Morrie has fled this cultural dictatorshipin favor of creating his own culture founded onlove, acceptance, and open communication.

The Rejection of Popular Cultural Mores in Favor of Self-created Values

He develops his own culture as a revolt againstthe media-driven greed, violence andsuperficiality which has tarnished the morespromoted by popular culture. Morrieencourages Mitch to free himself of thiscorrupt, dictatorial culture in favor of his own,and it is only when he does that he begins toreassess his life and rediscover fulfillment.

"Love Or Perish"

Morrie recites a quote by his favorite poet,W. H. Auden, to encompass one of his most importantlessons to Mitch: in the absence of love, there is avoid that can be filled only by loving humanrelationships. When love abounds, Morrie says, aperson can experience no higher sense of fulfillment.Throughout his fourteen Tuesday lessons with Mitch,Morrie divulges that love is the essence of everyperson, and every relationship, and that to livewithout it, as Auden says, is to live with nothing.

"Love Or Perish"

The importance of love in his life is especially clear to Morrie as he nearshis final days, for without the meticulous care of those he loves, and who love him,he would perish. Morrie clings to life not because he is afraid of dying or because hefears what will become of him in the afterlife, but because his greatest dying wish isto share his story with Mitch so that he may share it with the world. Morrie clingsjust long enough to divulge the essence of his story, then releases himself to death,leaving Mitch and his audience with the message that love brings meaning toexperience, and that without it, one may as well be dead.

Acceptance Through Detachment

In his quest to accept his impending death, Morrie consciously "detacheshimself from the experience" when he suffers his violent coughing spells, all ofwhich come loaded with the possibility of his last breath. Morrie derives hismethod of detachment from the Buddhist philosophy that one should not cling tothings, as everything that exists is impermanent. In detaching, Morrie is able tostep out of his tangible surroundings and into his own state of consciousness,namely for the sake of gaining perspective and composure in a stressful situation.

Acceptance Through Detachment

Morrie does not intend to stop feeling orexperiencing in his detachment, but instead,wants to experience wholly, for it is only thenthat he is able to let go, to detach from a life-threatening experience which renders himfearful and tense. He does not want to diefeeling upset, and in these frightening moments,detaches so that he may accept theimpermanence of his life and embrace his death,which he knows may come at any moment.

Motif

The MediaThe media is continually portrayed in

Tuesdays With Morrie as being inherently evil,sucking Mitch dry of his passion and ambition,and feeding the public stories of murder andhatred that have ravaged the goodness of theworld's general community. Mitch, who is outof work due to a unionized strike at the Detroitnewspaper he writes for, continually noticesthe horrific events reported by the media he fora long time has been a part of.

The Media

He reads about homicides, torture, theft, and a dozen other gruesomecrimes that serve to juxtapose the evil of the popular culture with the goodness ofthe world Morrie has created for himself. The O.J. Simpson murder trial alsomakes multiple appearances throughout the book, and provides Mitch withevidence to support his claim that the the general populous has become dependenton, and somewhat addicted to, media coverage of relatively meaningless stories,stories that contribute nothing to personal development or goodness as a humanbeing.

Reincarnation and Renewal

Reincarnation and renewal are presented as facets of both life anddeath; in life, Morrie teaches that a person is ever-changing, and in death, looksforward to some form of new life with the natural progression of the life cycle.With Morrie as his mentor, Mitch is able to reincarnate himself in life,transforming a man who was once motivated by material wealth into a man whois motivated by a passion to love, and to emulate the man who has so touchedhis life. Morrie reveals that despite his old age, he is still changing, as everyperson does until their dying day.

Food

Each Tuesday, Mitch brings withhim a bag of food from the grocery store forMorrie to enjoy, as he knows that hisprofessor's favorite hobby, second todancing, is eating. Morrie can no longerdance, and soon, he can no longer eat thefood that Mitch brings him, either, as hishealth and strength have deteriorated somuch, he can no longer ingest solids.

Food

The food that he brings for Morrieserves as a reminder for Mitch of the dayshe and his professor would eat together inthe cafeteria at Brandeis, when he had beenyoung and passionate, and Morrie energeticand in good health.

Now, Mitch has been corrupted bycommercial wealth, and Morrie by hisillness.

