Death In The Book Thief

In Markus Zusak's novel, The Book Thief, the narrator Death, makes a statement with regards to human beings,” So much good, so much evil. Just add water.” (Zusak 164). With integrating water, you are changing the “recipe,” thereby changing the outcome and determining whether it will be positive or negative. This personified version of Death expresses this because he can see how the circumstances humans are in, determines how they will react. Death observes how the circumventing conditions mankind is exposed to determines if they will bring out their wicked or righteous side. This is frequently noted in The Book Thief, where Death follows a young girl, named Liesel, during 1939 Nazi Germany. He is amazed by how humans can be both so good and

bad. The novel ties back into history around World War II, where many humans were struggling to survive due to the circumstances. The novel The Book Thief, and World War II clearly show the paradox of humanity's ability to act beautiful and brutal.
After World War I, all of Europe was negatively affected, with many dead and other people fighting to survive, especially Germany.

Germany was subjected to humiliation by the Treaty of Versailles, causing the country to lose its nationalistic pride. Then, when Hitler came to power and vowed to make Germany great again, the citizens concurred. Hitler blamed the reason for Germany’s downfall on the Jews and the Communists, which caused the commencement of the Holocaust. The Holocaust was the mass killings of people the Nazis believed were inferior. Modern World History further explains, “They included Roma, Russians, Poles, homosexuals, the insane, the disabled, and incurably ill. But the Nazis focused on the Jews.”(McDougal Holt 504). This illustrates how the Nazis, who were also humans, killed others purely based on racism and hate. Clearly portraying the brutality of humans, and their capability to take someone's life because they believed they were superior. Millions of people died, because of arrogant humans who thought they were more superior than others, showing how evil humans can be. Furthermore, the Holocaust wasn’t the only source of innocent deaths during the time of World War II. Air raids became an integral part of military strategy, however, this resulted in many civilian deaths. These were heinous acts, where many innocent people, who had no involvement in the war were killed. In one incident of these air raids, in London, 450 people were killed when school

was bombed (www.Eyewitnesstohistory.com 2001). Furthermore, as retaliation, the Allies participated in the air raids wherein Dresden, Germany 1945,”Approximately one hundred thousand Germans, mostly civilians, were killed -the largest loss of life in a single day up to that point of the 20th century” (www.choices.edu). This shows the atrocities humans are capable of, where they participate in civilian victimization, murdering innocent people. It does not matter what side of the war they are on, and it doesn't matter who they kill, soldier, civilian, innocent or guilty. Taking a life is taking a life, it's as simple and brutal as that, and no one has the right to take another life.
However, the beauty of humans is apparent around the Holocaust.

Many individuals jeopardized their own lives to help people the Nazis were oppressing and persecuting. They did this by secretly hiding them, or helping them to escape to a safer place. An example of this in The Book Thief is when the Hubermanns, Liesel's foster parents, hide Max Vandenburg, a Jew, in their basement, at the risk of their own lives. Throughout that time, Leisel emotionally helps Max live through the atrocious time of World War II, which shows how light counteracts the darkness of humans. Even though humans are capable and frequently do take innocent lives, there are other humans willing to endanger their own lives, so another person can live. This can be also historically seen, where people put the effort to help save Jews. Specifically, a man named Oskar Schindler, who was at first a German industrialist only interested in making money, but later on he put his efforts into helping Jews. Jewishvirtuallibrary.org informs that Mr. Schindler was responsible for saving 1,200 Jews during the despicable time of the Holocaust. He saved the Jews from persecution by having them work in his factory. However, he did not maliciously treat them, he treated them with respect, fed them, and no one was beaten or killed. Showing even if humans are capable of being brutal , people like Oskar can be viewed as humanity’s coexisting side of

beauty.
Another example of the human’s paradoxical traits is the notion of stealing and giving. During World War II, many of the citizens in Germany were immensely hungry, because they had to ration out their food. In The Book Thief, this causes Liesel and her best friend, Rudy, to end up stealing. One example of this is in Part 3 where Liesel and Rudy steal and eat so many apples, it causes Liesel to throw up later. Even though they were starving, they still ate a vast amount, not concerned about the people, they were stealing from. Later on, they meet Viktor Chemmel, who steals for the mere fun of it. Death tells, “Unlike most people engaged in the various arts of thievery, Viktor Chemmel had it all” (Zusak 273). Revealing how some humans, who are completely sheltered, will commit acts of thievery as a form of entertainment. Showing the brutal side of humans who steal.
Although later in the novel, beautiful acts of giving are equally seen. This includes when Rudy Steiner gives a piece of bread to a Jew despite the fact he was starving. The Book Thief states,”How things had changed from fruit stealer to bread giver… She heard his stomach growl--and he was giving people bread.” (Zusak 440). Given the circumstances and being exposed to the treatment of Jews, Rudy changes his thieving attitude into a giving one. Showing how a young boy in Nazi Germany suppressed his own hunger and risked his life when seeing another human in need of help. Whereas most people during that time remained apathetic and actually supported the treatment of the Jews. Another time he gives is to an allied pilot who crashes his plane and is about to die. Liesel and Rudy witness a crash and decide to check it out, discovering a dying man. Rudy places a teddy bear, he obtains from his toolbox, on the pilot's chest, regardless of the fact he was previously dropping bombs on them. The pilot responds to Rudy’s kind gesture with a “thank you, ” despite the recent fact the pilot’s goal was to kill innocent civilians. Proving how humans can exhibit profound acts of benevolence depending on what is happening. Rudy gave someone who was aiming to kill him, the last sense of comfort, and kindness before Death took him away. Which is ironic due to the fact that this allied soldier was part of the deadly air raids. The same air raids that killed a tremendous amount of people.
Paradoxically, mankind’s qualities of beauty and brutality are considerably seen throughout The Book Thief and World War II. Even though many people were involved in the brutal acts of killing, other individuals imperiled their own lives to help others. Ironically, as seen in The Book Thief, humans have the beautiful ability to give to the less fortunate or the brutal ability to steal for their own satisfaction. Overall, humankind’s ability to be angelic or demonic depends on the circumstances they have been or currently are exposed to. Comparable to modern day society, people still act brutally by killing or stealing, but also beautifully by saving and giving to others.