Analysis of Major Characters
Mitch Albom- Mitch Albom was one Morrie's student at Brandeis University, being called "one of the good ones" by his teacher. He began to work as a lesser musician, playing piano until his uncle's passing away due to pancreatic cancer. Because of this, he felt as if time had grown short, developing a lust for power as the culture everyone follows has led him to think. For this reason, he got a degree in writing, becoming a popular sports writer in Detroit. He becomes lost in his workaholic habits before flipping through the television to find his old teacher Morrie, who he then visits. It is at this point he reverts to the docile person he once was in his college years, ignoring the outside world for the time spent with him, where he learns lessons about life, death, and culture. This also leads him to reminisce to his college days, and how Albom tried to fit in by acting tough, yet Morrie accepted him for who he was, becoming his best friend.
Morrie Schwartz- Morrie Schwartz was originally a sociology teacher and Brandeis University. He mainly taught there due to the influence of his prior childhood, where his stepmother, Eva, gave him his love for education. His hobby was originally dancing, confident and proud of his youth before developing asthma at 60 years old, leaving his breathing struggled. At 70 he realized that it was more than asthma, until August 1994, where he discovered he had contracted ALS. He was devastated by this fact, and how people acted so normally around him. Morrie, in realization of his imminent death, begins to change. He tries to make the most out of his life, teaching small philosophies to those who visit him, mainly former students whom he connected with and those who were inspired by his Nightline appearances, and by staying positive even when he was close to death. Also, because of this experience, he becomes closer and more emotional towards others, cherishing physical contact and openly crying towards others. He is mainly a mentor and father figure to Albom, teaching him all of his own philosophies. He also shows a great amount of love and respect for his wife, Charlotte, and his sons, Rob and Jon, mainly as a response to the lack of it shown from his father to either him or his brother, David.
Ted Koppel- Ted Koppel is the host of Nightline, interviewing Morrie 3 times over the course of the story and changing as a result of it. In March of 1995, he interview Morrie for the first time after finding an article made by Morrie's friend. He is surprised when Morrie begins interviewing him instead of the reverse, mainly about what he holds close to him. They begin developing a bond, occasionally trading laughs, something alien to most of television. At the second interview they begin acting like family, Koppel growing warmer towards Morrie during the interview. By the third interview, he begins to show consideration for Morrie, asking "Do you think you can handle it?" before meeting, differing form his normally stoic attitude. As Morrie talks about his nearing death, Koppel begins tearing up, showing that he now considered Morrie a friend, a drastic change in Koppel's usual character.
Morrie Schwartz- Morrie Schwartz was originally a sociology teacher and Brandeis University. He mainly taught there due to the influence of his prior childhood, where his stepmother, Eva, gave him his love for education. His hobby was originally dancing, confident and proud of his youth before developing asthma at 60 years old, leaving his breathing struggled. At 70 he realized that it was more than asthma, until August 1994, where he discovered he had contracted ALS. He was devastated by this fact, and how people acted so normally around him. Morrie, in realization of his imminent death, begins to change. He tries to make the most out of his life, teaching small philosophies to those who visit him, mainly former students whom he connected with and those who were inspired by his Nightline appearances, and by staying positive even when he was close to death. Also, because of this experience, he becomes closer and more emotional towards others, cherishing physical contact and openly crying towards others. He is mainly a mentor and father figure to Albom, teaching him all of his own philosophies. He also shows a great amount of love and respect for his wife, Charlotte, and his sons, Rob and Jon, mainly as a response to the lack of it shown from his father to either him or his brother, David.
Ted Koppel- Ted Koppel is the host of Nightline, interviewing Morrie 3 times over the course of the story and changing as a result of it. In March of 1995, he interview Morrie for the first time after finding an article made by Morrie's friend. He is surprised when Morrie begins interviewing him instead of the reverse, mainly about what he holds close to him. They begin developing a bond, occasionally trading laughs, something alien to most of television. At the second interview they begin acting like family, Koppel growing warmer towards Morrie during the interview. By the third interview, he begins to show consideration for Morrie, asking "Do you think you can handle it?" before meeting, differing form his normally stoic attitude. As Morrie talks about his nearing death, Koppel begins tearing up, showing that he now considered Morrie a friend, a drastic change in Koppel's usual character.
Analysis of Minor Characters
Charlotte: Morrie's wife, and also a worker at MIT. She is often not at home due to Morrie's wish to not stop and ruin his family's lives because of his disease. She was married with Morrie for over 45 years, meeting as students and working with Morrie as a team. She is more secretive than Morrie, who respects her own thoughts.
Peter: Morrie's brother, who look vastly different form his siblings, constantly taunted because of it. He was ambitious as a child, wanting to become famous, and would always get himself into trouble. He moved to Europe shortly after high school to live a casual life. He was the family favorite, being described by Albom as "wild and funny" during family reunions while he felt "stiff and conservative". Shortly after Albom's uncle died, Peter contracted pancreatic cancer as well. He went all around Spain to receive chemotherapy and experimental medications, looking like a skeleton of his formal self. However, after this he shut himself off of the family, leaving no response to any of the messages that Albom sends for months. This seems to change by the end of the story, where he begins to respond to Albom's earnest message about not wanting to lose him.
Charlie Schwartz- Morrie's father, who spent most of his life as a worker in the declining fur business. He is described as strict, scolding and molding him to work, as well as forcing him to swallow the memories of his mother. He tried to force Morrie into working as well, to his dismay. During Morrie's childhood living in the Bronx, he would take a walk after dinner, never talking or showing love to either him or his brother, David. This would lead Morrie to swear he would show deep affection to his children, opposite to his father. After moving out, he dies after getting a heart attack while being robbed. Morrie comes to identify the body, but feels no grief until days later, making Morrie declare that he wants his loved ones by his side when he himself dies.