Food

Although he knows that Morrie can nolonger eat solids, Mitch continues to bringfood each week because he so fears Morrie'sfast-approaching death. The food Mitch bringshim acts as a means by which to cling toMorrie and the fond memories Mitch has of hisfavorite professor. Mitch also feels that food isthe only gift he can give to Morrie, and feelshelpless as to how to soothe him any otherway.

Symbol

Pink hibiscus plant

As Morrie's body deteriorates, so does thecondition of the hibiscus plant. The plant's pinkpetals wither and fall as Morrie grows increasinglydependent on his aides and on oxygen. As hisdeath approaches, so does the death of the plant. Itis continually used as a metaphor for Morrie's lifeand for life itself. Like the plant, humans, Morriein particular, experience a natural life cycle, whichinevitably ends in death. Morrie must accept thisinevitable fate, as must Mitch.

Waves on the ocean

Morrie recounts a story he had heardabout a small wave seeing the waves ahead ofhim crash on the shore, disappearing intonothingness. He suddenly brims with fear uponthe realization that he too will soon 'crash onthe shore' and, die as the wave fears he will.This little wave confides his fear in anotherwave who comforts him with the news that hewill not crash and die, but will instead return tobecome a small part of the larger ocean.

Waves on the oceanThis small wave is symbolic of

Morrie, as he too is on the brink of crashinginto a theoretical shore, a symbolicembodiment of his death. Like the wave,Morrie is comforted by the knowledge thathe will soon return to something larger inthe afterlife. Morrie's affinity for the parabledenotes his belief in a form ofreincarnation, which he understands asintrinsic part of the natural life cycle.

Morrie's bed

Morrie's aphorism, "When you're inbed, you're dead," eventually comes true.Throughout Morrie's struggle with ALS, herefuses to stay in bed, as he sees it as a formof surrender, and instead opts to rest in thechair in his study. Morrie intends to live hislast days as fully as he can, and knows that ifhe is to remain in bed, he will surrenderhimself to death by forfeiting the simpleenjoyment he gets from lying in his study.

Morrie's bed

In his study, photographs of loved ones,and the books he has collected in his lifetimesurround Morrie. There, he can look outside of hiswindow, and though he cannot go outside, headmires the beauty of the seasons and the plantand animal life outdoors. It is not until Morrie'sfinal days that he does stay in bed, when he has atlast accepted and readied himself for death.

Additional Facts

Full Title:

Tuesdays With Morrie: An Old Man, A young Man, and Life's

Greatest Lesson

Author

Mitch Albon

Type of Work

Non-fiction

GenreAutobiographical

documentary

Language

English

Time and place written

Detroit, Michigan, mid-1990's

Date of first publication

1997

Publisher

Doubleday

NarratorMitch Albom

Setting: Time

Early-mid 1990 &Otidle;s

Setting: Place

West Newton, Massachusetts

Protagonist

Mitch Albom (and/or MorrieSchwartz)

Setting: Place

West Newton, Massachusetts

Point of view

The narrator speaks in the first personfor the majority of the novel, with theexception of a few passages in which he hadnot been present. With the exception ofthese passages, the narrator provides asubjective view of all other charactersintroduced.

Tone

Mitch's narration uses very basiclanguage, as most of the book is composedof dialogue between him and Morrie, word-for word conversations he has transcribedafter having tape recorded them prior toMorrie's death. Mitch's attitude towardsMorrie is nothing less than sweet andadoring.

Tense

Frequently shifts in tense from presentto past; description of past events is relayedthrough a series of flash backs interspersedthroughout present tense narrations.

Major Conflict

Morrie grapples to accept hisimpending death from ALS and is visitedeach Tuesday by his former star student,Mitch, who has become disillusioned by thepopular culture.

Climax

Morrie is visited by Mitch for what willbe the last time, and finally, after years oftrying, gets Mitch to cry openly.

Falling Action

Mitch attends Morrie's funeral andconducts a conversation with him in hishead as he had promised he would, evenafter his death.

Foreshadowing

One of Morrie's last aphorisms is,"When you're in bed, you're dead." On whatwill be his last visit to with Morrie, Mitchknows that death is fast- approaching, asMorrie has, after a long battle with ALS,moved from his study to the confines of hisbed. Days later, Morrie dies in his bed.

Thank you …