Examples Of Identity In The Book Thief

How does society and the characters identities influence the choices they make? Since The Book Thief is a historical fiction text, the fictitious characters interact in a realistic WWII setting in Germany. Three characters in the book,Liesel Meminger, Max Vandenburg, and Rudy steiner develop their identities within the parameters of the Nazi controlled society. However, if Liesel Meminger, Max Vandenburg, and Rudy Steiner were characters in today's society, their lives would be different.
Liesel is a blonde,skinny,german,she cares for the people she loves.Her personality is misschievous, nice, and a thief. Liesel was nine years old,soon to be ten.(pg.21) She was skinny and pale she had sore lips.(pg.25) She had wire like shins,coat hanger

arms and had a starving smile,her hair was german blond but she had dangerous eyes dark brown.(pg.31) From this examples you can see how liesel personally is really misschievous.Secondly Max Vandenburg he was a jew and jewish first fighter, hiding in the hubermanns house, loves reading, and feels alone. Hes personality in the book showed that he was afraid, alone, hopeful, and a fighter. He is scum,he is starving, he is afraid (pg.139) It’s the eye of the tiger. It’s the thrill of the fight. I just wish I could see better in the cellar.(pg.139) In the basement of 33 Himmel Street, Max Vandenburg could feel the fists of the entire nation. One by one they climbed into the ring and beat him down.(pg.255) From this examples you can imagine how max felt alone. Finally Rudy Steiner he was a german that lived in 33 himmel street he had lemond blonde hair, bony legs, obsess with jesse owens, and liesel best friend. His personality was really outgoing, sweet, caring, naughty and loving. Rudy Steiner was the boy next door who was obsessed with the black american Athlete Jesse Owens.(pg.46) He had beautiful blond hair and big safe blue eyes.(pg.61) He was eight months older than liesel and had bony legs,sharp teeth, and hair the color of a lemon. He was one of six steiner children, he was permanently hungry.(pg.48) This examples show how rudy steiner was outgoing and stayed true to himself he wanted to be like jesse owens and so he did.
The german WWII society affect the characters identities and choices by starting of with Liesel Meminger losing her brother, her mom was accused of being a communist and she was sick all the time so she couldn't take her of her children.She decided to give them away, on the way to liesel's new faster parents her brother died on the train it was the way of society punching her in the face.

As for Max vandenburg he had to hide from everyone because he was a jew and jews are not allow in germany. He was also force to leave his family behind to go find hans hubermann. Max couldn't see the outside or even see the sun because the nazi were going to take him and kill him. His life was unequal from all the others because he was a jew. It’s the of the tiger. It’s the thrill of the fight. I just wish I could see better in the cellar (pg.139) Lastly Rudy Steiner the Nazi Party wanted to take both him and his dad to WWII to be willing to die for their country but rudy's mom did not allow that instead she send his to the Hitler Youth. Rudy wanted to be the fastest boy so he painted himself black but his dad told him that is not allowed because it will seem disrespectful to the nazi.The boy next door who was obsessed with the black american Athlete Jesse

Owens.(pg.46)
The characters would be different if they lived in today’s society with us because Liesel Meminger would be a totally normal girls she would study with us and her mom and brother would still be alive.

As for Max Vandenburg he would be a normal guy and will be avail to walk our street without being afraid something bad will happen to him. He will not be afraid or ashamed that he is a jew, people will not even noticed. Finally Rudy would be another boy in our english class studying with us. He will be avail to practice running and become a faster runner and no one will tell him anything.He would have the freedom to be avail to be who ever he would like to be and run faster than anyone

else.
In conclusion how does society and the characters identities influence the choices they make? Identity is a tricky business in Nazi Germany, especially if you are Jewish. In The book thief In order to stay alive, a Jewish person had to stay hidden, and being hated and persecuted takes a big toll on a person's identity for example Max Vandenburg.For most of the characters, the situation makes guilt a huge part of their identities. A wrong move can result instant death for loved ones. That is why society caused them to do the choices they made.I feel like death has teached me a lot of each and every character and their identities causing trouble to society.If only the character lived in today’s society everything would be different every character would be free and would be avail to be whoever they would like to be. The only thing it would matter would be them staying true to themselves.How does society and the characters identities influence the choices they make? Since The Book Thief is a historical fiction text, the fictitious characters interact in a realistic WWII setting in Germany. Three characters in the book,Liesel Meminger, Max Vandenburg, and Rudy steiner develop their identities within the parameters of the Nazi controlled society. However, if Liesel Meminger, Max Vandenburg, and Rudy Steiner were characters in today's society, their lives would be different.