In effect, his job is to study relationships, which he does both within and without the university setting. The reason that Morrie is able to form such lasting and positive teacher/student relationships can be attributed, at least in part, to the fact that he's a professor of sociology, or the study of how humans relate to each other.

Mitch had never had a teacher before who cared what he wanted to be called. This relationship begins for Mitch and Morrie in Mitch's first class, when Morrie asks him if he'd prefer to be called Mitch or Mitchell. By doing this, the book makes it clear that while teaching and learning can be considered just a transfer of knowledge from one person to another, deeper learning and understanding depends on, and is in fact only possible through, a caring relationship between teacher and student. This narrative tool serves two functions – first, to provide an opener or intro to the present day Tuesday meeting, and then to chart the development of trust – from their interaction in college to their relationship as Morrie is dying – between teacher and student. These memories are primarily focused on his interactions with Morrie. As the book progresses and depicts how Mitch and Morrie's relationship grows, we're asked to consider where the student/teacher relationship exists, what the relationship consists of, and to what extent a teacher can affect change on his or her students' lives.Įach of the Tuesday meetings is preceded, and sometimes also followed, by one of Mitch's memories from when he was in college. The book takes its structure from Morrie's 'class' syllabus – each week/chapter is a lecture in Morrie’s class on death – and focuses not just on what is taught but on the teacher/student relationship developing between the two men. The entirety of the text, then, is centered around the idea of teaching and learning. At various times throughout the book, Mitch describes the book he's written as a 'long paper' or a final thesis, written for the final “class” – a class containing only Mitch – that his dying college professor, Morrie, will teach.

Tuesdays with morrie lesson