Death In The Book Thief

No one can run from death. Death is simply something that one comes face to face with at the end of their journey of life. During the time of the Holocaust, it was you either fight to survive, or you await upon your death. The literature, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, the main character Liesel experiences the effects of one’s death both emotionally and physically. During this time of struggle, Liesel and her foster family are trying to survive in war that seems to have no end. Throughout all the chaos that the war has brought, Liesel is able to maintain herself through the books that she receives. Markus Zusak suggests that there is life in death and death in life in order to find unification amongst the living which leads to the resurrection

of humanity.
In the literature The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, Zusak utilizes the switch between first person narration, second person narration, and third person narration.

The reason for this is so that he can show how death is alive. “Your soul will be in my arms. A color will be perched on my shoulder. I will carry you gently away” (Zusak 4). Zusak utilizes first person right at the start of the book so that the readers are able to realize that death is speaking. When death talks, he gives off some sort of humanity that lives with in him. It is as if death represents all of humanities traits. Death in general is supposed to be scary and quick. However, Death physically says that he will carry the body gently away. Death has a heart. In addition to this, there is a shift from first person narration to third person narration. “All was white, and as they remained at the station, she could only stare at the faded lettering of the sign in front of her. For Liesel, the town was nameless, and it was there that her brother, Werner, was buried two days later” (Zusak 22). Death has switched from first to third person narration. Death goes from talking about Liesel, to talking about his thoughts. Death is the narrator. The narrator of this story is basically the personification of death. Death switches from

first to third because it wants the readers to see how death is both supernatural and spiritual. Through this, the readers are able to realize that death is inescapable, and everyone is destined for death. When Liesel first arrives to Himmel Street, Death pays more attention to the street itself rather than Liesel. One can see this through the omniscience of death. “Whoever names Himmel Street had a healthy sense of Irony. Not that it was a living hell, it wasn’t. But it sure as hell wasn’t heaven, either” (Zusak 26). It is as if death is only concerned about the appearance of the street itself, rather than an innocent soul. However, Death omniscience is able to show the readers things that even Liesel herself does not see. “For Liesel, it was a ride in the car. She’d never been in one before. There was a constant rise in her stomach, and the fertile hopes that they’d lose their way or change their minds” (Zusak 25). Liesel does not want to go to the new house, and only Death’s omniscience can show readers that. So, Markus Zusak utilizes the transition between first person narration to third person narration in order for the readers to develop an understanding of what Liesel is blinded to and can not see.