The final chapter

It is clear when reading this book that Morrie will die in the end. Morrie was only able to hold on for a few months after finding out he had ALS. In that time he was able to sit with Mitch and create an amazing book, Tuesdays with Morrie. There long discussions on Tuesdays were turned into a book after Morrie’s death. The money that Mitch made from the book was used to pay off Morrie’s enormous medical bills.

Morrie died on a Saturday morning in November all his immediate family was able to see him before he died. They slept in shift around his bed as he has fallen into a coma a few days after Mitch had made his final visit. He was able to hang on for four days after that, and when his room was empty for the first time in that four days Morrie stopped breathing.

Although his death was very sad, the people he knew and loved were at peace with his death. He was no longer going to be in constant pain, and wouldn’t have to have everything done for him. His family knew that it was his time and he was ready.

”My father moved through theys of we, singing each new leaf out of each tree (and every child was sure that spring danced when she heard my father sing)…”

- a poem by E. E. Cummings, read by Morrie’s son rob at his memorial

Character analysis

Mitch is a sports writer who gave up his dream of becoming a musician for a life based on money, success and materialistic things. Since his college graduation he has become very devoted to his to money and success. He works most days and nights leaving little time to himself or his wife. When the union for the Detroit newspaper goes on strike, he finds himself for the first time, without steady work or paycheck. Since his visits with Morrie and the strike, he becomes very frustrated with his career choice, His materialistic ways and how he treats his relationships. Through his meetings with Morrie, he realizes that he must change his life. He wants to change his values and priorities so that he can create a fulfilling life for himself before it is too late.

Through his meetings with Morrie, he has learned how much of his life he has wasted consumed in his work. After listening to Morrie’s philosophies Mitch finds his life quite meaningless. As he watches Morrie get closer to his death each week, Mitch sees what he must change in his life: he wants to die knowing that he has lived his life to the fullest, that he has loved and forgiven himself as well as the people in his life. Morrie helps him see the man who he wants to become; he would like to value love instead of money and accept people over pop-culture and media gossip. Morrie was successful at getting through to Mitch and it allows Mitch to see life from a whole new perspective.

Characteristics

Mitch has two sides of his personality that are shown in the book, the one before his meetings with Morrie who was self-centered, materialistic, ignorant, unhappy, and unfulfilled with his life. And the man after his meetings with Morrie who was loving, compassionate, interested, funny, smart and a great listener who now cared less about him self and more about loving the people around him.

Character analysis

Morrie Schwartz

Morrie, who the book is written about, spent most of his life as a college professor at Brandeis University. He continues to teach as long as he could even after being diagnosed with ALS. He realizes that he is dying and learned to accept his death he wanted to share his philosophies, on the meaning of life, with everyone. He is able to do this in two ways, through the “Nightline” show with Ted Koppel and through Mitch Albom and this novel. He and Mitch met every Tuesday to do their “final thesis” together, which was published into Tuesdays with Morrie.

Morrie’s most significant characteristics is his ability to draw human sprit and genuine emotion from everyone he talked to. Morrie believes that love and compassion are crucial in living a happy life. He is determined to see Mitch return to his caring self that he was in college when in Morrie’s class. During their meetings, he tells Mitch stories about his life and about his personal beliefs. He teaches him to reject the materialistic things in life and to create his own values. Through their weeks together Morrie is also successful at drawing emotion out of Mitch during their last lesson, as they are hugging goodbye, Morrie sees Mitch begin to cry.

Morrie is adamant about rejecting the “norms” and values that so many people believed and maintaining his own. He has learned to accept his death and manages to continue offering everything he had, love and compassion until he dies.

Morrie also accepts and does not become ashamed of his disabilities. When he became so sick and could no longer do his daily tasks without help from others, he embraces this and enjoys feeling like a baby again. Since he was so deprived of love in his childhood, he now lived for the affection and love from others. It’s as if he has returned to his childhood and is finally getting the love he wanted as a child.

Characteristics

- Intelligent - compassionate
- wise - loving
- unique - happy
- accepting - optimistic
- realistic

Review- Tuesdays with Morrie

Morrie Schwartz was a college philosophy professor at Brandeis University for over thirty years. One of his students was Mitch Albom who is also the author of Tuesdays with Morrie. Morrie and Mitch became good friends during the time he was in college. Then Mitch graduated and went on with his life, he became caught up in his own life and to busy to keep in contact with his professor.

Sixteen years later, Mitch is now a sports newscaster and writer. He and his wife were always striving to make more money and gain more success. Then one night Mitch was watching Nightline. Ted Koppel was interviewing Morrie. And Mitch was surprised to discover Morrie is dying. He has ALS a neurological disease that attacks every muscle in his body.

