The Messenger, written by Marcus Zusak, is a novel that explores the journey of 19 year old Ed as he is given the chance to turn his life around by helping others. In order for a text to be successful characters must undergo meaningful change. This is seen in The Messenger as Ed develops from a shy, self degrading man to someone who sees significant hope for the future.
The beginning of the novel introduces Ed in a way that distinctly shows us what he thinks of himself. Zusak uses the technique of first person to show Eds personal opinion of himself throughout the novel. This thoroughly allows us to understand Ed's thoughts and feelings , which helps us see this meaningful change he undergoes. Ed introduces himself by saying that he is "typical
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of the young men in this city", referring to the idea that he is basic and ordinary. Ed thinks of himself as a no hoper, and having a job as a taxi driver adds to this self opinion. When Ed says, " I have no real career, no respect in the community, nothing ", we immediately feel empathetic for Ed.
Feeling unimportant to society reflects in the way Ed lives his life. Audrey is the love of Eds life, but due to this being unrequited love Ed feels even more hopeless. It seems as though having a mediocre job, an average house and a very rough relationship with his mum wasn't enough to destroy him. Zusak almost forces us to connect to the story. Being teenagers we too feel as though we are similar to Ed because most of us don't have our lives sorted out just yet. Ed is an extremely relatable character and just like Ed we also try to avoid answering important questions. One evening following receiving the first message in the mail, little did Ed know his life was about to change completely. The first change we see in The Messenger is motivation. Ed lives a very basic lifestyle but suddenly after receiving the message and understanding that he had to complete 3 tasks in helping 3 people , he for the first time saw a reason to be motivated. The tasks weren't easy ; infact they were terrifying. Saving a weak woman from her abusive alcoholic husband swallowed Ed in fear yet due to this motivation he managed to help her in …show more content…
ways she will forever be thankful for. This was a really significant change for Ed as the audience was aware of the type of person he thought he was , and perhaps if Ed can do something so miraculous then maybe anyone can. I think this was a key idea that Marcus wanted to express as it's important to realise that an ordinary person has the potential to do extraordinary things. During the middle section of the novel Ed undergoes his most crucial change ; he finds importance.
Following the completion of 6 messages, Ed understands that he is vital in helping change people's lives. Due to how far he has come already, Ed finds the drive to get through the messages no matter what he is faced with. Seeing the development of Ed throughout the novel was easy ; we could visually imagine the confidence and pride Ed was receiving from helping people. A key idea that Zusak is trying to teach us with this particular aspect is that you don't have to have anything to give something and sometimes by helping others you help yourself. The cards change Ed is drastic ways. Quotes such as , " It's by far the strangest thing to ever happen to me " , prove just how much of an impact they have made so far on his life. Even though the messages can be frightening and a challenge at time, Zusak wants to show us that in order to change sometimes fear has to motivate us. Ed never would have thought he would have been capable to do what he's done and the cards aren't even over yet. The messages prepare him for unexpected turn of events which he knows will continue to happen until he's done. Considering that so far all the messages have been a challenge against Eds normality, the development of feeling importance derives from this. Ed now can see that he is more than capable of helping people, and from that he helps himself. The middle section of the novel highlights Eds
conflict with his mother, Ma. He can not figure out why she treats him the way she does, when it seems she only talks to him when he needs something. This all changes for Ed when Ma reveals that the reason she " hates him so much is because he reminds her of him", him referring to her husband. This moment of clarity makes Ed feel at ease again and he feels like he is once again important to the family, as now he understands the reasoning for her actions. Feeling important is one of the most vital things a human being needs to feel, otherwise just like Ed used to, they will feel worthless. This aspect of change emphasises on the success of The Messenger because it teaches us that if you want something bad enough, all you got to do is put your mind to it and make the first move. Ed , with this new feeling of importance, will now be able to put this mindset into what he does with the rest of his life. Most importantly, the final aspect of meaningful change we see Ed undergo is learning to have hope. Once Ed completes all the 4 suits of cards that contained many stressful, emotional and difficult challenges , he feels like he has a purpose in life. The audience can see this through quote , " Now I've changed things. I've left my fingerprints in the world ". From where Ed began to where he is at the end of the novel is most definitely an extraordinary change. This makes The Messenger successful as it highlights the key idea that no matter what kind of person you are, you have the potential to make a difference. From having such a depressing mindset