I Am The Messenger - Markus Zusak

490 Words2 Pages
Life Changing Friendship “Maybe everyone can live beyond what they’re capable of.” A book that can blatantly state that while managing to remain thought provoking and hard to put down has succeeding in getting its message across, making it a very good book. I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak has exceeded at doing so. Through a series of bazaar tasks, the main character, plain old Ed Kennedy realizes he’s not the man he thinks he is- he’s more. Many well developed supporting characters make him who he is: not “the messenger”, but the actual message itself. The behavior of Ed’s friend Marvin Harris- his actions and dialogue, play the biggest role in the transformation of Ed’s character. Ed was Marv’s “best friend”, as was Marv to Ed; but Ed knew nothing about the man Marv truly was. In one moment though, all of this changed. Ed found out everything, and finally Ed understands. “Yes, it all makes sense. The pathetic car. The obsessive watchfulness and abhorrent vigilance with money (Zusak 213).” All of these actions that Ed had just simply accepted, now had a crucial story to tell. And being able to face his friend and move out of the don’t-ask-don’t-tell comfort zone they had been in, Ed matures. “Marv cracks… His hands appear to be dripping from the wheel. The tears grip his face.” By doing this Marv shows to Ed he trusts him. When Ed confronted him about the money, he changed. No longer was he a hero to strangers in distress, he was capable to fixing those closest to himself. Not only did Marv’s actions bring about a change in Ed’s character, but so did his words. Marv confides in Ed, explaining “This, this is how I look like at three a. m., Ed. Every morning. I see that girl—that dirt-poor, spectacular girl (Zusak 288).” By speaking to Ed like this, Ed comes to a realization. This is what true friends are. They can go to each other for help—real help, a
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