Life's Value

Life must be valued no matter how old someone is, argues Richard Russo in Everybody’s Fool. Life, Russo contends, is a gift and must not be taken for granted no matter at what stage of life, or in what condition in life, one finds himself or herself. Russo’s characters nearly all see life as meaningful. Sully best exemplifies this idea.

The opening scene contrasts the importance of life and death when Raymer attends a funeral while Rub watches on from afar. The juxtaposition of death to Rub’s concerns about Sully’s life is clear and distinct. Rub worries that Sully will be dead within a year or two and that his own life will be less without his best friend. Rub deeply values not only his own life, but Sully’s life and wellbeing. He knows Sully could have life-saving surgery, but...