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The Young Man in Black
Ma is Ed’s mother. She swears constantly, especially in her frequent tirades against Ed. Over the course of the story, she reveals that she is so hostile toward Ed because she is disappointed in him for being the only one of her children never to leave their hopeless hometown. Ed realizes Ma also hates herself for never leaving, and by the end of the novel Ma and Ed have a deeper understanding of each other. She represents the view that an individual is completely controlled by their circumstances and that if they want to improve themselves, they must first totally change their environment. Ed, however, disagrees with this view and comes to a more nuanced perspective over the course of the novel.
Beverly “Ma” Kennedy Quotes in I Am the Messenger
The I Am the Messenger quotes below are all either spoken by Beverly “Ma” Kennedy or refer to Beverly “Ma” Kennedy . For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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3 of Hearts Quotes
“It’s the person, Ma, not the place. If you left here, you’d have been the same anywhere else.” It’s true enough, but I can’t stop now. “If I ever leave this place”—I swallow—“I’ll make sure I’m better here first.”
Related Characters:
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Explanation and Analysis:
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Beverly “Ma” Kennedy Character Timeline in I Am the Messenger
The timeline below shows where the character Beverly “Ma” Kennedy appears in I Am the Messenger. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
2 of Diamonds: Sex Should Be Like Math: An Introduction to My Life
...life. He plays cards with his friends a few times a week. His friends are Marv, who never shuts up, Ritchie, who is quiet and has an awful tattoo, and Audrey,...
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...of accomplishments. Whenever he tries to talk about his insecurities with his friends or his Ma, they all dismiss him.
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Ed’s other possessions include a TV and a family photo. The photo shows Ed’s Ma, his father, his two sisters, and his younger brother. Only half the people in the...
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3 of Diamonds: The Ace of Diamonds
Ed looks over the articles about the bank robbery, which disappointingly exaggerate his heroism. His Ma comes over and tells him she’s proud of him for once in his life. One...
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...and Ed excitedly picks it up, believing the caller will answer his questions. Instead, his Ma is calling. She swears at Ed for forgetting he promised to help her pick up...
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Ed returns his focus to the conversation and promises to help his Ma tomorrow. Before she hangs up, he asks her if she sent him the card. His...
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...the sender must know him, because they clearly know he plays cards. However, he thinks Marv’s too stupid and Ritchie isn’t the type to scheme like this. He also doesn’t think...
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...Ed tells his friends about the mail and asks if any of them are responsible. Marv answers that he’s too dumb, and Ritchie says that he himself is too lazy.
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Marv gloats over winning the card game. Ed details how Marv lives at home and works...
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8 of Diamonds: Being Jimmy
One day, while Ed is visiting his Ma, he realizes she has replaced the coffee table she got him with one Tommy, Ed’s...
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7 of Clubs: The Priest
...he doesn’t know. Ed has a streak of good luck and wins several card games. Marv keeps rambling on about the soccer game. Audrey continues to treat Ed carefully and awkwardly,...
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Later, Ed is at Marv’s house. Marv realizes with disgust that Ed has brought along the Doorman. Marv hates the...
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That night, Ed’s mother calls. She reminds him to call his sister, Kath, because it is her birthday, and...
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On Sunday, Ed, Marv, Ritchie, and Audrey are all in church. Ed sees that the church is old and...
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8 of Clubs: Juveniles
Ed’s friends decide to spray paint the news about the Sunday event around town. Marv also delights in other immature schemes, such as stealing barbecues from their friends. They gather...
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...the bouncy castle, and the barbeques. Then many more guests arrive. Ed asks to borrow Marv’s car so he can pick up Milla, even though Marv teases him for always making...
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...brother is there. Lastly, he thanks a certain special person. Ed silently prays for Audrey, Marv, Ma, Ritchie, and his late father. He also prays for help in his missions.
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10 of Clubs: The Easy One and Ice Cream
...shop owners, steal from shops, and pushing around weaker children. Gavin lives with his hard-drinking mother and equally criminal brother in the poor part of town. The brothers fight constantly. One...
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9 of Spades: The Woman
...customers. He notices an older man sitting alone at the next table. Then the man’s date arrives, and Ed realizes the date is Ed’s own mother, looking more dressed up and...
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Ed’s mother’s date is dressed nicely and acts like a gentleman. Ed cannot help but think about...
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10 of Spades: Front-Porch Cyclone
Ed pays for his meal, but Ma is too focused on her date to notice her own son. So, Ed walks to...
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Ed thinks about how he is the only one of the siblings Ma won’t invite into her house. Before she can shut him out again, he asks her...
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Finally, Ma opens her door. Ed tells her that she treats him the worst of all her...
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Ed looks his mother in the eyes and realizes she doesn’t just hate his father. She also hates herself...
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Jack of Spades: A Phone Call
Late that night, Ed calls his Ma to make sure she is okay. She says she is all right, except for the...
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Queen of Spades: The Bell Street Theater
The next morning, Ed contemplates what Ma said to him. He knows his mission with her is complete, because she needed to...
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King of Spades: The Last Reel
...library, then shows him with the Christmas lights, and then shows him arguing with his mom. Finally, the movie shows Ed walking into the movie theater. Then words flash across the...
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3 of Hearts: The Casual Suit
The next morning, Ed goes over to his Ma’s house for Christmas. His sisters arrive with their kids and husbands. His brother, Tommy, brings...
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Tommy returns to the house and Ed tries to leave. His Ma stops him again. She wishes him a Merry Christmas. Ed tells her that it’s not...
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Joker: The End is Not the End
...he went to for the mission. Lastly, they drive past Ritchie’s house, the playground where Marv met his daughter, and Audrey’s place. Ed wishes he could stay forever in the happy...
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...cream, and the brotherly love of Gavin and Daniel. He sees the Christmas lights, his mother’s disappointment and love, and Bernie’s old cinema. He sees all this in the mirror, as...
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