English Essay

Markus Zusak, the author who wrote 'I am the Messenger uses characters such as Ed
Kennedy, Marvin Harris and Audrey to directly illustrate the theme determination.
Mortals has the ability to Iorget and will take Iull advantage using that ability as a scapegoat.
In spite oI this, mortals also have the will to succeed iI they allow themselves to have Iaith and
build determination. Determination is a signiIicant and valuable backbone to how the novel
works. II any epitome oI ordinaries has determination and conIidence then everyone can live
beyond what they`re capable oI. 'Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try
(http://www.Iamousquotes.com/category/accomplishment)
Ed Kennedy once was a person who allows liIe to Ilow. Weather Iaith gives him a pitiable liIe
Ed will simply accept it. However, ever since the Ace oI Diamonds showed up on Ed`s Iront
porch, Ed realizes that he does not have to be a lonely cab driver and a pathetic card player Ior
his rest oI his liIe. He can go out into the world and get what he wants. Ed gained tremendous
conIidence every time he accomplished each mission and now sees that the sky is the limit. Such
as the time when Ed wanted to abandon his Iirst mission by throwing out the Ace oI Diamonds
and using the ability to Iorget he ever received the Ace oI Diamonds. However, Ed was aware
that he was chosen to deliver these messages and Iollowed through his duties. It took an
immense determination (or conIidence) Ior Ed to aim a pistol at a Iather who has a Iamily as one
oI his mission. Throughout the novel, Ed gained curosity oI whom the sender oI these cards he
has been recieving.

Ed Iounds out who was sending the cards when the man shows up at his house.
'Surely you weren`t up to the Ace oI Diamonds. But you did it. (Zusak ,112)

At the beginning oI the book Marv was very concerned with savings oI money. The reason Ior
this was because he made his 16 years old girlIriend pregnant leading to her protective Iather
threatening Marv. As a result, Marv wants to pay oII the guilt with IiIty grand. Marv shows
determination when he Iaced his girlIriend`s Iather to Iinally see his daughter.
'No one`s ever spoken to my Iather the way you did 'Or Iaced him like Marv. (Zusak,328)

Audrey demonstrates determination by Iinding true love. Audrey was hury once and ever since
that time she was truly aIraid to love again. This is why she portrays herselI as a sex object
because she knew having sex constantly isn`t true love.
An example oI how she reIuses to love again is rejecting Ed. Audrey stated that she loves Ed but
didn`t want to ruin the Iriendship they have together. However, at the end oI the novel Audrey
kisses Ed.
'I think she loved them and all they ever did was hurt her. That's why she reIuses to love."
(Zusak,23)
At the end oI the novel, Markus Zusak himselI is the card sender and he sends them because Ed
an all oI the readers need to see that anything can be done iI you believe in yourselI.
The whole purpose oI the book was to send out the message that iI a person like Ed, Marv,
Audrey could rise above what they are capable oI iI they have determination. "And iI a guy like
you can stand up and do what you did Ior all those people, well, maybe everyone can. Maybe
everyone can live beyond what they're capable oI"