Emotions In Mitch Albom's Tuesdays With Morrie

We do not express our emotions for numerous reasons. In Tuesdays with Morrie,by Mitch Albom, one learns many things pertaining to emotions. This includes social rules, social roles, inability to express emotions, and fear of self-disclosure. Tuesdays with Morrie is one of the few books that I have read that explains why we do not express our emotions. One reason why we do not express emotions is because of the social rules in society. Society tells us how to think, how to feel, and how to act about certain things. Morrie tells us that is not how it should be when he says, “How we think, what we value-those you must choose yourself. You can’t let anyone-or any society-determine those for you.” (Albom 155.) This means that you should make decisions in life about what is important to you. You cannot have society tell you to what to do. You must exercise your free will and not be a sheep following every tabloid or magazine. In short, strive for individuality and self actualization. Society also tells us to be independent and if we need help from others that is frowned upon. Morrie shows the fault in

In society, it is frowned upon for men to show any emotions, most of all, to cry in front of others. Contrary to this popular belief, Morrie asks Mitch, “This is okay with you, isn’t it? Men crying?” (Albom 51.) Morrie is trying to show that it is perfectly alright to show what you are feeling, to cry in the presence of others. he always would tell Mitch that, “One day, I’m gonna show you it’s okay to cry.” (Albom 51) By this, he means that one day he hopes mitch will finally realize that crying is a natural thing to do that does not make you any less of a man. It just means you are comfortable with yourself and not afraid of the taboo placed by society on men crying. In the end Mitch finally understands that it is okay and he does so on his last Tuesday with