After seeing Morrie on T.V Mitch calls him. He is delighted to hear from him again, and immediately invites him to visit. This is when there fourteen week (every Tuesday) visits talking about life began. It is a funny and insightful book about life lessons. Morrie is now able to take a look at life from the "end of life" viewpoint. He is happy to share his knowledge with Mitch and everyone he loves.
This book is about the life of both Morrie and Mitch. They taped their visits each time Mitch visited. They talked about many big questions in life (what is love, living, death, marriage, relationships) and the smaller questions (what's for lunch, how's your wife, how's your son). Mitch and Morrie regain the relationship that they once had. Morrie rediscovered his old friend. Morrie was also able to use what time he had left doing what he loved, teaching.

The book is a great mix of every emotion it’s not too depressing even though it mainly deals with death, yet it doesn’t sugar coat what death is. Instead it is a great story about friendship and life lessons. It is a short book, and is worth it. Mitch is able to portray Morrie in a very interesting way you see when he is dying and when he was not.

I don’t normally read but I found this book to be amazing. I'm glad I finally made the time for it. Once I finished the book I immediately began reading it again. I give this book two huge thumbs up, and recommend it to anyone looking for a interesting story about life with a unique view point.

Number 12

This is the thirteenth Tuesday and they talk about “the perfect day”. At this point it had been 6 months since Mitch and Morrie began talking on Tuesdays. ALS had completely taken over Morrie; he had an oxygen tube down his throat and couldn’t move from his bed at all, Morrie would cough for up to an hour straight. No matter the circumstance the men still had there Tuesday conversation and on this one they talked about the perfect day. Mitch started off the discussion with a question to Morrie he asked him if someone could make him better would he want to be, Morrie answered Mitch by saying no, he thought that he would be a different person had he not gotten sick. Mitch was shocked that even at his very low Morrie wouldn’t look at his disease as a burden. Mitch then asked morrie what his perfect day would be and Morrie answered saying

“I would get up in the morning and do my exercises, have a lovely breakfast of sweet rolls and tea, go for a swim, then have my friends over for a nice lunch. I’d have them come one or two at a time so we could talk about their families, their issues, talk about how much we mean to each other. Then I would like to take a walk, in the garden with some trees, watch their colors, watch the birds, then take in the nature that I haven’t seen in so long now. In the evening, we’d dance the rest of the night. I’d dance with the wonderful dance partners out there, until I was exhausted. And then I’d go home and have a deep sleep” page 175-176 "Tuesdays with Morrie"

Mitch could not believe that even after being sick for so long the perfect day Morrie chose was nothing more then average. Mitch would have guessed that Morrie would want to take a plane somewhere far and do something exotic, but he wanting nothing more then to enjoy the simple things in life again.

number 11

It is the twelfth Tuesday and on this day the two men talk about forgiveness. This was an interesting topic to Mitch; did a man like Morrie, on his death bed have anyone he wanted to forgive before he died? With some hesitation Mitch asked Morrie, he told Mitch a story about an old friend named Norman, they had been friends and did everything together but when Norman and his wife moved away and did not call or try to keep in touch and Morrie was very hurt. Although over the years Morrie did see Norman a few times he told Mitch that he was unable to forgive him and could never look past the fact that Norman didn’t try to stay closer. He also told Mitch that a few years earlier Norman died of cancer, as the tears began to roll down his face he told Morrie how sad it made him that he was never able to forgive Norman and now he would never have the chance.

Number 10

It is the eleventh Tuesday that Mitch has gone to see Morrie, he is more sick then ever before the ALS has finally got to his lungs. Morrie is unable to finish a complete sentence without having to stop for air; he is hooked to a catheter and is confined to either his bed or chair. Still as always the two men continue with their usual conversation, on this Tuesday they talked about culture. Morrie explained to Mitch how in today’s culture it is all about money and greed; he explained that Mitch should create his own sub-culture and not fallow what everyone else was doing with their life. Morrie told Mitch how important it is in life to find the things that make you truly happy. He says "invest in the human family, invest in people. Build a little community of those you love and who love you" page 157 Tuesdays with Morrie. In this chapter I learned a lot I agree with the things Morrie is telling Mitch, most people are focused on unimportant things that in the end don’t matter. As the book is coming to an end I am excited to see what happens but am hoping it will be a happy ending.

number 9

Now it is the tenth Tuesday and it is very different from the rest. On this Tuesday the conversation was not only between Mitch and Morrie it also included Mitch’s wife Janie. When Mitch and Janie arrived at Morrie’s house they were greeted by a huge smile, Morrie seemed to be extra happy with a new face in the room. On this Tuesday they talked about the importance of marriage, and his 44 year marriage to his wife Charlotte. Mitch, Morrie and Janie talked as though they had known each other for years, Mitch was amazed at how comfortable his wife was with Morrie, she sang, talked and asked so many questions Mitch could not even believe it was his wife. The three talked for hours and by the end of there conversation Mitch felt so much closer to his professor.

