ABSTRACT
Astuti, Widi. (2007). The Influences of Mitch’s Behavior towards Morrie’s Dependent Behavior as Seen in Mitch Albom’s Tuesdays with Morrie. Yogyakarta: English Education Study Program, Faculty of Teaching Training and Education, Sanata Dharma University
This study discussed an influence of the relationship between Mitch and Morrie, towards Morrie the main characters in Mitch Albom’s Tuesdays with Morrie. The novel was based on the true story experience of Mitch Albom and Morrie Schwartz, (Mitch’s mentor when he studied in Brandeis University). It told us about Mitch’s friendship with Morrie Schwartz, from the very first time they met in Sociology class until the day that Morrie was claimed to be dying because of an unforgiving illness, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
The aim of this study was to discuss Morrie’s significant attitudes towards his relationship with Mitch Albom. There were two problems discussed in this study, namely Morrie’s characters and Morrie’s dependent behavior.
There were two sources used in this study namely, the primary data, which was the novel itself, and other sources taken from books, journals and the Internet. Theories which were used in this study were theory of characters, the meaning of behavior and motivation as well as the meaning relationship and theory friendship according to Beebe. Since this study also analyzed the influence of Mitch’s behavior toward Morrie’s dependencies, the approach used in this study was psychological approach.
The conclusion showed that Morrie’s characters were open minded, lonely, patient, attentive, tough, compassionate and helpful. Morrie’s characters in Tuesdays with Morrie seemed to be the background of Morrie’s lonely life. The loneliness that Morrie had been going through had made him to be vulnerable that led him to be dependent.
It was recommended that future researches examined the psychological needs of Morrie to understand his attitudes towards Mitch Albom. As for English teachers it was suggested that they use the novel to teach Extensive Reading I and Speaking IV.
ix
ABSTRAK
Astuti, Widi. (2007). The Influences of Mitch’s Behavior towards Morrie’s Dependent Behavior as Seen in Mitch Albom’s Tuesdays with Morrie. Yogyakarta: English Education Study Program, Faculty of Teaching Training and Education, Sanata Dharma University
Studi ini membahas tentang pengaruh hubungan antara Mitch dan Morrie, terhadap Morrie tokoh utama dalam novel Mitch Albom’s Tuesdays with Morrie. Novel ini berdasarkan pada kisah nyata antara Mitch Albom dan Morrie Schwartz (mentornya ketika masih belajar di universitas Brandeis). Novel Mitch Albom ini menceritakan tentang persahabatan Mitch dengan Morrie Schwartz, sejak pertama kali bertemu di kelas sosiologi sampai pada saatnya Morrie dinyatakan terkena penyakit tulang mematikan (ALS).
Tujuan dari studi ini adalah untuk mengamati tingkah laku-tingkah laku Morrie yang berarti terhadap hubunganya dengan Mitch Albom. Ada dua masalah yang di bahas dalam novel ini yaitu karakter Morrie dan sikap Morrie yang tergantung.
Ada dua sumber yang di gunakan dalam studi ini, data yang utama adalah novel itu sendiri dan sumber yang lain adalah buku-buku, jurnal dan internet.
Teori yang digunakan dalam studi ini adalah teori penokohan, arti tingkah laku dan motivasi dan arti hubungan dan teori persahabatan menurut Beebe. Karena studi ini juga menganalisa tentang pengaruh sikap Mitch terhadap sikap Morrie yang tergantung, maka pendekatan yang digunakan dalam studi ini adalah pendekatan psikologi.
Kesimpulan menyatakan bahwa karakter Morrie adalah terbuka, kesepian, sabar, perhatian, tabah, penuh belas kasih dan penolong. karakter Morrie dalam Tuesdays with Morrie menjadi latar belakang kehidupan Morrie yang sepi. Kesepian yang Morrie alami membuatnya menjadi rapuh sehingga membuatnya menjadi seorang yang tergantung.
Di sarankan untuk para peneliti selanjutnya memeriksa sisi psikilogi Morrie, untuk lebih memahami sikap Morrie terhadap Mitch Albom. Untuk Para guru bahasa Iggris di sarankan agar mereka menggunakan novel ini untuk mengajar Extensive Reading I dan Speaking IV.
i
THE INFLUENCES OF MITCH’S BEHAVIOR TOWARDS MORRIE’S DEPENDENT BEHAVIOR AS SEEN IN MITCH ALBOM’S
TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE A THESIS
Presented as a Partial fulfillment of the Requirement To Obtain the Sarjana Pendidikan Degree
In English Language Education
By Name: Widi Astuti Student Number: 011214158
ENGLISH EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM
DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA
ii
iv
PAGE OF DEDICATION
God leads us by strange ways;
We know He wills our happiness,
But we neither know what our happiness is, nor the
way
We are blind; left to ourselves,
We should take the wrong way; we must leave it to
Him
Author Unknown
Dedicated with love and
gratitude to:
My beloved parents, my
lovely brother and
unbelievable friends whom I
love.
vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE ... i
PAGE OF APPROVAL ... ii
BOARDS OF EXAMINERS ... iii
STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY ... iv
PAGE OF DEDICATION ... v
TABLE OF CONTENTS ... vi
ABSTRACT ... viii
ABSTRAK ... ix
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ... …………. x
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION ... 1
1.1. Background of the Study ... 1
1.2. Objective of the Study ... 5
1.3. Problem Formulation ... 5
1.4. Definition of Terms ... 5
CHAPTER II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE ... 6
2.1. Review of Related Theories... 6
2.1.1. Theory of Character and Characterization ... 6
2.2 Critical Approaches ... 10
2.2.1. The Meaning of Behavior and Motivation ... 11
2.2.2. The Meaning of Relationship ... 15
2.2.3. Theory of Friendship According to Beebe ... 17
2.3. The Relationship between Psychology and Literature……… 19
2.4. Theoretical Framework ... 20
2.5. Criticism... 21
2.6. Context of the Novel ... 24
CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY ... 26
3.1.Object of the Study……… .. 26
3.2. Approaches ... 28
3.3. Procedures... 29
CHAPTER IV ANALYSIS... 30
4.1.Morrie’s Characteristics in Tuesdays with Morrie ... 30
4.1.1.Open Minded ... 30
CHAPTER V CONCLUSIONS, SUGGESTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS... 50
5.1. Conclusions ... 50
5.2. Suggestions for Teaching Implementation ... 50
5.3. Suggestions for Implementation of Tuesdays with Morrie …... 51
BIBLIOGRAPHY ... 53
APPENDIX 7. The Step to Teach Extensive Reading I and Speaking IV... 66
viii
ABSTRACT
Astuti, Widi. (2007). The Influences of Mitch’s Behavior towards Morrie’s Dependent Behavior as Seen in Mitch Albom’s Tuesdays with Morrie. Yogyakarta: English Education Study Program, Faculty of Teaching Training and Education, Sanata Dharma University
This study discussed an influence of the relationship between Mitch and Morrie, towards Morrie the main characters in Mitch Albom’s Tuesdays with Morrie. The novel was based on the true story experience of Mitch Albom and Morrie Schwartz, (Mitch’s mentor when he studied in Brandeis University). It told us about Mitch’s friendship with Morrie Schwartz, from the very first time they met in Sociology class until the day that Morrie was claimed to be dying because of an unforgiving illness, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
The aim of this study was to discuss Morrie’s significant attitudes towards his relationship with Mitch Albom. There were two problems discussed in this study, namely Morrie’s characters and Morrie’s dependent behavior.
