Research Analyst

This research analysis is based on the novel “I am the Messenger” written by Markus Zusak. This research analysis will include the philosophical aspects in the novel and relate them to the main purpose of this informational essay.

Ed Kennedy is an under age male cabdriver who is headed NOWHERE in life. He can't play cards and is hopelessly involve with his best friend named Audrey. He is also very devoted to his coffee-drinking dog. One day he accidentally stops a bank robbery. That's when he receives playing cards in the mail and suddenly Ed becomes the messenger. Now only one question remains to be answered: Who's behind Ed's mission? Now to find out who that mysterious person is, you need to read the book.

The purpose that is trying to be revealed in the novel is that is Ed can stand up and do what he did, then maybe everyone can. This novel has a philosophical aspect which is courage and to stay strong to your self. Never under estimate yourself. When you start to second guess yourself and wonder if you're making the right decision then that's when things could get worse. The moment Ed received the first card in the mail was h he became suspicious and wondered who could be behind all this. The moment the robbery happened, Ed was standing in the bank watching, seeing everything that happened with his own 2 eyes. Ed was proclaimed a hero that day. The cards Ed receives in the mail have a number of tasks that he must do. His tasks are as followed:

• He must save a women who is raped by her husband almost every night
• He must comfort a lonely old lady
• He must show a teenage girl how to take control of her own life and become more confident

Throughout out the novel Ed receives number of aces in the mail with very different and unordinary tasks like:

1. He must go to a church that needs a congregation
2. He must buy an ice-cream for a woman who can't afford her own
3. He must help two brothers realize their love for one another
4. He must buy Christmas lights for a poor family.
5. He must tell his mother he accepts her new boyfriend
6. He must go to a lonely cinema with no business
7. He must talk to a friend in the middle of a river
8. He must help his friend Marvin Harris build up the courage to meet his daughter
9. He must let his friend Audrey admit that she loves him

Could you imagine being in this position? The last card Ed received was an ace that had an address on it not a task. Do you know what it said on the card? “26 Shipping Street.” That's Ed's address. At that very moment Ed said “ I'm not the messenger, I'm the message.” In other words Ed was the 'guinea pig' of an experiment to see if an ordinary, unsuccessful man could perform the impossible. Ed Kennedy did succeed in this experiment. He gave hope to the world that this generation is not useless. Towards the end of the book, Ed finally discovered that he has the ability to change peoples lives and make any living person a better version of them self. He pushed them to their limits but for the benefit of that individual. In the novel, a quote that really stuck out while reading was “I realize that for every good message, there will always be one that will agonize me.” (Part 1, chapter 6, page 68) When this is said) Ed has the courage to do these impossible things, one step at a time.

 If I had to sum this up, it would go a little something like this. Even thought you think you can't do something, always give it a shot because Ed for example, he saved a woman who was getting raped by her husband every night. Did you ever think you could save a women from that? Just never give up and always stay positive in everything you do.