Love and Death in Tuesdays with Morrie
| Love and Death in “Tuesdays with Morrie” Mitch Albom: Tuesday’s with Morrie
Mankind has always been obsessed with its own mortality. This obsession of death and dying has fuelled the interests in many professions ranging from doctors to playwrights. Interestingly enough, love and death have always been intertwined; stories such as Hamlet or Romeo and Juliet easily come to mind as examples of this curious relationship. It is no surprise that Mitch Albom’s novel “Tuesdays with Morrie” aims to prove why the concepts of death and love are continuously paired. This book is based on a true story about Mitch Albom’s interactions with his favourite professor Morrie Schwartz. They part ways but are reconnected by Morrie’s illness and in the short time he has left Mitch is inspired by Morrie’s strength, appreciation for life and compassion for others and he changes his life forever. Mitch is a former student of Morrie’s from the Brandeis University as well as a close friend. During his university years Morrie and Mitch spent much time together discussing the meaning of life. After his graduation, Mitch loses touch with Morrie and after his dream of being a musician fails, he is then consumed in a life of financial success and material wealth as a newspaper writer. After losing his job he finds himself on a search for a new meaning in life. Morrie Schwartz, a sociology professor at Brandeis University, is diagnosed with ALS, a debilitating, incurable disease which destroys his body, but leaves him intellectually intact. He is a wise old man and loves to listen and solve others problems. In his last days of his life he continues to share the meaning of life with his close friends and family and especially Mitch. Morrie’s idea about the meaning of life is the main concept of the book.
Mitch learns that death is not to be feared but embraced. That with a combination of love, support and life fulfilment anyone can cope with and accept death with open arms.
Mankind has always been obsessed with its own mortality. This obsession of death and dying has fuelled the interests in many professions ranging from doctors to playwrights. Interestingly enough, love and death have always been intertwined; stories such as Hamlet or Romeo and Juliet easily come to mind as examples of this curious relationship. It is no surprise that Mitch Albom’s novel “Tuesdays with Morrie” aims to prove why the concepts of death and love are continuously paired. This book is based on a true story about Mitch Albom’s interactions with his favourite professor Morrie Schwartz. They part ways but are reconnected by Morrie’s illness and in the short time he has left Mitch is inspired by Morrie’s strength, appreciation for life and compassion for others and he changes his life forever. Mitch is a former student of Morrie’s from the Brandeis University as well as a close friend. During his university years Morrie and Mitch spent much time together discussing the meaning of life. After his graduation, Mitch loses touch with Morrie and after his dream of being a musician fails, he is then consumed in a life of financial success and material wealth as a newspaper writer. After losing his job he finds himself on a search for a new meaning in life. Morrie Schwartz, a sociology professor at Brandeis University, is diagnosed with ALS, a debilitating, incurable disease which destroys his body, but leaves him intellectually intact. He is a wise old man and loves to listen and solve others problems. In his last days of his life he continues to share the meaning of life with his close friends and family and especially Mitch. Morrie’s idea about the meaning of life is the main concept of the book.
Mitch learns that death is not to be feared but embraced. That with a combination of love, support and life fulfilment anyone can cope with and accept death with open arms.
References: Albom, M. (1997). Tuesdays with Morrie. New York: Broadway Books. Cavanaugh, J. C., Blanchard-Fields, F., & Norris, J. E.(2008). Adult Development and Aging. (1 ed.). United States: Thomson Higher Education.