Threaded+Discussion

What is the significance of the Doorman? Why is a dog one of the main characters in the novel?

Carly: The Doorman represents Ed's one true companion through it all. He is always there for Ed and serves as a constant in all of the craziness that Ed deals with. He is a main character because unlike Marv, Ritchie, and Audrey, he never does anything to disappoint Ed and he is the one friend that does not have a message.

Jordan: I think that the Doorman serves and extremly important part in the story for Ed. Ed has his best friends, however, he doesn't have someone that won't judge him no matter what, and that is what I feel that the Doorman is most responsible for through out the novel.

Sara: The Doorman is the only "person" who Ed can go to with anything and trust to always be there. They seem to have a mutual and deep understanding of one another that extends far beyond the "man's best friend" relationship stereotype. Despite his age and horrid smell, Ed still loves that dog more than anyone in his life; they even share coffee and have "conversations" with one another. Perhaps this is why the Doorman is one of the most significant characters in this novel.

Who do you think was sending the messages to Ed?

Carly: A higher power being may have been sending Ed the messages. This idea is supported by the fact that the messages seemed to be controlled and specific, which would mean that someone must have the power to do that. Also, in the end the messages benefited Ed and the people he helped. This supports the fact that a higher power or "angel-like" person was sending Ed the messages. Another theory about who sent the messages is that is was Death itself. The man that met Ed at the end of the novel mentioned that he did this to Ed to make sure that he did not die as his father did. Ed had potential, and perhaps Death saw that and did not want to take another soul who did not live up to it.

Jordan: I think that a higher power is responsible for sending the messages to Ed because the last cards were people that were close to him. Also, the high power helped Ed discover who he is phsyically and mentally.

Sara: A Christ-like figure is definitely responsible for sending the messages in my opinion. Towards the end of the novel when Ed meets this man, the man directly states that he is the one responsible for killing Ed's father (although Ed's father was not murdered), making Ed become a deadbeat cab driver, and for making his mother hate him. In essense, this man states that he is in control of every aspect of Ed's life. Therefore, this evidence seems to point in the direction of a Godly figure in terms of who is sending the aces to Ed. Who else could know all of these things about Ed or make these things happen to him?