THE PROFESSOR

Note that the first time we hear about Morrie's childhood, it's about experiencing death.
This serves two purposes. First, it further develops the idea that the book is a meditation
on death, in all forms; second, it makes it clear that this is the first extremely important
event in Morrie's life. As we already know, he feels the loss even in his old age.Morrie,
for all the wisdom he has in his old age, was at this point naïve about death and tried to
ignore it, which in the present is exactly what he says modern culture encourages. The
symbol of food pops up in Morrie's mother's candy store. Candy, being sweet and a
treat, make this an especially positive instance of the symbol. Additionally, in the same
way that Morrie is losing his ability to swallow and enjoy food in the present as the ALS
progresses, his mother must also give up her candy store when she falls ill.