I Am The Messenger

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2002

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Summary

Background

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1, Chapters 1-13

Part 2, Chapters 14-26

Part 3, Chapters 27-39

Part 4, Chapters 40-52

Part 5, Chapters 53-57

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Tools

Beta

Discussion Questions

Symbols & Motifs

Playing Cards

As symbols of fate, cards play a vital role in the novel’s plot. Playing cards are associated with good and bad luck, and they are often used as metaphors for destiny, such as when people refer to the hand they’ve been dealt in life. In Ed’s case, the four aces and the joker represent a tangible opportunity to change his life. Ed senses this potential from the moment he holds the ace of diamonds, which he calls “a piece of destiny” (26). As the story continues, the messages are often emotionally and occasionally physically painful for Ed to deliver, and there are times when Ed wishes that someone else had been chosen to play the part of the messenger: “I never thought I wouldn’t want four aces. In a card game, you pray for a hand like that” (117). The fact that four aces make such an enviable hand reassures the reader that Ed’s time as the messenger is ultimately for the best even though it is often dangerous and almost invariably difficult. This hope is vindicated because the cards help Ed realize his full potential and the power of human connections. By accepting the cards, Ed changes not only his own fate but the lives of everyone the aces send him to.

In addition to their collective meaning, each of the cards carries another layer of symbolism that shapes Ed’s journey as the messenger. The first card is the ace of diamonds. Ed believes that diamonds are “valuable” and “need protecting” (70). Likewise, he cherishes his moments with Milla and Sophie as though they are precious stones, and he protects the woman on Edgar Street by driving away her abusive husband. The second card, the ace of clubs, carries violent connotations because the suit is also a type of weapon. Part 2 is bookended by the beatings Ed receives from Daryl and Keith and the Rose boys. Part 3 brings the ace of spades. The card forces Ed to unravel a series of clues to find the next addresses. This challenge prompts Ed to observe, “This is spades, so I have to dig” (214). The clues also highlight Ed’s love of literature, showing that there is more to Ed than people see on the surface if they are willing to dig deeper. In Part 4, the ace of hearts proves to be Ed’s greatest test yet because he must deliver messages to the people closest to his heart. Especially with Audrey, Ed must bare his heart to help his friends. The joker comes as a surprise to Ed after the predictable pattern of aces. He thought that his time as messenger was complete, and he feels as though the jester on the card is laughing at him. In addition, Part 5 surprises the reader with the novel’s twist ending. Zusak plays a wild card by writing himself into the novel. The author plays his cards carefully to guide his protagonist’s growth.

The Doorman

Ed’s Rottweiler-German shepherd mix represents the love between him and his father. The dog belonged to his father, and his mother “shifted him onto” Ed after her husband’s death (18). She loathed her late husband and feels disdain for the dog, but Ed cherishes the Doorman just as he prizes his father’s memory. Due to his old age and formidable smell, people tend to discount the Doorman. However, Ed loves “the hell out of that dog” (18). In a similar way, people tend to remember Ed’s father for his alcoholism and wasted potential, but Ed holds onto his positive memories and staunchly maintains that his father was a “gentleman, despite everything else” (240). In Part 5, Zusak increases the importance of Ed’s father to the story. The author reveals that he killed him to help Ed realize that he doesn’t want to die with his potential unrealized. While Ed’s father is already dead when the narrative begins, Zusak reveals how much Ed’s father meant to him through Ed’s love for the Doorman.

Cool Hand Luke

The titular character of the 1967 film represents the novel’s protagonist and offers parallels to Ed’s struggles and successes. The movie tells the story of a man in a chain gang who possesses an unbreakable spirit. Ed asks Bernie to play the movie Cool Hand Luke because it’s one of Audrey’s favorites, and the cinephile mentions that George Kennedy gave an “unforgettable” performance as the prisoners’ leader, Dragline (252). This piece of trivia gains symbolic importance after Ed receives the ace of hearts. The card lists three movie titles, and each film represents one of his closest friends. For example, Roman Holiday signifies Audrey because Audrey Hepburn won an Oscar for the film. Extending the logic of Zusak’s puzzle means that Cool Hand Luke represents Ed.

Part 3’s ending reveals several parallels between the novel’s protagonist and the film’s hero. Ed’s peace shatters when a shadowy figure appears in the theater and leaves behind a reel of footage showing him delivering messages. When Bernie resumes the film, Ed feels desolate like Luke: “‘Where are you now?’ he says quietly. Where are you now? I ask, and I turn, expecting to see a figure standing somewhere in the theater” (261). Luke asks the question because he feels abandoned, but Ed asks it because he feels hounded and pursued. Although Ed is not literally imprisoned the way Luke is, he often feels trapped by his role as the messenger. Ed also resembles the character due to his ironclad resolve and his ability to inspire others. No matter what emotional or physical damage a message deals him, Ed sees each card through to the end. Luke inspires his fellow prisoners to hold onto hope and resist the brutality of their lives even after his death. In a similar, albeit less somber way, Ed’s influence on the recipients’ lives endures after the messages are delivered. Cool Hand Luke acts as a symbol for Ed’s own sufferings and successes.