There were two sources used in this study namely, the primary data, which was the novel itself, and other sources taken from books, journals and the Internet. Theories which were used in this study were theory of characters, the meaning of behavior and motivation as well as the meaning relationship and theory friendship according to Beebe. Since this study also analyzed the influence of Mitch’s behavior toward Morrie’s dependencies, the approach used in this study was psychological approach.
The conclusion showed that Morrie’s characters were open minded, lonely, patient, attentive, tough, compassionate and helpful. Morrie’s characters in Tuesdays with Morrie seemed to be the background of Morrie’s lonely life. The loneliness that Morrie had been going through had made him to be vulnerable that led him to be dependent.
It was recommended that future researches examined the psychological needs of Morrie to understand his attitudes towards Mitch Albom. As for English teachers it was suggested that they use the novel to teach Extensive Reading I and Speaking IV.
ABSTRAK
Astuti, Widi. (2007). The Influences of Mitch’s Behavior towards Morrie’s Dependent Behavior as Seen in Mitch Albom’s Tuesdays with Morrie. Yogyakarta: English Education Study Program, Faculty of Teaching Training and Education, Sanata Dharma University
Studi ini membahas tentang pengaruh hubungan antara Mitch dan Morrie, terhadap Morrie tokoh utama dalam novel Mitch Albom’s Tuesdays with Morrie. Novel ini berdasarkan pada kisah nyata antara Mitch Albom dan Morrie Schwartz (mentornya ketika masih belajar di universitas Brandeis). Novel Mitch Albom ini menceritakan tentang persahabatan Mitch dengan Morrie Schwartz, sejak pertama kali bertemu di kelas sosiologi sampai pada saatnya Morrie dinyatakan terkena penyakit tulang mematikan (ALS).
Tujuan dari studi ini adalah untuk mengamati tingkah laku-tingkah laku Morrie yang berarti terhadap hubunganya dengan Mitch Albom. Ada dua masalah yang di bahas dalam novel ini yaitu karakter Morrie dan sikap Morrie yang tergantung.
Ada dua sumber yang di gunakan dalam studi ini, data yang utama adalah novel itu sendiri dan sumber yang lain adalah buku-buku, jurnal dan internet.
Teori yang digunakan dalam studi ini adalah teori penokohan, arti tingkah laku dan motivasi dan arti hubungan dan teori persahabatan menurut Beebe. Karena studi ini juga menganalisa tentang pengaruh sikap Mitch terhadap sikap Morrie yang tergantung, maka pendekatan yang digunakan dalam studi ini adalah pendekatan psikologi.
Kesimpulan menyatakan bahwa karakter Morrie adalah terbuka, kesepian, sabar, perhatian, tabah, penuh belas kasih dan penolong. karakter Morrie dalam Tuesdays with Morrie menjadi latar belakang kehidupan Morrie yang sepi. Kesepian yang Morrie alami membuatnya menjadi rapuh sehingga membuatnya menjadi seorang yang tergantung.
Di sarankan untuk para peneliti selanjutnya memeriksa sisi psikilogi Morrie, untuk lebih memahami sikap Morrie terhadap Mitch Albom. Untuk Para guru bahasa Iggris di sarankan agar mereka menggunakan novel ini untuk mengajar Extensive Reading I dan Speaking IV.
x
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
My biggest thanks go to the Almighty Jesus Christ whose greatest love
and care strengthen my way in doing this thesis. I Thank God for always being
there for me through nights and day, good and bad times.
I also thank God for sending me the great persons to help me, pray for me,
support me, and encourage me to finish this thesis.
I would thank God for sending me the kindest advisor Mr. Herujiyanto, a wise advisor who always helps with his suggestions, attention, motivation and
correction.
I would like to thank God for sending me kind and everlasting friends like
Mbak Nopee, my soul mate whom I can always count on for everything, Della, Lia, Marina, Flor, Rini, and all the member of class F. I would also like to thank to my family in CEC, especially Cie Lan, Cie Wen who have inspired me and opened my eyes to everything in life. Uni, who was my Roommate and also my partner in crime thanks for being a good listener. To all the things around me
thanks for being the witness of everything I said and did. For the girl in the next
door Cie Ends thanks for the patience to be my neighbor, and not to forget to all friends in CEC whom I share my days during the two years working Ka’ Eno Cefuk, Lia, Ima, Tessy, Shanti, Shinta, Cecil, Dame, Nia, Upik, Ko’ Adi, my dearest pal, Yadi, Pak Eko, for accompanying me watching the big matches.
Mbak Eva, the Putra Bangsa kindergarten teachers, and Putra Persada teachers like Mbak Ida, Buk Eri and all the persons that I cannot mention one by one
xii
thanks for all. I also thank the creatures that I never realized of their existence in
accompanying me. May all beings be happy.
I would like to thank God once again for sending me people who keep
reminding me to do this thesis like, Bu’ Utt and family for the support, Sr. Margaret who lets me waste her time by checking my thesis patiently, my lovely English students and my Sunday school students and all the people who have ever
been a part of my life.
My special “Thank God” is for giving me such a great family, my Dad
who taught me to be a strong girl, the best Mother who gives me unconditional love and automatically hugs me when I’m cold and hands to wipe every tear I. to
my Brother from whom I learn many things and someone who gives me a reason to work harder than I thought I could do. Thank to the tear, blood and sweat I shed
during the process of making this thesis.
1
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION
This chapter mainly discusses four main things about Mitch Albom’s
novel, Tuesdays with Morrie. They are the Background of the Study, the
Objective of the study, the Problem Formulation and the Definition of Terms.
The Background of the Study deals with the reason why Mitch Albom’s
novel Tuesdays with Morrie is selected as the facilitating data of this study. The
Objective of the Study is limited by only dealing with the problems, which are
found in the Problem Formulations. At the end of this chapter the Definition of
Terms is presented. It is concerning with special words and their explanation used
in this study to avoid the readers’ misunderstanding towards the certain words.