of himself to seeing strong hope for the future, it's clear that Ed took on the most important journey of his life. The final few pages of the book explain that Ed had the courage to visit Audrey and dance with her on the street ; something he would have been uncomfortable doing without this sense of hope. Although he doesn't tell her how he really feels, just being able to hold her and dance with her was enough to make him happy. Ed reflects on himself as a new person by saying, " maybe I'm shedding the old Ed Kennedy, for this new person who's full of purpose". Having a fresh mindset like this is key to the novel because it teaches us that small things have the biggest effect on us. It makes us think about our lives and how we could make a change as meaningful as Eds. Considering the immense confusion the cards bring to his life, Ed comes to the conclusion that he, " wasn't the messenger at all... yet he was the message" , and from discovering this the entire process makes sense to him. Ed has hope that his future won't be filled with boring days and lonely nights, he has hope that he will strive for even more greatness and on top of all, Ed knows that , " it's only the pages that end here". This part of Eds development enhances the success of The Messenger as it shows that you need to have hope that things will change, otherwise you will never develop as a person. As teenagers undergoing changes such as growing up and moving out are frightening stages in our lives, but being able to connect to Ed in The Messenger and seeing just how capable a normal boy can be gives us hope that we will be that successful too. In conclusion,
In the novel Ethan Frome, Edith Wharton applied significant factors (Messages) to show how the tale of this novel is a social tragedy. Even thought (Though) this novel might seem to be a tale of personal tragedy, it is actually a tale of social tragedy. The main character of this novel, Ethan Frome, is always conflicting (with) against the society whenever he is trying to do what he desires. As a result, society affects Ethan Frome’s life in many ways; most of the time society leads him to the tragedy.
Ed learns to face all of his fears, and he was able to rise above his feelings of incompetence as he helps others in areas where they need the most help in. Some of the messages that Ed receive are as simple, for example, buying an ice cream cone for a single mother, a church that needs congregation, but others put Ed in real danger. Ed’s last message, delivered on the joker card, it's for Ed himself. During the delivery of this message, Ed realized that “he was not the messenger, but rather he was the message itself.”( Zusak, p. 357). This quote shows that even ordinary ones, can rise about their perceived ability to make a difference in the world. Through his journey, Ed discovers that he has now become “full of purpose rather than incompetence, he also becomes more confident, and also improved him as a human
The story is seen through the innocent eyes of a 13 year old boy called Charlie Bucktin. The first person central point of view helps us to understand Charlie, to identify with him and his attitudes and values and for reader positioning. Silvey uses language conventions such as descriptive language, dialogue, diction, register and imagery to construct Charlie’s point of view. Since we only see and know what Charlie does thus this helps us create and certain bond with him as he grows, learns, and faces new problems throughout the novel. The fact that Charlie is a teenager and the readers are provided with teenager reactions the teenager audience is able to identify with the character and why he does things that way. Charlie starts of as a the model son, ever the obedient never to do anything wrong… to eventually losing his innocence and naivety and having a better understanding of what is right and what is wrong.
Through a careful reading of the deer-hunting scene in Deliverance and "Fog Envelops the Animals" the argument that Ed begins his transformation to a true hunter and killer in this moment is further strengthened. He is able to become one with the wilderness and it allows him to feel and act as a true hunter. Even though he misses the shot, his purpose is to kill.
...ing identity to the point where it no longer exists. This identity can be lost through extreme devotion, new experience, and immense tragedy. Relationships with the most meaningful companions impact both main characters, Elie and Frederic. Due to the events they must encounter alongside loved ones, Elie and Frederic change completely, losing the identity that once existed. The most impactful events of any life are those that involve struggle and tragedy. Any tragic event that one encounters can significantly alter the purpose of life forever. Tragic events such as taking away what one may hold dearest, such as a loved one in the cases of Elie and Frederic. This type of loss can create a saddened, purposeless life in all humans.
One of the most prominent themes is the idea that the devil is responsible for sin. The imagery and symbols found throughout the essay build upon this theme. When Edwards says: “You are ten thousand times more abominable in His eyes than the most hateful serpent is in ours” (26), he wants the audience to understand that by sinning, you are doing the devils work. Another theme that is present in the sermon is God’s power and grace, which Edward uses to give the audience one glimpse of hope at the end of the sermon. By stating that “you have an extraordinary opportunity…Christ has thrown the door of mercy wide open” (33), he gives the audience more reason to convert back to God.
