Hope In The Book Thief

The future is a series of unexpected chapters in our lives packed with thrilling mysteries and remarkable miracles. Although the future may blossom with new, budding experiences, unforgettable tragedies and misfortunes can alter an individual's life. Refraining from grief takes plenty of courage and determination to overcome. As an individual with numerous experiences and involvements throughout my life, I strongly believe that our hopes and beliefs are exceptionally powerful. Throughout The Book Thief ,there are plenty of reasons to support the countless themes that are mentioned in this book. However, I was intrigued by the symbolization of hope, how it had affected the characters and their surroundings, as well as their belief in hope.

To begin with, there are numerous excerpts in which the characters symbolized hope.

Death, the narrator of The Book Thief, explains a symbolic scene in which Liesel Meminger represents hope. He said, “The only thought that continually recurred was the yellow tear. Had it been dark, she realized, that the tear would have been black. But it was dark, she told herself.” Liesel had found the light despite all of the darkness that had surrounded her. I believe the yellow tear represents her loss of hope. Another example from The Book thief that symbolizes hope was Max’s arrival on Himmel street. He asks Hans “ Do you still play the accordion?” Of course, the question was really, “Will you still help me?” Max was anticipated that Hans had still played the accordion, for it symbolized his debt to Erik Vandenburg, his friend who had saved his life during the Great War. Han’s inherited the accordion after Erik’s death and played in memory of his sacrifice. Although Max had felt guilty for surviving, he was desperate for another chance to

live.

Not only do the characters symbolize hope throughout the book, but they are significantly affected by it as well. Rosa Hubermann, the foster mother of Liesel Meminger, had drastically changed her character from the beginning of the book. The excerpt, “It took longer than she expected for her eyes to adjust, and when they did, there was no denying the fact that Rosa Hubermann was sitting on the edge of the bed with her husband’s accordion tied to her chest.” had slowly perished Rosa’s hope as she watched her beloved husband, yet again, returning to war. Rosa was filled with a wide range of emotions. She had clung tightly to Hans accordion for comfort hoping that very soon, a letter would arrive at Himmel street declaring that Hans Hubermann would be returning home. Although Rosa is harsh, she is a good woman in crisis! Additionally, when Liesel and Rudy had trailed a path of bread for the Jewish men in the parades, Liesel was seized and whipped by the Nazi soldiers. The effects of hope can affect individuals in both optimistic and pessimistic ways, but Liesel couldn’t withstand the behavior of the Nazi soldiers against the Jews. She was like her papa.

Lastly, I affirm that believing in hope can change an individual’s life optimistically.

In the Diary of Anne Frank, Anne had reluctantly kept her Star of David while Peter had burned it up to ashes. Anne had believed that World War II would soon come to an end, and so she had held onto her Star of David. Anne’s heart was heavy with fear, faith, and animation, and she longed to live in a world of friendship and love. She was hopeful little girl. Another example from The Book Thief includes Rudy Steiner, Liesel's best friend. He was hopeful that his father would return from war. In fact, he was jealous that Hans Hubermann had received the opportunity to return home, unlike his father. The excerpt, “ Rudy smiled and laughed, and Liesel could see that he was at least trying. However, she could also sense the bitter taste of questions in his mouth. Why him? Why Hans Hubermann and not Alex Steiner?” proves Rudy’s jealousy on page

480.

Ultimately, I strongly conclude that the power of hope is invincible. As a whole, I was fascinated by the symbolization of hope, how it had affected the characters and their surroundings, as well as the different viewpoints they had displayed on the power of hope throughout the different articles and books we had read. Throughout this story, and it's unforgettable events, the characters portrayed their sufferings, but also understood that hope lies within the lives of those who think beyond their circumstances.