I Am the Messenger

I Am the Messenger

by

Markus Zusak

Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on I Am the Messenger makes teaching easy.

Lua Tatupu Character Analysis

Lua Tatupu is the first person Ed helps for the Ace of Spades. Lua’s family is Polynesian and lives in the poor part of town. Physically, he is very large and strong. Lua is very affectionate and loving to his wife, Marie, and their five children, including Jessie. These traits contrast with the brutality of characters such as the Edgar Street man and show both Ed and the reader that extraordinarily loving individuals exist everywhere, regardless of circumstance. Lua is incredibly moved when Ed gifts his family new Christmas lights because no one else in the neighborhood has ever helped the family, showing how one small act of kindness can deeply impact an individual.

Lua Tatupu Quotes in I Am the Messenger

The I Am the Messenger quotes below are all either spoken by Lua Tatupu or refer to Lua Tatupu . 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:
Circumstance vs. Choice Theme Icon
).
4 of Spades Quotes

Four globes to brighten up the Tatupu house this year. It’s not a big thing, but I guess it’s true—big things are often just small things that are noticed.

Related Characters: Ed Kennedy (speaker), Lua Tatupu , Marie Tatupu
Page Number: 221
Explanation and Analysis:
6 of Spades Quotes

Lua and Marie are holding hands.

They look like they’re so happy, just inside this moment, watching the kids and the lights on their old fibro house.

Lua kisses her.

Just softly on the lips.

And she kisses back.

Sometimes people are beautiful.

Not in looks.

Not in what they say.

Just in what they are.

Related Characters: Ed Kennedy (speaker), Lua Tatupu , Marie Tatupu
Page Number: 224
Explanation and Analysis:
7 of Spades Quotes

“You know, Ed, we’ve been living here close to a year now, and nobody—absolutely nobody—has ever lifted a finger to help or make us feel welcome.” He drinks. “We expect no more these days. People have enough trouble getting by on their own…But then you come along, out of nowhere.”

Related Characters: Lua Tatupu (speaker), Ed Kennedy
Page Number: 225
Explanation and Analysis:
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I Am the Messenger PDF

Lua Tatupu Quotes in I Am the Messenger

The I Am the Messenger quotes below are all either spoken by Lua Tatupu or refer to Lua Tatupu . 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:
Circumstance vs. Choice Theme Icon
).
4 of Spades Quotes

Four globes to brighten up the Tatupu house this year. It’s not a big thing, but I guess it’s true—big things are often just small things that are noticed.

Related Characters: Ed Kennedy (speaker), Lua Tatupu , Marie Tatupu
Page Number: 221
Explanation and Analysis:
6 of Spades Quotes

Lua and Marie are holding hands.

They look like they’re so happy, just inside this moment, watching the kids and the lights on their old fibro house.

Lua kisses her.

Just softly on the lips.

And she kisses back.

Sometimes people are beautiful.

Not in looks.

Not in what they say.

Just in what they are.

Related Characters: Ed Kennedy (speaker), Lua Tatupu , Marie Tatupu
Page Number: 224
Explanation and Analysis:
7 of Spades Quotes

“You know, Ed, we’ve been living here close to a year now, and nobody—absolutely nobody—has ever lifted a finger to help or make us feel welcome.” He drinks. “We expect no more these days. People have enough trouble getting by on their own…But then you come along, out of nowhere.”

Related Characters: Lua Tatupu (speaker), Ed Kennedy
Page Number: 225
Explanation and Analysis: