Marcus

Definition of a Hero

A hero is someone who, not only plans to help, but also understand that they can save or
do something bigger than themselves. Heroes are willing to sacrifice their own life for the greater good,
another person's life, or a cause.

(http://www.maryville.edu/studentlife-health-hero.htm)

Importance of Having a Hero

It is very important for a person to have a hero, or even a person that they admire. A hero
is someone to idolize, and can inspire the people who view them as a role model.
Not only does a hero have much influence over a person but also the values of the hero become
the values of the people who model themselves after the hero. Whether the person is a child, an adolescent,
an adult or even an elderly person, we all look up to someone who has a good personality, independent,
and are willing to make sacrifices to the greater good.

Time Travel: Main Theme of

What Makes Marcus the Hero

In the novel,"When You Reach Me" Marcus is first introduced to us when he punches Miranda's best-friend, Sal, in the stomach. Later in the novel, we learn that the laughing man, a beggar from the side of the street that Miranda walks past everyday, is really the future Marcus. Marcus had left Miranda letters that lead her to believe a tragic death was going to occur. "This is hard. Harder than I expected, even with your help. But I have been practicing, and my preparations go well. I am coming to save your friend's life, and my own." Marcus stated this in his first letter, showing the struggle and his hardship to save the life of another human being. Again the future Marcus displays the difficulty of his time traveling mission, "The trip is a difficult one" (68) Miranda hastily becomes extremely frantic knowing that Sal was going to die an awful death in the near future. When Sal mistakenly runs out in front of a semi truck, future Marcus runs to protect him. Miranda lists the events in her letter to the present day Marcus, "44. You saved Sal's life. 45. You were the laughing man. 46. You were the heap of something awful. 47. You are dead." (162) Marcus saved Sal's life, giving the ultimate sacrifice for another human being.

Hall of Fame (http://www.asu.edu/studentaffairs/mu/clubs/)

Hero Hall of Fame Inductee Marcus

Marcus showed himself as a true, genuine, hero. Not only did he spend his life unselfishly
creating a time machine to save the life of another person but also he knew when traveling
back that he would have to sacrifice his own life. He knew how important Sal was to Miranda,
and he was willing to save a sacred friendship and a life. Marcus displayed true benevolence
and the inspiration to save another life. For these acts of heroism, Marcus should be inducted
into the Hero Hall of Fame.

(http://library.hiu.edu/reading.html)

An Interview with Marcus

Q. If you had one hero, who would it be? Why?
A. I would have to say my hero would be Albert Einstein. His work was the break through in physics that allowed me to make my time machine.
Q. Do you view yourself as a hero?
A. [Laughs] I do not view myself as hero at all. I was just a guy trying make things right in the world.
Q. What makes a hero?
A. A hero is anyone that is able to inspire someone by acts of kindness.
Q. Do you consider your act of saving Sal's life heroic?
A. I think it was an act that needed to be done. I believe that Miranda should have the friendship.
Q. How important is it to have a hero?
A. I believe it is extremely important to have person that gives you inspiration and has made an impact on your life.
Q. What was your main inspiration to make a time machine?
A. I would have to say that saving Sal's life had a major impact, but also the fact of creating a time machine is an impressive feat.
Q. Did your present self keep a relationship with Miranda after your future self saved Sal's life?
A. Miranda and I were able to have a strong friendship after the accident my future self died in. Surprisingly, we didn't even talk much about the future.
Q. How was it watching yourself being killed?
A. Once I had figured out what happened, i tried not to think of it that much. It almost felt like I got to watch myself die in a dream. Very strange.
Q. Sal feared you very much after you punched him, why travel back and save him?
A. I felt responsible. The impact on Miranda's life without Sal was horrible. I knew I had to fix it.
Q. When Miranda gave your present self the note explaining the events, where you confused? If so, how bad was your confusion?
A. At first, I had many head aches from just trying to imagine what all happened. As time went on, it became much easier to understand.