“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time” ― (Mark Twain). Humanity lives a blind life; in order to live fully, one must face with death, to truly live alive. (Kahlsa 1) This concept is easily expressed throughout the novel Tuesdays With Morrie, written by Mitch Albom. Mitch Albom, portrayed as the protagonist, proves to be the perfect example to how society and its people conform to a painted image of what appears to be happiness, however later Mitch realizes that painted image fades away and the true colors of happiness shine through. Mitch learns this and many more lessons every Tuesday with an old professor from his former college, Morrie Schwartz. …show more content…
(Kahlsa 1) Morrie learned to not just accept death, but understand why, he as a person, goes through the process of dying, then that is when he would benefit from life more than ever. That is one of many lessons Morrie taught Mitch on those Tuesday afternoons. Morrie was able to realize that “ most of us all walk around as if we’re sleepwalking, [that] we really don’t experience the world fully, because we’re half-doing things we automatically think we have to do” (Albom 83). Morrie Schwartz, diagnosed with ALS, a illness trapping his body, but never his mind, helped him to truly understand and capture the ideas behind life and death. Morrie passes on his knowledge to Mitch Albom, a former student of his at Brandeis who he sees more so as a son, that people take life for granted, living life with the concept that there will be a tomorrow to fix things or to try harder the next day, however forgetting that life is a gift not to be foolishly toyed with. In one of Morrie’s lessons with Mitch, he proposes that Mitch reject society’s interpretation of modern take on popular culture, instead that he should follow self interest; rather the aim to follow someone’s else hopes of interest. Morrie expresses his opinion on popular cultural fathoms to be focused solely off of superficial concepts of greed and selfishness, characteristics that will never lead people to true happiness; just an image of what appears to be happiness. Cultural fathoms in society creates a false image of happiness which Mitch first blindly chosen to follow; “naked [is how Mitch] came from [his] mother’s womb, naked [is how he] shall return” (McHugh 8). If Mitch, coming into the world empty, chooses to not to live and not learn from his life’s actions, he will in return leave life - empty. Following the common path of popular culture does not lead to understand the ideas of life and