tuesdays with Morrie

Author: Mitch Albom
Book Title: tuesdays with Morrie
Publisher: Broadway books
Place: USA
Date: 2002
No. of pages: 208 pages

Plot Summary:
Mitch was a university student when he first met Morrie that was professor of his university. Morrie’s lecture had an appeal for him and what’s more, Morrie’s gentle personality also attracted him. They often ate in the cafeteria and talked a lot. They were getting along very nicely with each other. Mitch had a big dream to be a musician after graduation of university, but his dream came crashing about his ears when he went out into the world. Ultimately he became a sport writer and succeeded. Mitch, who was busied in his job, watched the TV program ‘night line’ that his former teacher was appeared. Then, he knew that Morrie had a serious illness named ALS. (ALS is a brutal, unforgiving illness of the neurological system. It melts the nerves and leaves the body a pile of wax. The soul perfectly awake is imprisoned inside a limp husk. Morrie’s doctors guessed he had two years left. Morrie knew it was less.) Mitch decided to visit Morrie’s house having a guilty conscience because he had not tried to contact with Morrie for 15 years from graduating university. However, opposite of his concern, Morrie welcomed him and kissed him with a lot of love. Then, their last lecture was begun. The subject of the lecture was a life and it was hold on every Tuesday. It was Tuesdays that they sat together, by his desk, or in the cafeteria, or on the steps of Pearlman Hall, going over the work. Morrie was full of love for his surrounded though his death was close at hand. He wanted everyone he loved to touch in a way of mental and physical to feel their love. Then, Morrie became Mitch’s ‘coach’ again. Mitch became taking back his feeling about the desire for life and the love for others.

Setting:
The time, at the present, and the location is in Boston and at Detroit where Mitch was working at.

Point of view:
The story is told from the first person.
Conflict:
There are two conflicts in this story. First one is a conflict between Mitch and his emotion. He always had a trouble about what he. Morrie redeemed him from the confusion. The other is a conflict between Morrie and his illness. Though Morrie was suffered from the illness, he always faced directly to his illness and thought about how to enjoy the life with the illness.

Climax:
Climax is when Morrie was serious; Mitch gripped Morrie’s wrinkled hands. Morrie told his wisdom for life to Mitch with a lot of love. Finally, ‘I love you.’ Morrie said to Mitch.

Theme:
The theme of this book is ‘How life is wonderful.’ Though was in bad illness, he was always grieved at others’ sadness and rejoiced at others’ happiness. He told me that it is important for our life to understand others’ feeling and have kindness to them.

Symbol:
‘Tuesday’ is the symbol of this story. Their lecture was holding every Tuesdays so that Mitch managed to fit him in Tuesdays. The Tuesdays are their special days and Mitch always learned about his life from his great coach in Tuesdays.

Irony:
The irony of this book is the growth of Morrie’s disease. Ironically, Mitch could meet Morrie after an interval of fifteen years after he knew that Morrie was in illness. Though Mitch started to understand what was important for life, Morrie’s illness became worse and worse.

Evaluation:
This book was written in a little difficult English, so it was not so easy for me to understand. However the story of this book was very interesting for me so that I can read and read.
I was really impressed by Morrie’s words. For example,’ How can I be envious of where you are －when I’ve been there myself?’ he said to Mitch. People often yearn for youthful days and have discontent pent up about the present conditions. I can learn that the compliment will bring nothing but next compliment. Morrie told me that age is not a competitive issue. Though he was in bad illness that was grown and grown, he did not forget gratitude for his family, friends and the fact that he could live the morning. Before reading his words, I, who was in good health, could not to realize the wonderful thing that there are a lot of people around me and I can live. Now, I can feel the pleasure of everything around me. I really thank to this book to let me know the very important thing. Though this book deal with ‘death’, I could read it with a little sadness and a lot of warmth.