The Messenger was originally published in 2002 in Australia, where it received the Children’s Book Council of Australia’s Book Award in 2003. The author, Markus Zusak, received several starred reviews for The Messenger. Most focusing on the successful development of a sympathetic character as he struggles to become a stronger person. The Messenger is about an ordinary young man, Ed Kennedy, who is sent playing cards with messages written on them from an unknown source. The messages written on these playing cards are perceived to be missions for Ed to complete. Ed, the main protagonist is described as the ‘epitome of ordinariness’ and is called a ‘dead man’. Zusak shows that ordinary people can do extraordinary things by pushing themselves
In I Am The Messenger by Markus Zusak, the main character Ed is a nineteen-year-old cab driver in Australia who has never amounted to anything. One day, while with his three best friends, an event occurs that forever changes his life. While in a bank, they are held up at gunpoint. Ed ends up stopping the criminal and saving the day. Days later, as the bank robber’s trial is ending, he tells Ed that he is “a dead man… [And to] [r]emember it every day when [he] look[s] in the mirror” (Zusak 38). This overlooked statement by the reader comes back in the end of the novel to reveal an important message that “everyone can live beyond what they’re capable of” (535). Before attending the trial though, Ed begins to receive playing cards with addresses, names, times, and movie titles on them that require him to complete tasks, which challenge him in more ways than he could ever imagine. In the short story “Good People” by David Foster Wallace, the two characters, Lane and Sheri, are faced with a situation that changes their lives as well; Sheri is pregnant with Lane’s baby. Even though Lane’s and Sheri’s situation is a little different than that of Ed’s, they relate greatly as all the characters are forced to make decisions that can alter the rest of their lives. In the novel, morality is used to accomplish self-discovery and growth of Ed’s personality by pushing his boundaries, and in the short story “Good People” by David Foster Wallace, morality is used to accomplish growth and the realization of consequences of one’s actions by placing the young couple in a faith questioning situation no adolescent wants to face.
...elings and portrays them through the main character Elphalba. It is as if he is taking a part of himself, the part filled with rage and frustration, and building the character Elphalba with it. She is the feminine, yet somewhat masculine, part of him revealing itself through the book.
A major theme in Markus Zusak’s novel I am The Messenger is personal growth. At the beginning of the novel, Ed Kennedy does not seem like your everyday character in a novel. He does not seem like the person to amount to anything. Ed is a nineteen-year-old cab driver (underage) who loves playing cards with his three best friends, Marv, Ritchie, and Audrey, whom he has been hopelessly in love with for a long time, with little success. Because of the place, Ed is currently in, he feels that his life does not mean anything.
...As we are examining the people on the screen, we are viewing ourselves. Burton produces a “perfect” figure of Edward who is kind, caring, and signifies the most striking feelings of individuals. In addition, his evil appearance exists only because humanity says that he is unusual. Burton wants us, as the audience, to be conscious of ourselves as a part of the social order, and to cautiously consider the realism we decide to accept as true and exist in.
Hale’s speech and actions shows the tension that an exterior character, Mrs. Hale, feels when looking at the Frome marriage and household. Mrs. Hale “pause[s] a moment”, only after speaking briefly on the subject that Zeena was now healed, a positive aspect in life. The pause in the paragraph creates a sense of hesitation and allows the narrator to think about what she had just said. The narrator was thinking of “what her words evoked.” The word “Evoked” is used to bring back an idea or thought to the conscious mind. This shows how Mrs. Hale tries to describe reality in this passage. She aims to open up to the narrator, and by extension the reader, that the peace and quiet of Starkfield is not truly peaceful if a person could see the truth of the story. As Mrs. Hale moves on with her speech, she “[drew] a deep breath, as though her memory [was] eased of its long burden.” Shown a display of serenity, the reader is left to believe that the second speech given by Mrs. Hale was the end of the issues seen with the Fromes. There is a complete change in diction as Wharton uses the words “suddenly”, “impulse”, and “seized”. These once again words show the character’s sudden tension and how this time, the story, told by Mrs. Hale, would be different. So far through the passage, it has been all about the opinion that would be accepted into society easily as those were observations that were not to the extreme. Mrs. Hale shows her true opinion when
throughout the novel allows the audience to gain a better understanding and personal compassion for both the character and the author. 	The novel is written in a short, choppy sentence structure using simple word choice, or diction, in a stream of consciousness to enable the reader to perceive the novel in the rationale of an eleven-year-old girl. One short, simple sentence is followed by another, relating each in an easy flow of thoughts. Gibbons allows this stream of thoughts to again emphasize the childish perception of life’s greatest tragedies. For example, Gibbons uses the simple diction and stream of consciousness as Ellen searches herself for the true person she is.
...haracter is changing and he realizes the reality more and more. Author pays only little attention to Edward’s love life, but we can observe some changes too. Edward changes his affections from idealised Flora who represents magnificence and beauty to Rose who is simpler but truly loves him and thanks to her he is still alive and a free man.