1.1Background of the Study
Human are created with different personalities. They are blessed with
strength and weakness. Each of them is special because, he or she has her or his
own way of thinking, dressing, talking and other characteristics. Something that
will lead us to know what sort of person they are, is by the way they communicate
with other people.
Communication is the basic thing of a relationship, because it is a way to
build relationship. We will be able to know someone’s personality through the
communication. The personality of someone can be seen from the way he or she
2
only ways, the best way to know someone’s personality is through
communication. The way people talk and what people say will lead us to know
what sort person he or she is.
Buscaglia says that communication is the art of talking with each other,
saying what we feel and mean, saying it clearly; listening to what the other says
and asks making sure that we are hearing accurately (84). Communication is
something easy to say but sometimes it is hard to do, for instance, there are some
cases where a daughter cannot talk to her mother, father cannot talk to his son and
wife cannot talk to her husband. Those situations happen because not everyone
can be a good listener and not everyone can be a good person to talk to. There has
to be closeness between them.
The story of Tuesdays with Morrie tells us about the friendship between a
lecturer and his student. A friendship between Mitch Albom, the author of
Tuesdays with Morrie and his lecturer, Morrie Schwartz from the time that they
met in the sociology class to the time that Morrie was dying because of an
unforgiving illness he suffered. He teaches people that life is such a precious thing
to waste. We never know “how and when our life will end.”
In the novel Morrie is described as a dying man who never gives up his
faith fighting against his illness. He does not drown himself into deep regret of
suffering the illness. He tells everyone that he is dying and that he has less time to
live but he shows people that dying does not mean that he has to stay in bed until
he dies. He invites people to come to him and share his or her problems, not to
claimed that he was dying of an unforgiving illness called Amyotrophic Lateral
Sclerosis. He did not much mourn on that bad news because he thought that it
would not change anything. Although he is dying, he does not lose his spirit to go
on with life.
He exercises his wisdom to the entire things that happens in his life and his
past life strengthens his step. He does not want to look back on his past life which
would remind him of losing people he loved. Until the day he finds Mitch, one of
his students in Brandeis University. With Mitch, he can be so open to share his
ideas about many things in life. There is something in Mitch that reminds him of
his past life. He said that Mitch was like him when he was young. Someone who
will talk to no one when there is a problem.
When Morrie says “I hope that one day you will think of me as your
friend” Morrie is suggesting that he like to make friends. He wants to get along
with people or friends. He sometimes spends his time joining young people on the
dance floor without worrying about his age and status.
There are so many moral factors in this novel that we can learn. One of
them is about his attitude when he was dying and the way he dealt with it. The
other that makes this novel special is the way Morrie shares his views about the
topics in life. When he talks to Mitch about death, we can see his wisdom in
facing the most dangerous moment in his life. He tells us that death is not
something to be afraid of because life will only end someone’s life in this world
4
Morrie was nine years old when he lost his mother so that he had to take
care of his sick brother and father. He always wished that his father would talk to
them or kiss them good night to ease their loneliness. Morrie always wanted that
his father could be someone he and his brother could count on after their mother
died. In fact he had to stand on his own feet and carry the burden himself to take
care of himself and his brother.
In Morrie’s childhood Morrie did not feel the way other children felt
when they were kids. Morrie had many words to say to his father but it seemed to
be hard to say them. For all Morrie’s life Morrie had never been talked so openly
to anyone like when he talks to Mitch. He starts to like Mitch because he thinks
that Mitch is the one that he can share all his thoughts with.
On Mitch’s graduation day Morrie sheds a tear, he thought that it would be
his very last time to see Mitch and there would not be a time for them to share
their views and there would be nobody to ease his loneliness anymore. On that
day Mitch promised Morrie to keep in touch, but Mitch did not make it until he
found out that Morrie was dying. He had to take the medication to lengthen his
life and to ease his pain.
This study reveals some parts about Morrie Schwartz, the main character
in this novel according to my opinion. Morrie grows old in the shadow of his past.
He felt so much suffering in his past life that haunts him for all his life, losing
father and mother, earning the family to live and having to face the life without
1.2Objective of the Study
The aim of this study is to look into one’s significant attitudes on the
friendship with one of his or her former students as seen in Morrie, the main
character of Mitch Albom’s Tuesdays with Morrie.
1.3Problem Formulation
Considering the background above I would like to formulate the problems,
which appear in the novel, as follows;
1. How is Morrie, the main character of the novel described?
2. What can Influence Morrie to be dependent on Mitch?
1.4Definition of Terms
Before I discuss the novel I would like to clarify the importance of the
terms related to the title. This is to avoid the readers from misunderstanding and
having confusion in following the discussion.
Influence: as Hornby says, influence is defined the power to affect somebody‘s action. Character s or beliefs, especially by providing example for them to
follow, winning their admiration or making them afraid to disagree (437).
In this study, influence means something that brings effect on someone’s
life. It refers to Morrie’s past life.
Dependent: as in Hornby’s Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, dependent is person who depends on someone else’s for existence, supported (234). In
6
CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
In this chapter I would like to discuss five main topics namely the
Theoretical Review, Critical Approaches, Theoretical Framework, Criticism and
Context of the Novel. They are used to analyze and comprehend Mitch Albom’s
Tuesdays with Morrie better.
2.1. Review of Related Theories
2.1.1. Theory of Character and Characterization
Holman and Harmon define that character is the idea of moral or
constitution of human personality, the presence the moral value of the creature in
art in the form human being. The character is also short description of a person
who has some definite quality (18).
After reading some books about theories I find out that according to M.H
Abrams in his book entitled A Glossary of Literary Terms (20) characters are,
“The person represented in dramatic or native work, who are interrupted by the
reader as being endowed with moral and dispositional qualities that are expressed
in what they say and what they do the action.”
E.M. Foster in Aspect of Novel distinguishes the character in two they are:
round character and flat character (46-51).
Round character is the primary doer who can make the reader and the
spectator take interest and surprise because of her or his action. It means the
character that is complex in temperament and motivation and is represented with
subtle particularity. The round character is unpredictable because he or she is
changed in the story.
Flat character sometimes is called type’s character in two-dimensional
characters. It refers to a character that is shaped in single idea or quantity. The
character is described briefly. The author usually does not present them with
many individualizing details. He or she is static and does not grow or change in
the story.
The flat character is predictable. He or she always behaves and talks in
the same way. That kind of character does not play very important role neither in
the role nor in the play. His or her deeds are easily predicted because they do not
have significant changing in action.
