Did you know everything is an argument? According to chapter one of Everything is an Argument anything and everything can be considered an argument, or make a statement. The author states that even a piece of clothing or a joke can be an argument. He also talks about the many types of arguments such as; to inform to convince, to explore, and so on. I believe this statement is accurate; everything, indeed, can be an argument. Recently I read an outstanding, powerful, and moving book called Tuesdays with Morrie. This book was written by Mitch Albom. In this book Albom presents his old professor’s enlightening argument to the world through the book, as well as incorporates his own subtle argument in to the story.
Morrie’s argument is that society takes the important things in life, such as love and compassion, for granted and that society is fearful of death and loneliness. He writes the lessons of his old teacher, and friend, Morrie, to describe that society must not revolve around materialistic things, and that humans need to appreciate and understand the important things in life.
Morrie introduces quite a few arguments that tie into his main argument. In the book Mitch Albom quotes Morrie’s wise words; “the most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and let it come in.”, this statement is a considerably powerful argument itself. It states that love is the most important thing in life, on may disagree with this, however I agree completely. The fact that this conjures up a debate makes this statement an argument. An argument is not to persuade or convince someone to join one’s side, or agree with one’s opinion, but to strike conversation to eventually come to a reasonable conclusion; to find the truth. Another argument of Morrie’s that Mitch Albom describes is that to learn to live life one must learn to give it up; to accept the obvious fact, that many deny internally, that on day everyone, including yourself, will die. Morrie says that once one has accepted the fact their life is going to end one day, then that person will learn to live; learn to appreciate life for what it is and truly distinguish the difference between the true importance of life in contrast to materialistic things. Obviously people in internal denial, or denial without even really understanding or realizing they are in a state of denial, would most likely not agree with this given claim. In an other’s eyes, this statement would lead them to discover a whole new perspective and learn the truth of life. And others may just simply agree, but most will learn from this argument, which brings me to my next topic: the type of argument provided by this insightful book.
This argument is an argument designed with the main purpose of informing. Mitch Albom’s argument made in Tuesdays with Morrie is an argument to inform, and the reader should know this because of the structure of the book and the diction of the author, as well as the overall purpose of the book. This book was written a narrative structure. In the book, the author describes his Tuesdays with Morrie as “lessons” taught by Morrie for his “final class”. this indicated that the argument was an argument to inform because of the diction the author chose. When the reader analyzes the text one can see that these “lessons” are really informing the reader. When Morrie shares his wise words, or teachings, with Mitch Albom in the novel, he is also sharing his thoughts with the reader. The reader learns Morrie’s many valuable and important lessons while reading, and these lessons impact the reader by bringing them into a conversation. You could say that Mitch is inviting you into Morrie’s class; introducing to the reader an argument.
The argument made by Mitch Albom is not actually stated, but implied. The author’s argument is that everyone in this world is capable of self growth and it is never to late to grow; for growing continues from the moment of birth from the moment of death in a course of a life. Mitch Albom makes is argument implied by using an unique literary method and structure. After each chapter the author wrote italicized passages that typically described events in his past. As one reads the novel one may realize that the Mitch italicized stories and the Mitch in the current time of the story have changed, and continue to grow in so many ways. This indicated a subtle argument that its never to late to grow.
This argument was made by the author to inform, just as Morrie’s argument, or arguments were designed to do. When the reader picks up on this argument, they begin to question their own self growth. This opens the reader’s mind to a conversation or debate. But Mitch Albom makes this argument to help the reader acquire there own truth about personal growth; to help the reader understand how they have grown, and how they are still in the processes of growing throughout their lives.
So there you have it, an argument can be proposed to inform, like In the book Tuesdays With Morrie, written by journalist, sports columnist, and author. Morrie’s argument that Mitch Albom describes is not only powerful, heartwarming, and even life changing, but it is informative as well! The argument made my Morrie shows us that love is the most important thing of all, and as human beings, we often take tat for granted. He also teaches one must accept the reality of death in order to truly experience life to its fullest. And the implied argument that the author provides in the story is very informative as well. It gets the reader thinking about all the growth they have experienced, the growth taking place in their lives at the current moment, and the growth they will experience in the future. Mitch Albom’s argument teaches one that it is never to late to grow and self growth is constant throughout a lifetime. In conclusion, the book Tuesdays With Morrie provides many informative arguments. So next time you think an argument is always to win over an opinion, reconsider and remember that an argument can be used for many things, such as to inform.
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