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6 of Hearts
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in I Am the Messenger, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Circumstance vs. Choice
Heroism, Sainthood, and Ordinariness
Purpose, Success, and Meaning
Hope, Caring, and Beauty
Summary
Analysis
Ed continues to return to read to Milla because he thinks she is his favorite mission. However, he also thinks Sophie, Father O’Reilly, and Lua’s family might be his favorite. He feels bad for reminiscing over these positive memories when he has two difficult missions left to complete with his closest friends. He is scared of letting Marv and Audrey down but takes courage in his past successes.
Ed’s contemplation shows how while one can use past good deeds as motivation to continue, one cannot use the fulfillment they find in these successes as an excuse to stop helping others. Ed’s train of thought also indicates that one cannot let the fear of letting others down stop them from trying to helping others.
Themes
At the next card game, Ed asks Ritchie how the job search is going. Ritchie says he hasn’t found anything yet but will keep looking. Marv mocks Ritchie for looking for a job but apologizes when Ritchie appears hurt. After the game, Marv offers Audrey a ride home, but she says she would rather walk than ride in his horrible car. As Marv struggles to start his car, Ed asks Marv for money. Marv freezes, and Ed realizes this is the end of their casual friendship.
Ritchie’s continued effort to find a job shows how helping someone confront a difficult truth can have a lasting impact on that person’s life. Ed’s revelation about the changed nature of his friendship with Marv further emphasizes the idea that helping others and gaining a deeper understanding of their needs sometimes requires the sacrifice of a comfortable but shallow connection to other people.
Themes
Marv hesitantly asks Ed how much money he needs. Ed responds by yelling at Marv for being so cheap. They stand in silence until Marv gets out of his car and apologizes to Ed. Marv says that he doesn’t have the money because all his savings are organized in a fund one cannot withdraw from for a few years. Ed asks Marv why he did this, and Marv begins to cry. Marv asks Ed to take a drive with him.
Marv’s tears and his initial inability to explain why he has been saving money shows that his character is much more complex than Ed originally assumed. This shows how one can misunderstand those they care about unless they make an intentional effort to learn more.
Themes
Marv drives Ed to the poor part of town. He points out the home of Suzanne Boyd, his ex-girlfriend who suddenly moved. Marv reveals that the reason she and her family moved three years ago was because he and Suzanne have a child together. They sit in silence, as Ed realizes Marv’s stinginess comes from his desire to save money for his child, and his argumentative nature comes from his guilt over Suzanne moving away.
Ed learns that Marv finds purpose in life by trying to make up for his past mistakes and care for his child. This shows that the ways people create meaning in life do not always follow traditional values of success and are not always immediately apparent, even to one’s own friends.
Themes
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Marv admits that he doesn’t even know if he has a daughter or a son. He has Suzanne’s new address only because he begged one of her friends to give it to him. Marv reminisces about how, as teenagers, Suzanne used to sneak away from her strict father a few nights a week to sleep with Marv in a field. Marv remembers how happy he was on those beautiful nights. Then, Suzanne’s family left town, because she was pregnant and the family was ashamed. Marv has been carrying this story alone for three years.
Marv’s suffering and his act of finally telling Ed about his pain shows how caring for another person often involves assuring that person they are not alone in their pain. The value Marv placed on his relationship with Suzanne and his pain over losing her shows how meaning often comes from close interpersonal connections, even though those relationships can lead to pain too.
Themes
Marv has not gone to Suzanne’s new address because her father threatened to kill him if he ever saw him again. He has made several attempts to drive to her house, but he’s overcome with fear each time. Still, he longs for Suzanne every day. Ed can only imagine what it’s like to love someone that much. All Marv can do to cope with his guilt is save up money, because he feels this is the only gift he can give to his estranged child. Ed promises to accompany Marv to Suzanne’s new house, so he can finally meet his child.
Marv makes a sacrifice with no hope of reward, which contrasts with Ed’s previous expectation of a reward for helping others. Ed recognizes this as a love he has never experienced. Marv’s surprising example indicates that perhaps Ed can learn from Marv about what caring for others really means.
Themes
