What is heaven? There seem to be countless ideas today about what "heaven" is. The fact is, none of us can say for sure. Some believe that heaven is the place where we look back on our lives here on Earth as a way to learn from our mistakes Author Mitch Albom wrote a story called The Five People You Meet in Heaven that follows a man through a journey of story genre, a man named Eddie is tragically killed in an accident. What follows is his journey to heaven where he meets five people along the way. Say no to plagiarism they shouldn't exist." Banned'? Get an original essay. Each of the five people is there to teach Eddie a different lesson he must learn before entering heaven. Each of the five people Eddie meets in heaven present ideas that serve as themes of this novel, Eddie finally manages to discover one of the great mysteries of his life. The child he went to save from a burning tent in the Philippines really existed. Her name was Tala and she is the fifth person Eddie meets in heaven. Tala seems mature, almost serene beyond her years, yet she retains her childlike innocence and her uncontaminated sense of faith: this is the paradox of Paradise. Tala tells Eddie that because of him she died that day in the burning tent. Speak matter-of-factly, without betraying any anger, sadness or accusation. She describes how her mother sent her into the tent to hide from the soldiers, but their anger was so immense that no part of the village was safe. Eddie, overcome with horror and guilt, falls to his knees and cries. Tala watches him until he stops crying. Then, calmly, she hands him a stone and asks him to wash her scarred back. Eddie complies and as he passes the stone over his scars and burns, they fade. Also, Tala asks Eddie why he was so sad on Earth. Eddie tells her it was because he didn't accomplish anything, but this response confuses Tala. He tells Eddie that he accomplished a lot, kept the kids safe on the rides and made them smile. Ruby Pier was "where it should have been," he says, addressing him as Eddie Maintenance (). Eddie asks Tala if she saved that little girl in the amusement park from being crushed. Tala smiles and informs Eddie that he pushed her away just in time. Eddie protests, wondering how he could have pushed her when he felt her hands in his right before he died. Tala giggles and reveals to Eddie that the hands he felt were his, Tala was taking him to heaven. Eddie feels a sudden wave of relief wash over him. River water splashes around him, baptizing his body and soul. Eddie can now feel the happiness he brought to so many families. The pain and burden he has carried with him his entire life finally disappears. His soul feels light, lifted above its earthly prisons and freed from its metaphysical catharsis. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay To summarize, in these final chapters, all the mysteries of Eddie's earthly life are revealed so that he can finally reach Heaven without obstacles. His journey has already forced him to re-examine one of the greatest tragedies of his life: the injury he sustained in the Philippines while he and his platoon were setting fire to a village. Since learning that his own Captain shot him, Eddie has begun to see the incident through the lens of sacrifice and loyalty, rather than violence and injustice. Now, his old wounds come.