Between Past and Future: Grappling with Regret in Grisham’s ‘Bleachers’

Roots of Regret and Resentment

Many people torment themselves between two thieves- regret of the past and regret of the future. In John Grisham’s novel “Bleachers,” it is clear that the root of regret is based on the past. Beginning with one man, former captain of the Messina Spartans, Neely Crenshaw, the story of regret is painfully indicated towards football and his resentment towards his high school coach, Eddie Rake. Grisham begins to convey Crenshaw’s clear resentment towards his past by successfully employing emotional appeals, personal facts, and reputable perspectives.

Neely Crenshaw was a clear hero of the team; he breathed blood, sweat, and tears. Eddie Rake had suffered the Spartans with hard work for four years, which Grisham begins his novel discussing by going back in time to when Crenshaw attended Messina High School. Outlining the uneven distribution of feelings the football team had with Eddie Rake. Many established a grudge against their widely respectable coach, and a lesser percentage appreciated Rake’s dedication to the game.

Grisham continues by discussing Neely’s life after high school ball and some of the reasons why regret is instilled so greatly in these players. The line “I wish I had never seen a football” pops up a lot throughout the book, both directly and indirectly. This line describes the feelings of the Messina Spartans, those who initiated a great bond with each other over the strong dislike towards their coach, who have realized that their hopes and dreams for going pro weren’t a reality. Those who returned to Messina for Eddie Rake’s passing expressed the difficulties and went through the usual “what if” stories before coming to the conclusion that Eddie Rake changed their life for better and for worse.

Crenshaw and Rake: A Complex Relationship

The story of Crenshaw and Rake began way back when they both lived in Messina; Crenshaw was Rake’s most valuable player, the glue of the team. Together, they won seasons and various trophies and set many records. Unfortunately for Neely Crenshaw, his football career ended shortly after graduating, and the difficulty of returning home caused a great deal of bitterness towards his old coach. After some odd years, Crenshaw returns to Messina for Rake’s funeral, and he learns how the town truly feels about the old coach from a townie and former athlete’s perspective. According to the news circling around town, “Rake was still clinging to life. And the town was still clinging to him,” which helped Neely understand that the resentment and regret wasn’t toward Rake as a person, but to who he was as a coach.

The critical message from this quote is how important it is to not take chances for granted. Rake is currently dying. Neely hasn’t gotten around to seeing him, and although Rake didn’t treat him the best during the football season, or any player for that matter, this doesn’t automatically mean that Neely didn’t instill any good in the town.

Nat, a good friend from football, experienced firsthand how amazing Rake is to help him get better and move on from the hate and tears. Nat helped Crenshaw understand how much Rake has grown and expressed to him how regretful he would be if Neely passed without seeing him.

The Final Realization and Moving Forward

When the end comes, it’s always too late. Eventually, Rake ends up passing, and Neely admits “that he did indeed love Eddie Rake.” Rake helped over a thousand young children in his life, including Crenshaw, and Rake passed without knowing his importance to his football team. This just shows how invested we are in only those things that interest us and those who show interest in us.

People tend not to care about others, but in this instance, Neely figures out he does love Rake, making this the one last thing he regrets. With this information, Neely will now understand the importance of letting go of regrets to create opportunities or to make way for more happiness in place of more regret.

References

• Grisham, J. (2003). Bleachers. Doubleday.

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