Barnet, Berman, and Burto (71-72) defined four things to figure out what
characters’ play in the novel;
1. From What the Characters Say
The reader is able to predict what the author describes the personality of
the speaker from the way they say and the words that they say. It gives us a clue
whether the actor is protagonist or antagonist. The reader can determine the
person from the statement he or she utters.
2. From What the Characters Do
This consideration relates to the character’s action. By seeing what the
8
class, good or bad person. The reader will understand the characters through his or
her attitude. It can be the reflection of the character. The reader will be able to
predict the characters personality from the things that the characters do.
3. From What Other Characters Say about the Main Character
The comment and the opinion of other character can be used to analyze the
main character. What other characters say about the main character is needed to
get an additional information and clear description about certain characters in the
story. The author gives the descriptions of the character’s personality through the
other character’s judgment toward the character in the story.
4. From What the Other Characters Do
The action of other people towards a character also determines the analysis
of the characters. It is very important to know the character of the main character
such as lazy, wicked, careless person etc. The other characters’ response in
specific event in the story can be the reflection of the character’s motives. It may
help the readers to understand the character’s personality.
According to Allport as quoted by Larver and Schiever in Perspective on
personality, the characteristic of a character is related to his or her behavior,
thoughts and feelings (5). They will influence their way of thinking, feeling and
behavior of characters. Therefore to understand deeper about the character and to
Related with that, according to Murphy in Understanding Unseen there are
several ways in which an author attempts to make his or her characters
understandable and come alive for his or her readers, so that the readers will be
able to know the personality of the characters. They are personal description
characters as seen by another, seeing by other characters, speech, past life,
conversation of others, reactions, direct comment, thoughts and mannerism
(161-173). However I only choose six ways to understand the characters of Morrie, the
main character of Tuesdays with Morrie so I can get clues to find his
characteristics. They are;
1. Characters as Seen by Another: The author describes the character through
other’s views and opinions.
2. Speech: The author can give the readers an insight into the character of the
persons in the book through what the person says.
3. Past Life: By letting the reader learn something about the person’s past life
the author can give a clue to the events that have helped to shape a
person’s characters.
4. Reactions: The author can give a clue to a person’s characters by letting
the readers know how that person reacts to various the situations or event.
5. Direct Comment: The author can describe or comment on a person’s
character directly.
6. Thoughts: The author gives the readers direct knowledge of what a person
10
2. 2 Critical Approaches
To understand others’ literary works in more detail; the readers should use
critical approach. A critical approach provides a method for the readers to gain a
higher value of understanding of the work being read. For instance we can say
that it brings us a better understanding of its nature, function, and positive values.
There are five approaches suggested by Rohrberger and Woods, Jr (6-15)
that can be used to analyze works of literature. First is the formalist approach.
This approach examines the literary without reference to facts of author’s life,
without reference to the genre or in literary history, and without reference in
which the literary object takes place. When critics employ this approach, they
concentrate on the total integrity of literary works. Second is biographical
approach. When analyst of literature use the biographical approach in order to
judge literary works, they perceive the importance of acknowledging the author’s
personal life for a deep understanding to his or her writing. In this approach the
author’s life, idea and personality are considered to be important elements in
studying literary work. Third is the social cultural-historical approach. This
approach asserts the social cultural-historical background in which the literary
work is created influences that literary object. Fourth is the mythopoeic approach.
When the major interest of critic is the mythopoeic approach, he or she attempts
to find particular recurrent patterns of human thought, which are considered
sharing the same universal belief to certain community mind. The patterns,
generally, involve death and rebirth, guilt and sacrifices, primitive rites, or
approach. When the analyst employs this approach he or she insists that each
character’s behavior can be referred to the psychology of human being. So the
characters’ thought and behavior can be traced more profoundly by using this
approach. In this thesis the analyzing will focus on the psychological approach.
In this part I adopt some theories to support the analysis. The theories I
used are theory of behavior and motivation, theory of relationship, and theory
friendship and the relationship between Psychology and Literature.
2.2.1. The Meaning of Behavior and Motivation
Abrams states that motivation is defined as internal process that influences
the direction, persistence and vigor of goal directed behavior (282). Motivation
keeps human beings to their goal to prevent from losing his way to achieve his
goal. Motivation also makes human beings behave in a certain behavior that
support them in achieving their goal. Therefore, motivation always influences
someone’s act or behavior.
Most plays have central motive and in general these are a giant human
emotion, which motivated most people in real life: hopes for reward a major
character desires to bring happiness and prosperity to himself or to person whom
he loves. All of his actions are planned to hasten the advent prosperity. Love is an
extension of the hope for reward, a character motivated to certain action because
of the love which he has, the love which he wants, or the love which someone has
for him. Characters should not suddenly break off and act in a way not plausibly
12
It requires awareness to know that there is a motivation when individual’s
behavior is performed, but it needs at least the understanding of his or her past
time before the individual is able to identify his or her reason that suggest him or
her. Jung stated that “The concept of unconscious motives suggests that even with
careful reflection and interrogation the person is unable to identify motives.” The
motives are usually formulated when he or she has learned the information about
his or her background (8-9).
In his book Social Foundations of Thought and Action: A Social Cognitive
Theory, Bandura claims that human’s motivations come from their interpretation
about stimulus events which bring them to organize the information they brought
before finally derived them into beliefs that lead them doing a positive or negative
action (183). The greater effort can mobilize people into a real action if they are
confident they can do it (301). “One of the cognitively based sources of
motivation relies on goal setting and self evaluate reaction to one’s own behavior”
(467).
Petri in his book Motivation: Theory and Research says that motivation is
the concept that is used to describe the forces acting or within an organism to
initiate and direct behavior (3). In this book, Lewin also pointed out that several
forces might at the same time give influence on behavior; this behavior was the
result of the total forces acting upon the individual. In Lewin’s theory, “the
behavior of individual is seen in relation to both internal and external forces
within the person and the psychological environment in which that person is
immersed” (225).
Lewin says that the motivation construct that is used for motivation to
person was tension. “Tension exists when a potential need becomes a need in
fact.” If one wants to understand behavior, one must understand all the forces that
are related to that behavior. According to him, there are two factors that lead
someone to do something; they are physiological needs and psychological needs.
Physiological needs related to the physic need, such as hunger, thirst, to
experience specific type of contact and rest; while psychological needs connected
to the emotions of someone’s need. It can be going to dance or finish the
homework, it can be anything that satisfied or unsatisfied our deep desire
(226-227).
Abraham Maslow in Petri’s book Motivation: Theory and Research
suggests that we are all driven by five motives, they are:
1. Physiological Needs
People cannot dispute the fact that psychological needs are the most basic to
human life. All of us will feel better if our body has been fed and watered. All the
things that relate to someone’s personality or someone’s behavior will basically
be based on the psychological needs.
