Blog Post #1 - Reliable or Unreliable

Mitch Albom is the author of Tuesday's with Morrie he is both a main character and also the narrator of the story. I believe that the author is a reliable source. Mitch Albom has is own perspectives during the time he shared with Morrie. Although the perspective changed from when he was a young adult and a student of Morrie compared to when he goes back eighteen years later to visit his old professor. That would be considered a long time where he hadn't been in contact with his professor; there is a sense of feeling as if certain things hadn't changed within that time frame. The author seemed to have still cared for his old professor. This is depicted throughout the novel by way Mitch writes about Morrie within his novel.

            Throughout the novel, Mitch speaks highly of Morrie when he self-reflects into the past and being a student of Morrie's. Throughout the duration of self-reflection, he indirectly explains how he felt about Morrie; at that point of time. Such as at the graduation when Mitch purchased Morrie a briefcase hoping that this kind gesture would mean that he wouldn't forget about Morrie and more importantly, Morrie wouldn't forget about him. (Tuesday's with Morrie, Mitch Albom, p. 4). Morrie had impacted his life in a way that Mitch had appreciated. Mitch also seemed to sentimentally value Morrie as a person and cares for him. Mitch states, "The whole time I know him, I have two overwhelming desires: to hug him and to give him a napkin." (Tuesday's with Morrie, Mitch Albom, p. 31). Mitch explains in this dialog the feelings of wanting to show affection to Morrie yet help him at the same time.                    

          The author poses a possible sense of regret and resentment within himself by not keeping in contact with Morrie years after he left Brandies University. Mitch was not the same person as he was as a young adult, now that he is older, his inner and outer values had changed. These changes would reflect different feelings towards Morrie. Such as when Mitch goes to visit Morrie for the first time in over a decade, Mitch states, “I did what I was best at doing. I tended to my work, even when my dying professor waited on his lawn. I am not proud of this, but that is what I did.” (Tuesday’s with Morrie, Mitch Albom, p. 27). Although Mitch can admit that he was not proud and probably knew that was a wrong gesture. The dialogue depicts a huge difference on treatment towards Morrie compared to when Mitch was a young student. The author also explains when he left his visit with Morrie that when he hugged his old professor that he agreed to visit him again but reflects upon the last time he made that promise as a newly graduate and never did. (Tuesday’s with Morrie, Mitch Albom, p. 38). Mitch had formed a sense of regret within himself by not keeping in contact and now his old professor is sick and dying.

          I believe that the author, Mitch Albom, is a reliable author based on the findings within the first few chapters in his novel. He had been a loyal student to Morrie and admired him as who he was and the life teachings he had to offer. Mitch did not have to go back to visit his old professor but chose to do so and because of that, he still cared for Morrie and respected him. The author may have messed up in his life by putting society’s belief system first; in the aspects in getting a better job, making lots of money, getting married, and have beautiful materialistic items. The author has much to offer by his views on Morrie and dialogue. Mitch personally knew Morrie and in certain aspects knows now where he could have made better choices in his life, such as keeping in touch with his old professor as he originally promised. Mitch was able to use that and share the circumstances directly or indirectly in his story.




https://www.mitchalbom.com/about/