Chapter Eight of Tuesdays with Morrie

Chapter eight begins with a flashback from Mitch’s point of view, as he remembers a conversation he had with Morrie about pursuing a career as a professional piano player.  His dad had not supported that decision, however Morrie encourages Mitch, which provides the reader with the first glimpse of the emotional tie between the two men.  

The chapter describes their second meeting as a more comfortable one, as they no longer had to fill the sixteen year gap of absence from one another.  Mitch brings food that he knows is unnecessary, but his great affection for the old professor makes him feel obliged to do anything he can to help.  I view this as an attempt by Mitch to push aside some of his lingering guilt from failing to maintain contact with Morrie.  As their question and answer routine falls into place, I found a particularly interesting simile in the fourth paragraph, “…Morrie asking questions, listening to my replies, stopping like a chef to sprinkle in something I’d forgotten or hadn’t realized.”  Then, as the conversation turns to a strike from newspaper writers, Morrie’s inner gentle nature becomes apparent through his inability to understand why both sides don’t just talk their problems out.

This moment of almost child like peacefulness expressed by Morrie is quickly ruined by a feeling of pity for him, when the narrator describes how tired the professor looks upon returning from a simple trip to the bathroom.  But after reading more, I found myself in awe of Morrie’s ability to turn such a pitiful situation into something positive, as he expresses joy that eventually he will be unable to wipe himself after using the bathroom and, “…get to be a baby one more time.”  This outlook on his situation shows his amazingly positive attitude towards what would normally be interpreted as a dire situation.

The chapter continues with Mitch noticing the many newspapers in Morrie’s office.  Many of the papers included articles about hardships endured by others.  Morrie explains how through his own suffering he is drawn to the suffering of others; he feels as if he’s connected to others in pain.  My first thoughts when reading this passage were of how Jesus went to the garden of Gethsemane and felt the suffering of the world as his own. This may not have been the intent of the author, but Morrie symbolizes that moment in time to me.  The subject of suffering is closed with Mitch coming to see the world as such a pathetic place that only Death can cause strangers to shed tears for one another.

The last few paragraphs of chapter eight established the pattern for the rest of the book, meetings on Tuesdays.  As Morrie sheds a few tears he sees that Mitch is not fully comfortable with a grown man crying.  Morrie then suggests that he will, “…loosen you up [Mitch],” and they both share a  moment from the past with the use of a familiar “yeah yeah”, as they used to say to each other years ago.  Upon visiting this memory, they recalled their history of shared Tuesdays, which included classes, thesis writing, meals together, etc.  As such, it was only fitting that they should continue to meet on Tuesdays, hence the title “Tuesdays with Morrie.”

Their meeting concludes with Morrie expressing that we as people need to allow love to enter our lives.  He believes it won’t make us soft, and quotes a wise man named Levine, “’Love is the only rational act.’”  Mitch leaves with a hug and surprises himself by kissing Morrie on the cheek, a representation of his increasing affection for the old man, and they agree to meet next Tuesday.