2. Safety Needs
People might think safe if they have a place that will protect them from any
14
dance to night if they thought there was going to be disaster tore their house.
Safety needs are primarily triggered in emergency situation.
3. Belongingness or Love Needs
When the inside of the body is well taken care of, then it will have affection
from others, to have companionship in loneliness, those would make someone feel
that they are surrounded by people who love them.
4. Esteem Needs
When all of the previous three needs are satisfied, this need becomes
important for people. In this need we want to strive for achievement, to
demonstrate adequacy, to show others that we are competent and that we can be
independent and free. We also want to have prestige, recognition, and attention
for our efforts.
5. Self Actualizations Needs
“These are our desires to become all that we are capable of becoming.”
Self-actualization is the total and complete fulfillment of our inner destiny. The
self-actualized person is a very positive one. His or her behavior is motivated by a new
set of needs. Self-actualization constantly stimulates people to test their ability
and expand their horizons.
“These five begins to appreciate a bit more vital, but not pre-eminent, place
growth, which leads us to the higher motivation such as esteem and
self-actualization. Just as we do not concern our self with feeding food to survive each
say, so we do not take a proof of our worth (by being loved and approved of by
people) once we have passed that stage (302-305).
2.2.2. The Meaning of Relationship
According to Stenberg, there are three basic points in relationships,
Intimacy, Passion and Commitment. Intimacy is the term that deals with the
feeling of closeness. Romantic and sexual attraction is a part of passion.
Commitment involves the decision that love exists and the relationship should
continue (228).
The three basic points in relationships can form seven types of
relationships. They are:
1. Liking: This relationship is built with the feeling of closeness without
involving romantic and sexual attraction and the decision for continuing
the relationship.
2. Companionate Love: This relationship is also categorized by Sternberg as
platonic friendship. It is a close relationship between two people in which
sexual desire has been suppressed.
3. Romantic Love: People involved in this relationship have the feeling of
closeness and sexual desire but they do not take commitment as an
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4. Empty Love: Commitment exists in this relationship, but no sexual desire
and intimacy.
5. Fatuous Love: Sexual desire and commitment appear in this relationship,
but the feeling of closeness is not part of it.
6. Infatuated Love: The only thing that is important in infatuated love
relationship is sexual desire. People cannot find the existence of closeness
and commitment inside the relationship.
7. Consummate Love: The consummate love relationship exists in marriage.
A marital couple who agrees to have intimacy and commitment takes
sexual intercourse as something that completes their relationship. The
main purpose of sexual desire in this relationship is to enable the couple in
bringing the new generation into the family.
Buscaglia says that there are some obstacles in building a good
relationship (37). They are described like: Lack of Communication, Selfishness,
Dishonesty, Jealousy, Lack of trust, Perfectionism, Lack of flexibility, Lack of
understanding, Lack of respect and Apathy.
Furthermore, Buscaglia explains that there are seven advices to develop
the relationship with others (150) they are;
1. Expect to invest a great deal of time and energy in relationship,
lasting relationship does not just happen, they are created.
2. Do not hold on to anger, hurt or pain. They steal people’s energy and
3. There are times when people may be able to give up on relationship,
but never give up on relating.
4. Divorce, fighting arguing will never solve human problems; better to
try to understand, warmth, and flexibility.
5. Do not become involved in pettiness, ego, and childish, hurts, these
will only serve to degrade human relationships and prevent
closeness.
6. Learn to listen to others.
7. Do not allow the relationship to die or neglect.
2.1.3. Theory of Friendship According to Beebe
According to Beebe (412) in his book entitled Inter Personal
Communication Relating to Other states an explanation about the nature or
friendship. He says that a friend is someone we trust, the one whom we share a
good and bad time with. Someone who will always be there for you, even in the
worst time, hold your hand when you are lonely and wipe your tears when you
cry.
Beebe (43) also takes the opinion about friendship that there are three
reasons about friendship they are:
1. The need of Inclusion
It suggests that each of us has a need to be included in the activities.
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join with and perhaps we need to invite others to join us in certain situation. It will
be different to treat one to another because everybody is not the same.
2. The Need for Control
It suggests that someone also need some degrees of dominion over the
relationship we establish with other. Someone must exercise control in order to
predict how others will respond. He or she also needs to be controlled by others
because he or she desires some level of stability and comfort in his or her
interaction with others.
3. The Need of Affection
People need to give and receive love, support warmth and intimacy,
although the amount is different from person to person. From that statement I can
draw a conclusion about the need of having a companion, the man’s inclusion,
control and affection needs. It is better if they can actively seek other as friend,
because of these needs social isolation can negatively affect our physical and
mental health. Research suggests that the most stressful event in life is losing a
friend or companion.
Beebe (413) in his book states the meaning of friendship dealing with our
physical and mental needs: “Besides helping us enjoy a healthy life, friends help
us to cope with the stress, take care of physical needs even help us in the
development of our personality. Friends help us cope with uncertainty and have a
From that statement I can also conclude that friends are the main influence
for someone’s personality. As evidence there are many people who trust their
friends rather than their parents when they had problems.
2.1.4. The Relationship between Psychology and Literature
James says that psychology is the science of mental life, both the
phenomena, such as feelings, desires, cognitions, reasoning, decision, etc, and
their conditions (15), while literature is the work of imagination or a creative
writing which relates to human expression. As an expression is, literature also”
hold the mirror up to man,” in which the author can communicate his or her
feeling of his or her fictional character and then make them look alive. The author
can use the understanding, which is provided by psychologist in order to enrich
his or her story, and in other way the psychologist can giant their understanding of
human behavior by drawing for the deep sensitivity of a good author.
According to Wellek and Warren Theory of Literature, psychological has
four possibilities of understanding: first is the study of psychology of the author as
a person; second is the process study creativity; third is the study of type and
application of psychological conditions which as applied in literary work; fourth
is the study of the effect of literature towards the readers (90).
Wellek also says that psychological critic view works through the lens of
psychology. They look at the psychological motivations of the character and of
the authors themselves. Basically, literature reflects the life and represents a
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in the creativity of the artist or analyze the fictional character’s motivation and
behavior. It is clear, that literature and psychology are two different fields, but
they influence each other. Literature may contain the application of the
psychology rule in the work (93).
2.3. Theoretical Framework
I apply five basic theories to help in solving the problem in this study,
namely Theory of Character; Theory Behavior and Motivation, Theory
Relationship and Friendship and The Relationship between Psychological and
Literature. Those theories are used in order to reveal the subject matter I want to
discuss in this thesis so that I will get the deeper understanding about the theories
to help to finish the thesis.
