I Am The Messenger Sparknotes

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In the novel, I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak, Ed Kennedy is just an ordinary bloke who’s grown up at the far north of town, also known as “everyone’s dirty little secret” (page 17). As the story progresses, Ed receives four playing cards that require him to do three challenges each. According to Ed, these challenges are like “missions” with harsh consequences if not completed. While progressing through each mission, Ed produces changes to the lives of many people. In the first part of the novel Ed receives his first playing card, the ace of diamonds, and the first life Ed changes is Milla Johnson’s. Milla Johnson is an elderly woman who has been waiting for her husband to return from war for sixty years. Milla Johnson has been lonely …show more content…

One of the names he uncovers is Thomas O’Reilly. When Ed tries to find Thomas, he instead finds his brother, Tony, who tells him where Thomas is. When Ed goes to see Thomas, he finds out that he is a priest with a not so successful church. Ed figures out that the challenge he’s facing is to try to get more people to attend Father O’Reilly’s church. In order to do so, Ed comes up with the idea of throwing a party with free beer. According to the cops that visited Father O’Reilly to question him about the graffiti, “Can’t say no to that.” (Page 156). Ed and Marv spray painted buildings throughout town with information in order to publicize the party. By throwing this party at the church, Ed makes a major change in Father O’Reilly’s life. The party allowed him to be able to see his brother, Tony, after years of not seeing each other and gain more members of the church. During Father O’Reilly’s prayer, he states “Most of all, Lord, I thank you that my brother could be here today, and I thanks you for certain people in the world who have awful taste in jackets… Amen.” (Page 163). This indicates that if Ed never came to see Father O’Reilly, Father O’Reilly wouldn’t have seen his brother or gained any members of his …show more content…

He changes the lives of the Tatupu family. Before Ed met them, the Tatupu family always had to use the same worn out Christmas decorations every year because they weren’t able to afford new ones. One being a set of old-style Christmas lights that are very old and faded with missing lights. Ed realizes that “Something has to be done about those lights” (Page 221) that they set up. Ed obtains a new set of lights and leaves it in front of the Tatupu family’s house. By offering this kind gesture, Ed changes the way the Tatupu family thinks about others. Lua Tatupu says, “You know, Ed, we’ve been living here close to a year now, and nobody – absolutely nobody – has ever lifted a finger to help us or make us feel welcome.” (Page 225). Ed’s actions had led the Tatupu family to believe that there are actually people who are willing to offer kind gestures and help others. If Ed never bought them the new lights, the Tatupu family would still believe that everyone in the world is selfish and doesn’t care for anyone else but

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