This video is one of the "nightline" episodes that Morrie did with Ted Koppel,talking about life lessons http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyPKXZSFSP0

Number 8

On the ninth Tuesday Mitch and Morrie discuses love. As a child Morrie’s mother died and a few years later his father had a heart attack. Morrie had to identify the body of his father; a man who Morrie said had not shown him any love, had not kissed him, had never really even talked to him and had told him to never speak of his mother even though Morrie so badly wanted to. When Morrie tells Mitch the story this when he comes to the conclusion that Morrie so loved human interaction and showing his love to others because it had not been shown to him.

It was really sad to hear the story of his childhood because Morrie went through such a difficult time losing both of his parents as a child and never really being shown love.

number 7

On the eighth Tuesday Mitch and Morrie talk about money and power. Mitch had spent the past sixteen years of his life working towards more stuff, houses, cars, and accomplishments. In talking to Morrie he finds that everything he worked so hard for meant nothing, the things that were meaningful you could not buy. No matter how much stuff you have it doesn’t always bring happiness it is the people around you that bring happiness.

I thought this was a good lesson and yeah it has been said a million time money can’t bring happiness but not many people actually live it. I look around just a small population like the west high school and everyone cares about getting the best coolest clothes and the latest technology but when we die will any of that stuff matter? No not at all because like it has been said a million times you can’t take it with you.

Number 6

It is the seventh Tuesday that Mitch has gone to see Morrie the topic today was aging. The two men sat together, Morrie surrounded by pillow and foam to keep him comfortable, coughing and wheezing, today was the day that Morrie had been dreading since finding out he had ALS. This was the day he could no longer do even the most basic task of going to the washroom and wiping himself. He had to have everything done for him; he was now eating from a tube and found it hard to talk for long periods of time without stopping. Morrie had to have everything done for him but still had an optimistic look on his situation. When Mitch asked Morrie if he was envious of the young he answered “what is there to be envious of” Morrie realized he wasn’t physically capable of doing thing for him self but he had to much life experience and knowledge and loving people in his like to be envious. Even though he couldn’t do something a simple as roll over he took at is a gift, his daily back rubs and constant attention was like being a baby again. Morrie told Mitch that everyone would love to go back to when they had constant, uninterrupted attention and now that is what he had.

I can’t get over how great this book is. How can someone who can’t go to the washroom alone see a positive? It astounds me.

Number 5

This book just keeps on getting better. It jumps a lot from the past, when Mitch was in many of Morrie's college classes, to stories of Morrie's childhood and to the present day when they talked about everything they also talked about the future, what would happen after Morrie died. I really like how this book is written I find it hard to fallow books that jump around but this one is very clear and easy to understand. The more I read this book the more I love it. To hear the story of man who is on his death bed giving people such valuable information makes me a bit jealous I haven’t met anyone like Morrie. He says everything like it is a poem and doesn’t care about materialistic things, this book teaches many great life lessons and you would be dumb not to read it.

Number 4

Mitch has continued to go see Morrie every Tuesday. At this point Mitch had written a list of things he wanted to talk about with Morrie the list contained many topics such as emotion, marriage, love, money, power and Mitch had also began to record their conversations. It was his way of always having a piece of Morrie with him even after he dies. By now it was the fifth Tuesday, when Mitch arrived at the house he was not greeted by the normal smiling Morrie, today Morrie was sad although he did not often feel sorry for him self he was human and had his moments. On this particular Tuesday Morrie seemed sick, even though had been sick for so long on this day Mitch saw it. Morrie could not stop coughing and chocking on phlegm he was weak and constantly needed to be moved so he was not be in pain, but still they went on just like any other day. This day they talked about emotion, Morrie told Mitch how important is was to show your emotions and feel but not to dwell on them because they only make you stronger.

THIS BOOK IS SOOOOOO GOOOOOD!!!!!!!

Number 3

I am now on chapter ten and a lot has happened. When Mitch returns home after his first visit with Morrie he finds that the union he worked for as a writer has gone on strike, being a member of his union Mitch had no choice but to be a part of it. For the first time he didn’t not have a paycheck coming in and this some how made him feel meaningless. With all the spare time Mitch could go and see Morrie every Tuesday, and that he did. They would talk for hours about everything from life, death, fears, dreams anything they could think of really. Mitch was starting to get so much knowledge and from a man on his death bed. Morrie’s words made Mitch feel stupid for worrying about such unimportant things in life, he began to realize family and friends were all you need to be happy.

I am really enjoying this book and I did not no it was a true story until I did some research. This story is very touching and sad but it is interesting to hear the thoughts of a man about to die, everything that is said in the book by Morrie is so true and I can’t wait to read more.

Number 2

When Mitch sees Morrie after 16 years it was like it had only been a week since they last saw each other. The two men could keep a solid conversation going no matter what. They were constantly running through different topics and in one day would talk about more things then some people do in a week. Mitch was very happy to see Morrie and it gave him a comfortable feeling to be sitting with him. Mitch hadn’t keep in touch with anyone from college, although he made promises he would. Work and marriage seemed to consume his life now, nothing else seemed to matter. In a way Mitch was going to see Morrie for some guidance.

The things that these two men talk about a very interesting and I am learning a lot. I can't wait to see what other things may come from this book.