Nineteen Minutes

by

Jodi Picoult

Mr. Ed McCabe Character Analysis

A math teacher at Sterling High. He is gay but closeted at school. When Peter goes to a gay bar in an attempt to see if he really is gay, Mr. McCabe saves him from a predatory older man; however, Peter rejects Mr. McCabe’s offers of support. He dies in the shooting, killed by Peter while trying to protect his students.
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Mr. Ed McCabe Character Timeline in Nineteen Minutes

The timeline below shows where the character Mr. Ed McCabe appears in Nineteen Minutes. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Part 1, Chapter 1: March 6, 2007
Appearances vs. Reality Theme Icon
...girlfriend Haley Weaver walk past and wish Matt luck on his hockey game that day. Mr. McCabe , their math teacher, also walks past, and when Matt asks how he did on... (full context)
Lost Innocence Theme Icon
Zoe Patterson sits in math class while Mr. McCabe makes jokes. She is supposed to meet her mom outside the school at 10am, and... (full context)
Part 1, Chapter 3: Hours After
Victims vs. Perpetrators Theme Icon
Vengeance vs. Justice Theme Icon
Lost Innocence Theme Icon
Appearances vs. Reality Theme Icon
...student who is an Eagle Scout has been attempting to stop the blood pouring from Mr. McCabe . However, Guenther now gently informs him that Mr. McCabe is dead.  (full context)
Part 1, Chapter 5: The Day After
Victims vs. Perpetrators Theme Icon
Vengeance vs. Justice Theme Icon
Expectations and the Failures of Family Theme Icon
Lost Innocence Theme Icon
...are all glued to the news coverage of the shooting. The news broadcast explains how Ed McCabe threw himself in front of his students. Lewis, meanwhile, misses a lecture for the first... (full context)
Victims vs. Perpetrators Theme Icon
Vengeance vs. Justice Theme Icon
Lost Innocence Theme Icon
...It is difficult to find out who is killed, although she thinks she’s heard that Mr. McCabe and Topher McPhee are both dead. It still doesn’t feel real that Matt is also... (full context)
Part 1, Chapter 7: Ten Days After
Victims vs. Perpetrators Theme Icon
Vengeance vs. Justice Theme Icon
Expectations and the Failures of Family Theme Icon
Lost Innocence Theme Icon
Appearances vs. Reality Theme Icon
...rushes to Josie, telling her they will go straight home. Patrick, meanwhile, goes to see Ed McCabe ’s sister Joan, who mentions that Ed was gay. She says that he was closeted... (full context)
Part 1, Chapter 8: One Year Before
Victims vs. Perpetrators Theme Icon
Appearances vs. Reality Theme Icon
In Josie’s math class, Mr. McCabe sings and makes jokes. Matt pokes Josie flirtatiously. They are learning about graphs, and each... (full context)
Victims vs. Perpetrators Theme Icon
Appearances vs. Reality Theme Icon
...to play, but Kurt gets aggressive. At this point another man intervenes to save Peter— Mr. McCabe . Peter is shocked, and HE feels that he and Mr. McCabe “share the same... (full context)
Part 1, Chapter 9: One Month After
Victims vs. Perpetrators Theme Icon
Vengeance vs. Justice Theme Icon
Lost Innocence Theme Icon
Appearances vs. Reality Theme Icon
Patrick is visiting Philip O’Shea, Ed McCabe ’s partner. He asks Philip if Ed ever mentioned Peter, and Philip explains that Ed... (full context)
Part 2, Chapter 1: Five Months After
Victims vs. Perpetrators Theme Icon
Vengeance vs. Justice Theme Icon
Lost Innocence Theme Icon
Appearances vs. Reality Theme Icon
...She shows pictures of the school looking ordinary, then clicks to a gruesome picture of Ed McCabe ’s dead body. (full context)
Victims vs. Perpetrators Theme Icon
Vengeance vs. Justice Theme Icon
Lost Innocence Theme Icon
Appearances vs. Reality Theme Icon
Zoe Patterson is on the witness stand. Diana asks her to explain how she left Mr. McCabe ’s math class early to go to her orthodontist’s appointment. She describes hearing the explosion... (full context)