Literary Analysis Of Tuesdays With Morrie By Mitch Albom
A memoir is usually a written description of an experience. A memoir differs from an autobiography because it is usually focused on one major event in the life of the author. Mitch Albom’s Tuesdays with Morrie is a touching, insightful memoir that recounts the moments he spent with Morrie Schwartz who was his former mentor and college professor. Albom describes in detail Morrie’s final months as he battled ALS, a terminal and debilitating disease. Albom gives the reader an accurate picture of himself as a narrator by describing his reactions to Morrie and his impressions. Mitch Albom, with his use of images and extreme details to enhance meaning, is a master at telling a story.
Mitch Albom makes it clear that Morrie’s health is deteriorating and he will soon die. Albom explains in the first line that “the last class my old professor taught took place every week at his house,” a reference to Morrie’s imminent death (17). Albom then reveals in Chapter 2 that Morrie was “sentenced to death” in summer 1994. This abrupt introduction is unusual. Albom chose to start the story much later in life, at the end of Professor’s life. It is a good use of literary technique medias res to begin the memoir by describing Morrie’s illness. This immediately puts the reader into the story. Mitch’s desperation is heightened by the audience’s awareness that Morrie’s life is slipping away.
Mitch Albom is a master at presenting the reader with vivid details and powerful imagery. He does this to effectively generate sympathy for Morrie and Mitch as well as a strong emotional attachment to their relationship. Albom uses imagery to convey the seriousness of the situation. ALS begins as a serious condition that worsens with time. Albom mimics the progression in his descriptions. Each chapter brings to light a different aspect of Morrie’s disease. The reader feels as though they are living the challenges with him. Morrie is not struggling much at first, but his struggles are obvious. He “kept falling so he bought a cane.” It was then that he stopped walking around freely. Then, “he hired his first homecare worker which was the end to his privacy”. Mitch Albom relates these events in chronological order. Albom, rather than listing all the trials Morrie endured in his lifetime, presents each to the reader, allowing the reader to perceive Morrie’s degradation. Albom employs imagery to further explain ALS. He explains “ALS like a candle that is lit: It melts your nervous system and leaves you with a pile wax” (24). The familiarity of the melting candle underscores Morrie’s brutal disease. Most people are familiar with the melting of a candle. However, few know what ALS is like. It is easier to understand Morrie’s condition when you visualize his body “melting”.
Mitch Albom’s sentences in Tuesdays with Morrie are often structured to highlight key points. Mitch Albom’s paragraphs end with short statements that highlight important themes. Albom uses this style of writing to highlight meaning throughout his memoir. “He wouldn’t wither.” is an example. He would be proud to die. Separating them from the rest reading helps to highlight certain messages. The memoir is centered around the idea that Morrie will not be defined by this disease. Morrie continues the book by saying, “Not everyone is as lucky” (62) or “Death doesn’t end a lifetime, it ends a relationship.” (149), which are both sentences that deserve their own paragraph. The audience must understand that these sentences sum up the whole memoir. It is important to isolate these phrases in order to bring the focus of the audience on these key points.
Mitch Albom, the author of Tuesdays with Morrie and the narrator is clearly the main character. However, the majority of the book is devoted to Morrie. Morrie is the most important character in Tuesdays With Morrie. While readers can share Mitch Albom’s point-of-view and learn about Morrie’s story, it’s through Morrie’s experience that the audience gets to know the most. Albom’s reactions and observations about Morrie’s situation reveal the most about him. Albom gives the reader a glimpse of Mitch’s development from before to after Morrie’s visits. Albom writes, “My days had been full but I remained unsatisfied for most of the day” (43). Albom’s daily routine is clear from the very beginning of his memoir. After he loses his job, Albom gains clarity. Morrie gave Mitch Albom the perspective he desperately needed. Mitch’s development is apparent in the later chapters of his memoir as he absorbs Morrie’s advice. He starts to see what is most important. When he asked, “How can I learn to pay attention?” he was demonstrating this breakthrough. What could be more important? “I know that it’s more important than nearly everything we were taught in college.” (121). Mitch’s true personality is revealed in Mitch’s final chapter. Mitch Albom, humbly wiping his professor’s foot, says “[Morrie] made me finally cry,” something he never would have said at the beginning his relationship with Morrie. Mitch Albom revealed the most of himself to his professor when they met. These meetings are when Mitch Albom’s genuine reactions and reflections shine through to the reader. These reflections show how deeply he was affected by Morrie and what he learned. Albom’s memoir is centered on his former professor because this event was so monumental in his life.
Some readers may say the opposite: that the book is not as effective because it focuses on just one event from Mitch Albom’s past. Albom does not write much about his personal and childhood life. Albom has a lot of life experiences that could be included in an autobiography. This memoir, however, is more about the wisdom and lessons Albom has learned. Mitch Albom lived a life that was repetitive and meaningless before he met Morrie. It would be ineffective to dwell on this part of his past, as it is also largely repetitive and meaningless. Albom’s explanation at the start of his memoir is enough. He had a good job, traveled a lot, and led a decent lifestyle, but not what he imagined. Albom didn’t really start his life until he found purpose in Morrie. The memoir should begin at this stage in Albom’s life.
The nostalgia of the author is evident throughout the book, giving the reader an insight into Mitch Albom. The chapters are separated by a short, present-tense essay on the past. Albom also gives a few brief excerpts on their relationship from when Mitch first entered Morrie’s class and Morrie met Mitch’s parents. Mitch was a student in Morrie’s college class when Mitch met Morrie and Morrie first met Mitch. These short glimpses in the past help the reader understand Albom and his professor’s deep relationship, which dates back years into Albom’s development years.
The epiphany expressed by the author is included in the final chapter. Albom, who witnessed Morrie’s ALS battle firsthand, is revealed most by his takeaway. Albom’s memoir ends with the following: “I want to talk to the person (…) that was me before (…). There’s no such thing in life as too late.” Mitch Albom isn’t just a list of events in his life like most autobiographies. His memoir is about the lessons Mitch Albom learnt from Morrie. In a memoir that is successful, the author shows some sort of character or growth development. Albom has a story to tell that is based on every experience.
Tuesdays With Morrie works as a memoir due to its unique style of storytelling and writing. While most memoirs include only the viewpoint of the narrator’s, Tuesdays with Morrie also includes the perspectives from the student and teacher. Morrie’s experiences are the ones that reveal most about the writer. Tuesdays With Morrie is a book that leaves a deep impression on readers because of its unique point-of-view, pathos, and epiphany.