Eva- Morrie's stepmother, who Charlie, his father, married after his former mother's death. A Romanian immagrant, she taught Morrie how to love, and also flared his passion for education by her lessons. She herself studied English at a night school
Morrie's Mother- Morrie's mother originally owned a candy store near their small apartment. She then got sick, leaving her in a weak position, barely able to do anything. She then died, announced to Morrie via telegram. While he cried, his father forced him to bury the memories he had of her. Led Morrie to move to the Connecticut woods before David contracted polio, and also to pray at the synagogue.
Rob-One of Morrie's sons, he would occasionally visit, gathering in the living room to read letters with his brother, Jon, and father, Morrie. Is shown great respect, like Jon. He is one of the people who reads a poem at Morrie's grave, after arrive from Tokyo.
Jon-One of Morrie's sons, he would visit with Rob to read letters with Morrie. Is shown great respect by him, and stands by Morrie as his death approaches.
David- Morrie's younger brother, he has little memory of his former mother. He and Morrie would often spend time together playing. After their mother's death, they went to the Connecticut woods to recover, before they discover that David had contracted polio. He has to constantly go to the medical home for extended times because of this, leading Morrie to feel responsibility, praying to synagogue for his sake as well. He was one of the people who attended Morrie's funeral.
Connie- Morrie's main helper, she has to help Morrie with practically everything, such as sitting in a comfortable position, moving anywhere, changing, and using the bathroom. She also tells Albom about Morrie's degrading condition whenever he visits.
Janine- Albom's wife, she is a professional singer from Detroit, marrying after 7 years courtship, staying married despite his commitment to this work. She finally decides to visit Morrie close before his death. She is shown to be extremely kind, socializing with Morrie despite knowing little about him. She sings for Morrie despite rejecting most requests to do so.
Norman: Morrie's former friend who made a bronze bust for Morrie as a gift. He was good friends with Morrie before moving to Chicago, not keeping in touch despite Charlotte going through a serious operation, leading Morrie to drop their friendship. He attempted to reconcile, yet Morrie rejected them, prideful of the fact. He eventually died of cancer, leaving Morrie to regret his decisions and grieve on the fact.
Peter: Morrie's brother, who look vastly different form his siblings, constantly taunted because of it. He was ambitious as a child, wanting to become famous, and would always get himself into trouble. He moved to Europe shortly after high school to live a casual life. He was the family favorite, being described by Albom as "wild and funny" during family reunions while he felt "stiff and conservative". Shortly after Albom's uncle died, Peter contracted pancreatic cancer as well. He went all around Spain to receive chemotherapy and experimental medications, looking like a skeleton of his formal self. However, after this he shut himself off of the family, leaving no response to any of the messages that Albom sends for months. This seems to change by the end of the story, where he begins to respond to Albom's earnest message about not wanting to lose him.
Charlie Schwartz- Morrie's father, who spent most of his life as a worker in the declining fur business. He is described as strict, scolding and molding him to work, as well as forcing him to swallow the memories of his mother. He tried to force Morrie into working as well, to his dismay. During Morrie's childhood living in the Bronx, he would take a walk after dinner, never talking or showing love to either him or his brother, David. This would lead Morrie to swear he would show deep affection to his children, opposite to his father. After moving out, he dies after getting a heart attack while being robbed. Morrie comes to identify the body, but feels no grief until days later, making Morrie declare that he wants his loved ones by his side when he himself dies.
Eva- Morrie's stepmother, who Charlie, his father, married after his former mother's death. A Romanian immagrant, she taught Morrie how to love, and also flared his passion for education by her lessons. She herself studied English at a night school
Morrie's Mother- Morrie's mother originally owned a candy store near their small apartment. She then got sick, leaving her in a weak position, barely able to do anything. She then died, announced to Morrie via telegram. While he cried, his father forced him to bury the memories he had of her. Led Morrie to move to the Connecticut woods before David contracted polio, and also to pray at the synagogue.
Rob-One of Morrie's sons, he would occasionally visit, gathering in the living room to read letters with his brother, Jon, and father, Morrie. Is shown great respect, like Jon. He is one of the people who reads a poem at Morrie's grave, after arrive from Tokyo.
Jon-One of Morrie's sons, he would visit with Rob to read letters with Morrie. Is shown great respect by him, and stands by Morrie as his death approaches.
David- Morrie's younger brother, he has little memory of his former mother. He and Morrie would often spend time together playing. After their mother's death, they went to the Connecticut woods to recover, before they discover that David had contracted polio. He has to constantly go to the medical home for extended times because of this, leading Morrie to feel responsibility, praying to synagogue for his sake as well. He was one of the people who attended Morrie's funeral.
Connie- Morrie's main helper, she has to help Morrie with practically everything, such as sitting in a comfortable position, moving anywhere, changing, and using the bathroom. She also tells Albom about Morrie's degrading condition whenever he visits.
Janine- Albom's wife, she is a professional singer from Detroit, marrying after 7 years courtship, staying married despite his commitment to this work. She finally decides to visit Morrie close before his death. She is shown to be extremely kind, socializing with Morrie despite knowing little about him. She sings for Morrie despite rejecting most requests to do so.
Norman: Morrie's former friend who made a bronze bust for Morrie as a gift. He was good friends with Morrie before moving to Chicago, not keeping in touch despite Charlotte going through a serious operation, leading Morrie to drop their friendship. He attempted to reconcile, yet Morrie rejected them, prideful of the fact. He eventually died of cancer, leaving Morrie to regret his decisions and grieve on the fact.