Discussion Topic
Character Development and Comparisons in Tuesdays with Morrie
Summary:
In Tuesdays with Morrie, Mitch Albom's character evolves from a career-driven journalist to a more introspective and compassionate individual. His weekly meetings with Morrie Schwartz, his former college professor, help Mitch rediscover values of love, family, and human connection. Morrie's wisdom and acceptance of his terminal illness starkly contrast with Mitch's initial materialistic worldview, illustrating the transformative power of mentorship and reflection.
What are the differences between Mitch and his brother in Tuesdays With Morrie?
In Tuesdays with Morrie, Mitch and his younger brother, Peter, are not as different as they might seem. Sure, the explicit biographical detail sets them immediately apart—Mitch is the tee-totaling, straight-A student, and Peter is the free-wheeling, reckless baby brother who experimented with drugs and took off to Europe to live. However, a closer examination reveals a lot of similarities.
Both are extremely stubborn and insular. Peter discourages visits and calls from his family as he's undergoing cancer treatment, and Mitch constantly buries himself in his own work rather than trying to find a way back to his brother. Both brothers are reluctant to nurture meaningful relationships, and they pride themselves on taking care of themselves. Consequently, Peter and Mitch fail to cultivate meaningful familial relationships, which is a central tenant to Morrie's teaching.
Keep in mind, Peter is a very minor character in this book. His story serves...
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as an example of Mitch's regret, and their estrangement, whether Mitch wants to admit it or not, weighs on him.
How has Mitch changed in Tuesdays with Morrie, and how does the structure highlight those changes?
To discuss how Mitch Albom, the author of Tuesdays with Morrie, changes throughout the structure of the book, one should get a grasp on how the book is structured. One can parse the structure of a book by evaluating its organization.
It looks like Albom has organized his book into chapters. The chapters don’t possess traditional numbers (e.g., chapter 1, chapter 2, etc.) but they do possess names. The names aren't indirect or windy. They get right to the point. For example, in the chapter “The Fourth Tuesday: We Talk About Death,” Albom and his mentor, Morris “Morrie” Schwartz, talk about, as it so happens, death.
The precise structure and naming might link to the major changes that Albom undergoes throughout his memoir. The upfront, no-frills organization of the books contrasts with Albom's admittedly decadent, materialistic lifestyle. In a sense, the book’s organization supplies the purpose and clarity that Albom wants for his own life.
Another way to think about how the book’s structure relates to Albom’s major changes is through juxtaposition. This is one of the main literary devices that aids Albom’s memoir. Albom not only contrasts his present self with his college self, but also places his present self side by side with Morrie. The difference between what Albom does when he’s not with Morrie and what he does when he’s with Morrie work with the structure to highlight how Albom has deviated from a meaningful life and how Morrie’s weighty thoughts gradually return him to a fulfilling life.
The chapters and juxtapositions build up to “The Conclusion.” In this final section, Albom announces that he will be implementing major changes. He speaks of himself as two selves: his old self and his present self. The present self will be launching a concrete effort to zero in on what’s really important from now on.