Responsibility In Mitch Albom's The Five People You Meet In Heaven
When jealousy takes over Cain and leads him to murder his Brother, God questions his involvement. Cain replies, “I know not. Am I my Brother’s Keeper”(Genesis 4:1-8). The concept of social responsibility and looking after one another first addressed in the bible story of Cain and Abel, was also addressed by Mitch Albom in his novel The Five People You Meet In Heaven. Social responsibility is the idea that the individual must look after others for the betterment of society. The protagonist in the novel, an elderly maintenance worker at an amusement park, begins his journey of self discovery with his own death. When Eddie dies in an attempt to save the life of a young girl at the park, known as Ruby Pier, he is brought up to heaven to meet
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Though he felt disconnected from the life he led on earth, as he learns from the five people he meets in heaven, Eddie’s existence comes to take on a whole new meaning. Throughout the novel, Albom uses the concept of interconnectedness to discredit the notion of strangers, suggesting that each individual is connected and therefore obligated to be socially responsible for others.
As Eddie journeys through heaven, he is taught five lessons from people who left a significant impact on his life. However, only one of the five people he meets in heaven had developed a relationship with Eddie during his life, whereas the rest he considers to be strangers. When he first wakes up, Eddie is in a familiar place yet in unfamiliar company. Before him, is Ruby Pier, and the first person he meets in heaven- the Blue Man. Though their paths crossed when Eddie was a young boy, the two did not develop a relationship. Eddie was ultimately the cause of the Blue Man’s demise, which stemmed from a harmless incident. Eddie’s actions had profound impacts on the Blue Man's life, even though Eddie thought of him as a stranger. Yet despite their limited interactions, Eddie was still able to influence his life, as
Though he felt disconnected from the life he led on earth, as he learns from the five people he meets in heaven, Eddie’s existence comes to take on a whole new meaning. Throughout the novel, Albom uses the concept of interconnectedness to discredit the notion of strangers, suggesting that each individual is connected and therefore obligated to be socially responsible for others.
As Eddie journeys through heaven, he is taught five lessons from people who left a significant impact on his life. However, only one of the five people he meets in heaven had developed a relationship with Eddie during his life, whereas the rest he considers to be strangers. When he first wakes up, Eddie is in a familiar place yet in unfamiliar company. Before him, is Ruby Pier, and the first person he meets in heaven- the Blue Man. Though their paths crossed when Eddie was a young boy, the two did not develop a relationship. Eddie was ultimately the cause of the Blue Man’s demise, which stemmed from a harmless incident. Eddie’s actions had profound impacts on the Blue Man's life, even though Eddie thought of him as a stranger. Yet despite their limited interactions, Eddie was still able to influence his life, as