The Messenger Essay
“Everyone can live beyond what they are capable of.” Discuss in relation to ‘The Messenger”
The Messenger by Markus Zusak shows us that everyone can live beyond what they are capable of. As the protagonist Ed, helps those in need, he is challenged to do things beyond his capability. In the beginning, Ed is described as the ‘epitome of ordinariness’ and he is called a ‘dead man’. The reason for this is because he has no meaning to his life and nothing to live for, no goals, ambitions or plans for the future. When he starts receiving the cards however, Ed, for the first time in his life makes a difference in the world around him which pushes him to achieve beyond what he was originally capable of.
As he completes each card, Ed learns many valuable life lessons. He starts to take risks, be patient and trust others. Through Audrey, Ed learns that in order to love, you must be willing to trust. Audrey has trouble with opening up to others and letting herself love, as Ed quotes, “Audrey doesn’t love anyone. She refuses.” Ed decides to take the risk and allow Audrey to love him for a few minutes. He learns that even though doing this may give a person the power to hurt you, taking the risk is one of the things you must do in order to be loved. Ed waits for Audrey and now that she has finally let him in, he sees that being patient with people will pay off in the end. After helping Audrey overcome her fear of love and trust, Ed finds the courage in himself that enables him to open up to his friends and the emotional side of his friendships. The card of hearts helps Ed to really understand the people he loves, which is something he has never done before.
Meeting Milla, the widowed old lady, greatly affected Ed and started changing him for the better. She was the first person he helped and the one who showed Ed that sometimes, we must care for the people around us and simply do things to make people happy, without asking for anything in return. When he met Milla, Ed
The Messenger by Markus Zusak shows us that everyone can live beyond what they are capable of. As the protagonist Ed, helps those in need, he is challenged to do things beyond his capability. In the beginning, Ed is described as the ‘epitome of ordinariness’ and he is called a ‘dead man’. The reason for this is because he has no meaning to his life and nothing to live for, no goals, ambitions or plans for the future. When he starts receiving the cards however, Ed, for the first time in his life makes a difference in the world around him which pushes him to achieve beyond what he was originally capable of.
As he completes each card, Ed learns many valuable life lessons. He starts to take risks, be patient and trust others. Through Audrey, Ed learns that in order to love, you must be willing to trust. Audrey has trouble with opening up to others and letting herself love, as Ed quotes, “Audrey doesn’t love anyone. She refuses.” Ed decides to take the risk and allow Audrey to love him for a few minutes. He learns that even though doing this may give a person the power to hurt you, taking the risk is one of the things you must do in order to be loved. Ed waits for Audrey and now that she has finally let him in, he sees that being patient with people will pay off in the end. After helping Audrey overcome her fear of love and trust, Ed finds the courage in himself that enables him to open up to his friends and the emotional side of his friendships. The card of hearts helps Ed to really understand the people he loves, which is something he has never done before.
Meeting Milla, the widowed old lady, greatly affected Ed and started changing him for the better. She was the first person he helped and the one who showed Ed that sometimes, we must care for the people around us and simply do things to make people happy, without asking for anything in return. When he met Milla, Ed