I explore the characteristic of the main character through the way he
thinks, speeches and actions use Theory of Character and Characterization. This
way will make the love that is presented through their characteristic revealed
easily.
The deeper understanding of Theory of Motivations used to give a brief
explanation about motivation. The motivation of the main characters in the novel
is presented from his speech, thought and action. This way will make it easy to
find out the motivations that can cause the main characters in the novel feel
comfortable to be friends.
Talking about relationship Leo Buscaglia states that: Relationship seldom
because people do not understand how much or what kind of upkeep, time, work,
love and caring is required or because people are too lazy or afraid to try. A
relationship is a living thing, it needs and benefits from the same attention to
detail that an artist lavishes on his art (193).
Theory of friendship is used to find out what kind of relationship that they
have. It has motivated Mitch and Morrie to see each other again. The relationship
between psychology and literature in used to give a brief explanation about
relation between those different field, psychology and literature, so that the
readers can understand that actually, these two fields complete each other.
2.4. Criticism
Tuesdays with Morrie is a non-fiction story which is based on the Author’s
own experiences. This novel has 192 pages and divided into 27 chapters. It is
printed in the United States of America, published by Double day, New York.
Tuesdays with Morrie has been published in thirty one languages in thirty six
countries and it was bestseller in Japan, Australia, Brazil, and England.
Besides Tuesdays with Morrie, Mitch Albom also published eight books,
including the New York Times bestseller The Five People You meet in Heaven,
and the phenomenal bestseller Tuesdays With Morrie, Live Albom I (1987), Live
Albom II (1990), Live Albom III (1992), Live Albom IV (1995) the
autobiography of Bo Schembechler (co-written with Schembechler and also a
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Michigan's famed men's basketball recruits who all became starters as freshmen
during the early 1990's.
Tuesdays with Morrie’s popularity is continued by the film version of it.
The film won the EMMY awards in 2000. It also won “The best actor” and “The
best supporting actor” (NN http://www.albom.com/morrie.htm accessed on March
31st, 2007 at 14 p.m.).
Although Tuesdays with Morrie is a best selling novel in many countries,
but it still gets many reactions from public. In 1978, Professor Morrie Schwartz
was facilitating an unusual class in sociology at Brandeis University. They called
it “Group Process.” In this class they study how to interact with other people in
areas such as anger, jealousy, sensitivity, trust and many things.
(http://en.wikipedia.org//wiki Tuesdays with Morrie accessed on October 15th ,
2007 at 14.06 p.m.):
“We are to stand, facing away from our classmates and fall backward, relying on another student to catch us. Most of us are uncomfortable with this, and we cannot let go for more than five inches before we stopping ourselves. We laugh in embarrassment. Finally, one student crosses her arms over her chest, leans back, and does not flinch, like one of those Lipton iced tea commercials where the model splashes into the pool. For a moment, I am sure that she is going to thump on the floor. At last instant, her assigned partner grabs her head and shoulder and yanks her up harshly.
‘Whoa! Several students yell. Some clap. Morrie smiles.
If someone wants others to trust him or her, he has to be able to trust
others. If someone is untrusting, that usually means that someone is not
completely trustworthy either. The faults someone accuse others can often be
found within himself or herself. How we can trust someone if we do not know
what sort person he is, people cannot trust someone that easy. Nothing in this
world will be what people want it to be, so when we trust someone it is possible if
he or she will cheat on us.
As the 20th century Torah Scholar, Rabbi Eliyahu Dessler, describes:
“when you see a fault in others, turn the thinking and analysis to yourself. If you
don’t have the entire fault, you probably have it slightly. And even if the
weakness never pondered it, you almost certainly saw someone else doing it and
you were pleased.”(Michtav M’Eliyahu, volume 5, page 123).
Rabbi Desslar suggests that whenever someone wishes to criticize others,
someone should project the criticism upon himself. It is impossible to detect
anything around us unless someone is sensitive to it. It is only talented artist who
can see the beauty of something that would otherwise go unnoticed to a layman. It
is only someone who has experienced some level of pride and arrogance within
himself will notice pride and arrogance in others.
Talmud says “Remove the crossbeam from between our own eyes” before
someone chooses to censure others (Baba Batra 15b). There is a Torah Principles
from our Sages that only sincere criticism has a chance of being effective-“ words
spoken from the heart enter the heart” and unless someone first rid himself of the
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It does not mean that you have to be a perfect person, but at least you
become someone better. You know how to interact with people and how to treat
people as a human. You do not need to think about others foibles because
everybody has his or her own foibles. People say no body in this world is perfect.
You do not need to talk about people’s faults behind their back. You have your
own fault which can be worse than people you talk about so before you talk about
someone’s weakness you would better reflect it to yourselves. You are not even
better than people you talk about. It is better for people to think about their own
self and how to fix every single mistake that he or she had done.
2.5. Context of the Novel
The Novel takes place in 1995, in Morrie’s study, in West Newton,
Massachusetts. In his childhood, Morrie used to live in poverty. Charles Schwartz,
a Russian immigrant who had moved to escape the Russian Army, Schwartz grew
up in the Jewish tenements in New York City Charles Schwartz, a Russian
immigrant who had moved to escape the Russian Army, Schwartz grew up in the
Jewish tenements in New York City His father, Charlie, was cold and
dispassionate, and he neglected to provide for Morrie and his younger brother
emotionally and financially. At the age of eight, he was informed that his mother,
who is the owner of a local candy store, had died. As he is the only one in his
family who can read English Morrie must read the telegram that brings news of
his mother's death. He is very sad of his mother death. Not long after that, his
Charlie marries Eva, a kind woman who gives Morrie and his brother the
love and affection they need. She gives Morrie what he needs like his desire for
books and education. She is the one that raises Morrie and David with good
education until Morrie becomes prominent professor in Brandeis University.
Morrie Schwartz earned his undergraduate degree from City College in
New York, and his master's degree and Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in
1946 and 1951 respectively. He wrote three books on sociology in the 1950s and
1960s. He began teaching at Brandeis University in the sociology department.
Among his students was future sports writer and television host Mitch Albom.
Schwartz continued to teach at Brandeis into his 70s, when amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis (or ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease) made it too difficult for
him to continue his life.
He keeps the telegram of his mother’s death all of his life as proof that his
mother had existed. He kept this because he wanted to memories the moment
when he lost his beloved mother. Because he was starving of love and affection
during his childhood, Morrie seeks it out in his old age from his family and
friends. Now that he is close to his death, Morrie says that he "enjoys being a
baby again." During his dying moment, Morrie spends most of his time doing the
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CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY
This chapter is divided into three parts namely the Object of the Study, the
Approaches and the Procedures. The Object of the Study concerns the work of
literature analyzed in this study. The Approaches used to analyze the novel. The
Procedures contain the steps of doing this study.
