The Messenger Sparknotes

The Messenger (2002) is a young adult novel by Australian author Mark Zusak. The novel follows the life of nineteen year old Ed Kennedy, who describes himself as “cab driving prodigy, pathetic card player and useless at sex” . Ed seems like the type of person who doesn’t have much going on for him in life, that is until becomes an unlikely town hero when he stops a bank robbery . Ed then starts receiving cryptic messages in the mail, along missions to complete and addresses. In The Messenger Ed comes across as a simple person but the audience then learns that Ed is a much more complex individual, who doesn’t have the ideal life. He faces many challenges such as feeling emotionally neglected by his mother, risking his safety in order to complete …show more content…
In the novel the author portrays Ed as an underachiever with little to be proud in his life. The only notable thing his has done so far has been stoping the bank robbery. Iconic figures such as Salvador Dali, Joan of Arc and Bob Dylan inspire Ed, he often compares what he has done with his life versus what they had already achieved by the time they were his age. Ed isn’t the most intellectual person in the novel, during his last mission Ed struggled to figure out the meaning of the last card, which had the identity of the messenger. Although Ed isn’t choses to stand up to challenges and overcomes them. In the end Ed understands that success isn’t measured by intellect but rather how much good he has achieved for the people he has uncounted. “It’s not the place, I think. It’s the people” . Ed learns to stops blaming his lack of success on the environment around him and starts taking responsibility for his …show more content…
Deep down he has always known that there has been tension between him and his mother but the issue isn’t addresses until later on in the novel. Ed’s father had passed away 6 months ago, which effected the relationship between him and his mother. Ed confronts these issues and it is revealed that the real reason his mother resents him, is because of how much he reminds her of her late husband. Ed’s father disappointed her throughout their marriage, she worries that Ed will turn out like his father who never amounted to anything in his life. “Believe it or not – it takes a lot of love to hate you like this” . His mother is tough on him because it is the only way she knows to help him achieve more in life. Ed has always been in love with Audrey for most of his adult life. But she only sees them as best friends for the time being. Ed wants to be physical intimate, but she is determined to avoid sex with him, however she doesn’t have this problem with other guys. Although he wants more from their relationship he doesn’t want to pressure her because he knows that Audrey has her reasons and that “she just can’t do that sort of thing with me”. She has to trust herself enough to risk loving someone else considering how much men have hurt her in the