Marcus Araby's Everyday Life
Life goes on even through the toughest times. “A good man never dies.” (Callimachus), he is always remembered. In the Human Comedy by William Saroyan a historical fiction book taking place in Ithaca, California during World War II. Homer, a fourteen year old telegraph messenger, learns this lesson through Mr. Spangler, the owner of the telegraph office; Mr. Grogan, Homer’s close friend who types telegraphs; and Marcus, his older brother fighting in the war. When Marcus dies he lives on in spirit because he was such a good man; his good spirit will live on in everyday life. When Mr. Grogan dies his lively, wise, sympathetic spirit will live on. Mr. Grogan’s passion for his job will live on forever. Although Mr. Spangler has not died yet, his
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On the train Tobey, Marcus’s friend from war, tells Marcus, “Maybe you won’t understand a thing like this, but I feel that Ithaca is my hometown too” (Saroyan 159). Marcus knows Tobey has no place to call home and he wants Tobey to feel loved so he tells Tobey everything about his hometown. Marcus promises to take Tobey to Ithaca after the war is over. This gives Tobey a purpose to live through the war. Tobey will remember Marcus’s kindness forever because Marcus gives him a reason to live. After Homer reads the letter Marcus sent him he says, “If my brother is killed in this stupid war I shall spit at the world. I shall hate it forever” (Saroyan 168). Homer, although extremely upset looses his temper because of his love for Marcus. Homer cannot stand the thought of losing his brother because he loves him so dearly. Towards the end of the letter Marcus tells Homer that he is the best of the McCauley’s; that shows the respect and love Marcus has for Homer and Homer will remember Marcus’s kindness forever. When Homer reads the unfinished telegram, “[he] looked around the telegraph office. Suddenly he spat, and then sat down, as if in a trance, looking straight ahead. There were no tears in his eyes” (Saroyan 185). Homer was so upset about his brother’s death he did not know what to do. Homer will always remember his brother and all the kindness Marcus showed him. Tobey will always remember Marcus because he changed him from being a vagrant to having a
On the train Tobey, Marcus’s friend from war, tells Marcus, “Maybe you won’t understand a thing like this, but I feel that Ithaca is my hometown too” (Saroyan 159). Marcus knows Tobey has no place to call home and he wants Tobey to feel loved so he tells Tobey everything about his hometown. Marcus promises to take Tobey to Ithaca after the war is over. This gives Tobey a purpose to live through the war. Tobey will remember Marcus’s kindness forever because Marcus gives him a reason to live. After Homer reads the letter Marcus sent him he says, “If my brother is killed in this stupid war I shall spit at the world. I shall hate it forever” (Saroyan 168). Homer, although extremely upset looses his temper because of his love for Marcus. Homer cannot stand the thought of losing his brother because he loves him so dearly. Towards the end of the letter Marcus tells Homer that he is the best of the McCauley’s; that shows the respect and love Marcus has for Homer and Homer will remember Marcus’s kindness forever. When Homer reads the unfinished telegram, “[he] looked around the telegraph office. Suddenly he spat, and then sat down, as if in a trance, looking straight ahead. There were no tears in his eyes” (Saroyan 185). Homer was so upset about his brother’s death he did not know what to do. Homer will always remember his brother and all the kindness Marcus showed him. Tobey will always remember Marcus because he changed him from being a vagrant to having a