There is Always Hope

Throughout book one of the novel I Am The Messenger by Markus Zusak, Ed goes on a mission to help those in need. One particular event really stood out to me. It was when Ed helps a woman out of an abusive relationship. This woman does not feel as if she can do anything about her situation. Even worse, her eight year old daughter has to see everything. I loved the fact that Ed took matters into his own hands when the woman could not. I am really proud of Ed for putting someone else’s need before his.

The women is the darkness, and Ed is the light shining in her life.

I believe Ed made the right decision when he shot Angelina’s abusive father. He gets rid of the father for good. The man is no longer able to hurt Angelina and her mother anymore. Ed helps pave a better future for them. I do not think any other method would have worked the way the gun did. The gun helped get Ed’s point across and without it, the wife and Angelina would have to keep suffering.

The man promised Ed something. He said “ I’ll stop doing it. I promise” ( Zusak 90). I do not believe that the man would just all of a sudden stop doing what he was doing. He was in a life or death situation and he was willing to say anything as long as it meant he would escape alive and unscathed. I think if Ed had listened to his word and left, the man would see that Ed poses no threat. Then he would continue repeating the same tasks that he promised he would not. The man tells Ed “ I feel like my wife does every night when I come home” (Zusak 91). At this moment, Ed is finally able to get the man to understand how his wife feels every night. I do not believe that this is enough to keep them man from continuing to do what he does. I think that in order for Ed to get his point across, he has to show the man that he is not joking around. He will do whatever it takes to make sure the man finally understands what it is like to be in the wife’s position. Ed is finally able to gain the confidence he needs. This is shown when when Ed pulls the trigger. Ed does not kill the man, but he still gets him to leave.

Ed gives the woman hope for a better life

Ed is finally able to truly sees how much pain the wife is in when Zusak writes “ I see her fall silently to pieces. She crouches there, dying to fall to her knees but not allowing herself” (44).  This woman is feeling hopeless. As if she will never be able to escape the pain she has to go through everyday. Although she is scared, she puts on a brave face.  She can not left anyone see how broken she is inside. How vulnerable she is. She has to keep moving forward, for her daughter.

Angelina’s feeling towards the situation is shown when Zusak writes “ A little girl appears on the porch. She cries...She must be about eight’ (42). The father’s abusiveness is not just affecting the wife. Angelina, the daughter has to suffer too. Having to experience something like this is too much. She is only eight. No child should have to watch their mother suffer. It is wrong and she is too young to be exposed to this. Ed did the right things by pulling the trigger. Not only does he ensure that the wife will no longer be raped every night, but also that Angelina will have a better future.