Tuesdays with Morrie
Tuesdays with Morrie.
The symbolic interactionism is an excellent sociological perspective that allows us to focus on micro activities and to analyze our society which is the product of everyday’s life. Tuesdays with Morrie is more than a simple book, more than a romance one; it is a great book that teaches us many of life’s greatest lessons. An analysis of this book using the SI perspective and concepts such as meaning making, status, impression management, looking-glass self, role taking, role making, and self-presentation helps us understand the real meaning of Morrie’s words and lessons.
Morrie Schwartz was a professor at the Brandeis University before learning that he has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ALS is a brutal, unforgiving and most importantly deadly disease of the neurological system and there was no known cure. In the beginning, he had a hard time accepting it, but after thinking deeply he decided to enjoy the rest of his life to the fullest. He learned that there was nothing to do about the illness, and that the world will not end because he is sick. Would everyone react this way after such discovery? I will not be mistaken if I say that only a few of us would react like Morrie. I, personally, would not react the same way.
Luckily, Mitch learned about his old professor Morrie on television and went to visit him. After this first visit, he started visiting Morrie every Tuesday and learned many life lessons. They discussed about many topics such as the world, the act of feeling sorry for ourselves, regrets, death, family, emotions, money, marriage, and other interesting ones. But the book is more than just these topics. An analysis of the book, using some concepts of the symbolic interactionism perspective can help us understand it.
To begin, meaning making is a concept that helps us create meaning. We can use the word “death” as an example. Just by mentioning it, people feel uncomfortable because they see it as the end of the world,
The symbolic interactionism is an excellent sociological perspective that allows us to focus on micro activities and to analyze our society which is the product of everyday’s life. Tuesdays with Morrie is more than a simple book, more than a romance one; it is a great book that teaches us many of life’s greatest lessons. An analysis of this book using the SI perspective and concepts such as meaning making, status, impression management, looking-glass self, role taking, role making, and self-presentation helps us understand the real meaning of Morrie’s words and lessons.
Morrie Schwartz was a professor at the Brandeis University before learning that he has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ALS is a brutal, unforgiving and most importantly deadly disease of the neurological system and there was no known cure. In the beginning, he had a hard time accepting it, but after thinking deeply he decided to enjoy the rest of his life to the fullest. He learned that there was nothing to do about the illness, and that the world will not end because he is sick. Would everyone react this way after such discovery? I will not be mistaken if I say that only a few of us would react like Morrie. I, personally, would not react the same way.
Luckily, Mitch learned about his old professor Morrie on television and went to visit him. After this first visit, he started visiting Morrie every Tuesday and learned many life lessons. They discussed about many topics such as the world, the act of feeling sorry for ourselves, regrets, death, family, emotions, money, marriage, and other interesting ones. But the book is more than just these topics. An analysis of the book, using some concepts of the symbolic interactionism perspective can help us understand it.
To begin, meaning making is a concept that helps us create meaning. We can use the word “death” as an example. Just by mentioning it, people feel uncomfortable because they see it as the end of the world,