3.1. Object of the Study
The little of the book, which would be analysed in this study, is Tuesdays
with Morrie, the novel is written by Mitch Albom, 47, the No. 1 Sports Columnist
in the Nation for 13 years. This novel is based on the true story of the author
himself. He published this book for the sake of his late lecture who had loved him
for all his life.
Morrie was Mitch’s sociology lecturer in Brandies University; Morrie was
one of the oldest lecturers while Mitch was one of the youngest students. Even
though they come from different generation they can still be friends. They often
spent the time together and talked about many things in life. On the graduation
day Mitch promised Morrie to always keep in touch with him but he broke his
promise. He never visited Morrie, someone whom he used to know very well in
Brandies University.
Mitch was a hard-working person who sought happiness. He tried to find
his own happiness by spending most of his time working. He was working hard as
a Sport Columnist for Detroit Free Press. After few years passed by, Mitch saw
Morrie in one of television programs Ted Koppel’s Nightline the title of that
program was ”A professor’s final course: His own Death” that was the time that
he found out that Morrie was dying, and he remembered the time when he
promised to always keep in touch with him.
After the graduation day Morrie lived in a suffering. He became a
dependent one. He got an unforgiving illness that would melt his bones until he
would totally stay in bed and wait for the final moment to come and there was no
medicine could cure it. He starts to commute everywhere by his wheel chair, with
someone who would push it. He became totally dependent on someone. He could
not even lift his own hands and put some food into his mouth. Morrie was a strong
person who can enjoy his embarrassing dependency. He felt like he was back to
his childhood he never got.
Losing someone in life is the hardest thing to face for someone. Morrie
had bad experiences of losing someone in his past life. He lost his mother and
father when he was not there to know what was happening, and then the telegram
came and stated about his mother’s death, and on other occasion he found out his
father death by the call that stated his father death. That was why when he lost
Mitch for years and then he got him back he hug him so tight and never let him go
again. He felt like finding something that he missed for so long.
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This study focuses on the influence of Morrie’s past life towards Morrie’s
dependencies. I used psychological approach, which involves the theory of
psychology to understand the literary works. The reason I chose this approach is
because the influences of someone’s behaviors on one’s personality can be
revealed by psychological theories. That is why psychological approach is the
most appropriate approach in discussing the problems in this study.
The study discusses the psychological implication in the novel which is
dug up from the relationship between the main characters, Morrie Schwartz and
Mitch Albom. To get the complete analysis, the study needs to explore the
characteristics of Morrie Schwartz, the main character of this novel. Therefore,
the exploration of the character’s personality uses theory of character and
characterization.
The exploration of the main characters’ personalities reveals a characters’
habitual responses, attitudes, desire, motivation, like and dislike, the inner
working of the minds both emotional and intellectual, which precede actions.
Psychological implication in the relationship between Morrie Schwartz and Mitch
Albom and the dependency behavior between them are using Theories of
Friendship and Theory of Relationship. Since the study analyses on the
characteristic on the main characters and psychological implication among them,
the study employs the formalist approach.
According to Guerin (70) formalist criticism has for its object the
discovery and explanation of form in the literary work it self and thus the relative
3.3. Procedures
To find out the description of the main character in this novel, some steps
are needed to be done. First, in order to get the information about the characters, it
is a must to read the novel several times. The next step is to find and discuss the
main character of the novel. Third is to determine the description of the main
characters in the novel and the contribution of this novel to human being.
Fourth, is to provide the evidences to support the analysis. Fifth step is to
provide the comments, events, opinions, and atmosphere of the story. The
environments and setting of the novel are also discussed. After formulating the
problems of the discussion, a critical analysis is made by using psychological
approach. By doing so, the answer to the problems could be found out.
Finally, the last step of conducting this study is to give some suggestions
on teaching learning process using Tuesdays with Morrie as its material, and to
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CHAPTER IV ANALYSIS
This chapter discusses Morrie Schwartz as described in the novel and
analysis of his dependent behavior.
4.1. Morrie’s Characteristics in Tuesdays with Morrie
After reading the novel, there are significant and important characteristics
of Morrie Schwartz. He is described as an open-minded, lonely, patient, attentive,
compassionate and helpful. Morrie’s characters can be found through his
speeches, what people say about him in the direct comments of Mitch Albom,
who was one of his students in Brandeis University, Morrie’s past life, Morrie’s
thoughts and Morrie’s behavior. These are the characteristics that will be
discussed:
4.1.1. Open-minded
Morrie Schwartz is an open-minded person. It shows from the way he
accepts his students from various religion and different philosophies without any
considerations. He does not take only one religion because he thinks that every
religion has positive values to be learned. Mitch Albom who is the student and the
author of this novel at once describes his open-minded characteristic below
through direct comment.
Because of his open-minded thought, Morrie also feels closely to various
students who have different cultures and religions. “His teachings before his death
are transcended from all religious differences” (82). He is also a follower from
many philosophers. One of them is Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi’s teaching that
Morrie likes best is “each night, when I go to sleep, I die. And the next morning,
when I wake up, I am reborn”. Many of his lessons are inspired from all the
philosophies of life that he has learned from many religions.
Morrie is interested in studying about Buddhist teaching, he is inspired by
it very much. “He opened his eyes and He exhaled.’’ “You know what the
Buddhists say? Don’t cling to things, because everything is impermanent (103)”.
It shows that Morrie receives Buddhist teaching. He does not focus his knowledge
on one religion that he believes but he also learns other religions that he read from
books.
Once in an unusual sociology class they called “Group process” Morrie
had a special exercise for his students to do. Morrie wanted them to stand facing
away from the whole class and fall backward, relying on another student to catch
them. They could not do it, only one girl in that class wanted to do it. She fell
backward and suddenly someone caught her back so she did not fall to the ground.
To this girl Morrie said
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The quotation shows that Morrie is an open-minded person. He would like
to tell the students that if they trust someone they have to trust him or her with all
his heart so that they can rely on him or her in any condition.
4.1.2. Lonely
Morrie lost his mother when he was eight years old. Hestarts to live with
David, his brother who limps because of polio that he suffers and his father,
Charlie Schwartz. His father is a Russian immigrant and he is barely speaking
English. In this novel Charlie Schwartz is described as a quiet person, he seems to
draw a line with his children Morrie and David. He rarely talks to his children or
kisses them good night. That will be one of the reasons why Morrie always feels
lonely.
