Dave “Ritchie” Sanchez Character Analysis in I Am the Messenger

Ritchie is Ed’s friend. Ed nicknamed him “Ritchie” because he has a tattoo of Jimi Hendrix that’s so poorly drawn, it looks like Richard Pryor. At the beginning of the novel, Ed characterizes Ritchie as lazy and easygoing. Ritchie has no job and spends his days at the pub and the gambling hall. However, Ed eventually realizes that Ritchie is deeply troubled by his lack of direction and desperately wishes to discover his purpose in life. With Ed’s support, Ritchie begins to search for a job, showing the importance of searching for purpose in life so as not to waste one’s potential.

Dave “Ritchie” Sanchez Quotes in I Am the Messenger

The I Am the Messenger quotes below are all either spoken by Dave “Ritchie” Sanchez or refer to Dave “Ritchie” Sanchez . 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:

Usually, we walk around constantly believing ourselves. “I’m okay,” we say. “I’m all right.” But sometimes the truth arrives on you, and you can’t get it off. That’s when you realize that sometimes it isn’t even an answer—it’s a question. Even now, I wonder how much of my life is convinced.

Related Characters: Ed Kennedy (speaker), Dave “Ritchie” Sanchez

Page Number and Citation: 304

Explanation and Analysis:

“There’s only one thing I want.”

“What’s that, Ritchie?”

His answer is simple.

“To want.”

Related Characters: Dave “Ritchie” Sanchez (speaker), Ed Kennedy (speaker)

Page Number and Citation: 304-5

Explanation and Analysis:

Dave “Ritchie” Sanchez Character Timeline in I Am the Messenger

The timeline below shows where the character Dave “Ritchie” Sanchez appears in I Am the Messenger. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Purpose, Success, and Meaning Theme Icon

...Marv is about to completely lose his temper. He looks over at his other friends, Ritchie, who is hiding under the bank’s children’s play table, and Audrey, who lying with her... (full context)

...Marv. Marv, unafraid of the incompetent robber, realizes he recognizes the man. Ed, Audrey, and Ritchie all tell Marv to stop talking. The bank robber becomes more agitated at all the... (full context)

Heroism, Sainthood, and Ordinariness Theme Icon

...knows the papers are more likely to call him a “deadbeat.” Ed, Marv, Audrey, and Ritchie walk back to the car, which now has a ticket on it. Marv tries to... (full context)

...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, who is beautiful and also... (full context)

...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 Audrey is a likely... (full context)

...and asks if any of them are responsible. Marv answers that he’s too dumb, and Ritchie says that he himself is too lazy. (full context)

Later, while playing cards at Ritchie’s place, Ed asks Ritchie where his parents are, since he still lives with them. Ritchie... (full context)

...O’Reilly and asks his friends if they will go to church with him on Sunday. Ritchie, easygoing as always, agrees and then Marv and Audrey agree too. (full context)

On Sunday, Ed, Marv, Ritchie, and Audrey are all in church. Ed sees that the church is old and depressing... (full context)

...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. (full context)

...amateur, rough-looking, barefoot middle-aged men. One of the men, whom they call Merv, grumbles at Ritchie for being late. Ritchie asks Ed why he is all beat up, but does not... (full context)

...Audrey arrives at his house, but she has to leave early to see her boyfriend. Ritchie arrives on his bike. Marv is late, and Ritchie speculates he won’t come because of... (full context)

...tell Audrey doesn’t love the boyfriend. After Audrey and the boyfriend leaves, Ed, Marv, and Ritchie attend a community bonfire on Main Street. There, Ed spots Angie Carusso and her children.... (full context)

Ed returns home to find Ritchie and Marv asleep outside. He wakes Ritchie up and tells him it is time to... (full context)

Ed settles Ritchie on the couch and Marv in Ed’s own bed. He collects his cards from his... (full context)

...movie The Suitcase was directed by Pablo Sanchez, who has the same last name as Ritchie. Ed fears this card will be the most challenging mission, because he sees now that... (full context)

...decides to go by the order of the names on the card, which would be Ritchie, Marv, and then Audrey. He has no idea what Ritchie could need, so he goes... (full context)

Ed, Daryl, and Keith joke around with each other until the light goes off in Ritchie’s kitchen. Ed laments that he has missed his chance, but Daryl has no idea what... (full context)

Ed goes over all he knows about Ritchie. Ritchie is twenty years old with no job, no achievements, and no goals. The next... (full context)

The next two nights, Ed and his friends play cards. Ed studies Ritchie, knowing Ritchie’s entire life consists of going to the pub, going to the gambling shop,... (full context)

Ed continues to stare at Ritchie. He wants to better understand his friend. So, when the friends are saying goodnight and... (full context)

After everyone leaves, Ed sits in his kitchen and drinks coffee with the Doorman. Ritchie knocks on the door and Ed invites him in. Ritchie confronts him about stalking him.... (full context)

The next night, when Ed arrives at Ritchie’s house to watch him in the kitchen, Ritchie calls out to Ed. He suggests that... (full context)

An hour passes with Ed and Ritchie drinking silently by the river. Eventually, Ritchie mentions that there’s nothing he wants to accomplish.... (full context)

The next day, Ritchie begins looking for a job. Ed contemplates his own job as a cab driver and... (full context)

With Ritchie on the right path, Ed considers the next mission, Marv. He does not know what... (full context)

At the next card game, Ed asks Ritchie how the job search is going. Ritchie says he hasn’t found anything yet but will... (full context)

...to drive past each address 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... (full context)

...love, and Bernie’s old cinema. He sees all this in the mirror, as well as Ritchie by the river, Marv in the park, and Audrey in the three minutes they danced... (full context)

Dave “Ritchie” Sanchez Character Analysis

Dave “Ritchie” Sanchez Quotes in I Am the Messenger

5 of Hearts Quotes

Dave “Ritchie” Sanchez Character Timeline in I Am the Messenger