PROFILING the "Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom"

MORRIE SCHWARTZ

"Once you learn how to die, you learn how to live."
This statement reveals Morrie’s previous and early acquaintance to bereavement from his biological mother’s illness and to his father’s tragic death. Also to the death of his friend Norman. These heartbreaking moments really made an impact to Morrie’s life as he reiterate this quote frequently throughout the chapter to emphasize how vital and useful to accept death, and what a benefit it would be to living to what's left of our lives. It also serves as a self reminder to him how fool he and his father was before…if only they have realized it sooner, they would have much time to be warm and caring to each other. As a friend, he would not want Mitch to be like him in realizing too late the importance of living fully without regrets. Also, he serves as an example to Mitch as he wants the latter to perceive how he is able to appreciate the smaller, more genuine things in life.

"If you don't have the support and love and caring and concern that you get from a family, you don't have much at all. Love is so supremely important."
This passage proves that Morrie is a fan of Auden in saying, “Love each other or perish”. Also, this shares how Morrie pays great importance to family. In addition, with the help of his family and friends – “the spiritual security”, Morrie accepted and did not become ashamed of his disabilities. He embraces this and enjoys feeling like an infant or a child. Since he was so deprived of love in his childhood, he now thrives on the affection and love of others, which is usually the case when we are all infants who are solely dependent on our family. It’s as if he has returned to his childhood and is finally getting the love and compassion he so longed for as a young boy. The security and safety that he feels from his family makes him to think that the love among family members goes hand and hand with letting someone know that there will always be someone watching over them.



"So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they're busy doing things they think are important. This is because they're chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning."
The quote above acknowledges the idea of Morrie to the importance of investing in people and relating to others which will lead in a meaningful life. It is likely that this insight of Morrie developed during his teenage years at the fur factory when the sight and experience of the environment made him dislike those who exploit people for their own sake. These leads Morrie to think that they were hungry for love, that they were accepting substitutes, and were embracing material things and expecting a sort of hug back. Thus, he chooses to be a teacher who serves to others and to the community rather than a lawyer. The quote is served as a wake up call or likened to a stone thrown to Mitch’s consciousness because he’s guilty with this lifestyle: busy, career and success oriented, chased money and materialistic mentality.


MITCHELL “MITCH” ALBOM

“I was wrapped up in the siren song of my own life. I was busy”.

The passage reveals Mitch’s life before: disheartened and devoted to money and success. He was able to reassess his values thru meetings with Morrie. It also proves how Mitch was brainwashed by the culture he and the society made.


“I felt 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…”

The excerpt above signified how Morrie was affected by the death of his uncle. This leads him to think that the world was not all that interested and to give up his dream of becoming a musician for materialistic things. This statement from Mitch marked his self-burying in accomplishments. Because of the belief of inevitable death (his natural fate) similar to his uncle, he started to accept as true that accomplishments could help him control things – squeezing in every last piece of happiness before he got sick and die.


“I was ripped with guilt for what I felt I should be doing for him (Peter) and fueled with anger for his denying us the right to do it”.

The statement above uttered by Mitch shows his affect towards Peter (his brother). It can be said that Mitch was guilty, angry and hurt because Peter’s detachment from him and to their family. Also, it shows how Mitch was hurt not being with his brother who is having difficult times battling cancer by himself. Mitch missed his special times with his brother, and then he no longer have what he had with his brother…it is as if he never wanted those special times to stop.

His meetings with Morrie identifies with his father and brother which somehow gave him sense of guilt. On the other hand, he was glad that Morrie allowed him to be close while he (Morrie) was sick unlike his brother.

Because of the situation regarding the relationship between Morrie and Peter, the former learned a lesson about relationship thru the help of Morrie saying “There is no formula to relationships. They have to be negotiated in loving ways, with room for both parties, what they want and what they need, what they can do and what their life is like. In business, people negotiate to win. They negotiate to get what they want. Maybe you’re too used to that. Love is different. Love is when you are as concerned about someone else’s situation as you are about your own”.