“In the evening he watched his father eat in a silence hoping for- but never
getting-a show off affection communication warmth (75). Charlie is considered a
quiet father who rarely has conversation with his children and he seems to enjoy
doing something himself. “Charlie Schwartz was a quiet man who liked to read
newspaper alone under a street lamp on a Tremont Avenue in the Bronx” (135).
This quotation shows that Morrie is lonely because of the situation that a
father who should be the one whom he can share everything with rarely talks to
him as father and son, or man to man. He misses all the moments that he should
have spent with his family.
Losing his mother makes him feel like a heavy burden is on his shoulder. His loneliness becomes more complete since his father died because of the heart attack. Father, whom he never has any chance to talk to, to show his affection and this is the time that Morrie has to lose the moment that he has never had with his father forever.
“Morrie looked at the body of the man who had scolded him and molded him and taught him to work, who had been quiet when Morrie wanted him to speak, who had told Morrie to swallow his memories of his mother when he wanted to share them with world.” (139)
This paragraph shows that Morrie keeps something that he wants to share
with his father. Something that he cannot reveal until his father died and he would
never have a chance to say it for all his life.
This paragraph also tells that Morrie’s father does not even let him to say
what he feels. He asks Morrie to keep it by heart and not to talk about that again.
It comes up in to an unutterable pain inside him. All he needs is just someone to
talk to and someone who will let him reveal all his feeling. His loneliness reminds
him of all the memory of his parents when they were alive.
There is regret inside Morrie to his parents for leaving him and his brother
without any good bye. That would be another reason for Morrie to entertain
himself outside, like what Mitch say in the paragraph below;
“He had always been a good dancer, my old professor. The music didn’t matter. Rock and Roll, big band, the blues. He loved them all. He would close his eyes and with a blissful smile begin to move to his own sense or rhythm. It wasn’t always pretty out there. He didn’t worry about a partner. Morrie danced by himself.” (5)
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Mitch said that they had worked as a team; they just needed to use the gesture when they wanted to say something:
“They worked as a team, often needing no more than silent glance to understand what the other was thinking. Charlotte was a private person, different from Morrie, but I knew how much he respected her, because sometimes when we spoke, he would say “Charlotte might be uncomfortable with me revealing that” and he would end he conversation.” (148-149)
Because of those reasons Morrie seems to feel s lonely that he always tries to find someone that he can rely on. He finds it in Mitch Albom his student when he was still teaching in Brandeis University.
4.1.3. Patient
This characteristic is described by Morrie reaction facing his suffering
without complaining. When the doctor sentenced that he got an unforgiving
illness called ALS and he would have only couple years to live, he knew how to
overcome his feeling. He faced all his suffering patiently, he did not spend the rest
of his time to mourn and regret what had happened.
Morrie always knows how to spend his dying time. He is concentrating on
the rest of his life in good things. Just like what he states:
“Sometimes, in the mornings,“ he said. That’s when I mourn I feel around my body, I move my fingers and my hands- whatever I can still move- and I mourn what I’ve lost. I mourn the slow, insidious way in which I’m dying. But then I stop mourning.” just like that “I give myself a good cry if I need it. But then I concentrate on all the good things still in my life. On the people who are coming to see me…” (56)
From the patience in facing his death, Morrie is able to see life in a
different view and how others treat him.
Mitch sees Morrie as a patient man who is willing to listen to every single
word that comes from someone he is speaking to. Mitch also sees Morrie as the
time we’d spent together, for all the kindness and patience Morrie had shown me
when I was young….” (27). Therefore, Morrie’s patience can be shown through
his reaction when he faces his suffering patiently without complaining and
Mitch’s statement about Morrie’s guidance for Albom when he needed someone
to understand him and someone to listen.
4.1.4. Attentive
For all his life, Morrie has been a good listener. It is described in this
quotation:
He told his friends that if they really wanted to help him, they would treat him not with sympathy but with visits, phone calls, a sharing of their problems the way they had always shared their problems, because Morrie had always been a wonderful listener. (12)
It shows that Morrie likes to pay attention to others. Even if he is in the
worst condition he still wants to hear everybody who wants to share his or her
problems. He does not want people to think that he is weak because of his dying.
Mitch Albom is Morrie’s student and best friend in Brandeis University,
he knows Morrie quiet well. He describes Morrie as a good listener just like when
Morrie listens to him when they are talking. Morrie can listen to people who talk
to him and focus on his speakers only. Mitch’s direct comment about Morrie to
show the statement above is:
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It is not easy to listen to people like what Morrie does, people tend to be a
speaker rather than to be a listener. Albom says that Morrie is a good listener, he
can listen to people who talk to him very well, and as if they were the only one in
the world he is talking to. Morrie thinks that when people talk to him they really
need to be listened to, that is why he always gives them his best ears to listen.
“When I’m talking to you now, Mitch, I try to keep focused only on what is going on between us. I am not thinking about something we said last week. I am not thinking of what’s coming up this Friday. I am not thinking about doing another Koppel’s show, or about what medication I’m taking.” (135)
Albom says that many people like to visit Morrie when he is dying. They
visit Morrie for just a little talk, because Morrie gives a good attention to the
people. Morrie does a lot of favor for others that people would like to pay him
back in return, by accompanying him in his suffering.
The reason they want to visit Morrie in his dying time is because they
feel sorry about Morrie’s condition. They want to be there for Morrie just the way
when Morrie was there for them when he was healthy just to listen to them when
they spoke to him. Albom also says:
But really listening to someone without trying to tell them something, pick them up, recruit them, or get some kind of status in return how often do we get this anymore? I believe many visitors in the last few months of Morrie’s life were drawn not because of the attention he paid to them. Despite his personal pain and decay, this little old man listened the way they always wanted someone to listen. (138)
Morrie considers that people who come to him are people who need
someone to listen to every single word that they speak. Morrie realizes that
they will automatically know where to go, because Morrie will be the only one to
listen when they have problems.
4.1.5. Tough
Morrie is a tough person although he is physically weak. He is tough
because he has a strong will to face his life through his pain. The pain that he has
never seems to be a problem for him. He tries to convince himself that dying is
not a big deal for him. All that he has now is just strength to face his last few
days. He realizes that he is no longer able to do everything by himself; he always
has somebody do something for him.
It is something painful to find out that someone is going to die from
illness. People might get depressed or mourn his life and they seem like they lose
their spirit of life. Morrie has his own way of facing his death by doing something
useful for others. He does a lot of thing for people around him. He still has ears to
listen to people who share their problems when they come to see him. He still has
lips to say something, which people will long to hear. He teaches people about his
dying condition that nothing in this world will last forever, he teaches people to be
strong to face all the things that may happen in this life. This statement is just like
what Mitch says about Morrie:
