The theme of friendship can change one’s views on the human dignity of another person because the relationship with them can change how they known and treated. These themes are displayed throughout the novel and demonstrated through Max Vandenburg and Liesel Meminger’s friendship, hers and Rudy Steiner’s relationship with the group of children who stole. Although, Liesel’s school teacher however, lacks these attributes. This theme is reflected through Liesel's thoughts on how Germans treat those who are Jewish such as Max, Liesel’s teacher’s perspective of her, and she and the group of children being there for each other. Human dignity can be shown in many friendships because a strong relationship with someone can change how they are perceived, …show more content…
She realizes they should be treated the same way as everyone else, they should be treated equally. Max tells Liesel about his past and learns about everything Max has gone through as a Jew, and how the Nazi’s have treated him because of his religion. Max was always on the run and never safe. Max shares with Liesel how he was taken away from his family, because of his believes. After realizing all that Max has gone through, Liesel realized the lack of human dignity towards Max when he told her his history “From listening to his history, Liesel had a good idea of what he saw in those dreams” (Mark Zusak, 253). In addition to the backstory of how he was taken away. Liesel learns about what Max has gone through as a Jew, and shows her how wrong the Nazi’s doings are. She portrays human dignity by realizing Max wasn’t getting the self-respect he deserved. Liesel was a strong character who exhibited human dignity fairly, whereas her teacher displayed the theme …show more content…
The apple-stealing gang only stole because they need the basic necessities of life and never want to hurt anybody while stealing. As Liesel and Rudy were coming back from stealing apples, Rudy was very worried “I think we might have killed him” (Zusak, 163) and so was Liesel. Human dignity is portrayed during this part of the novel, as both Rudy and Liesel never intended to hurt anybody. And not only did them two display these qualities, “Arthur had done the same. He knew where to draw the line when stealing. Arthur also showed human dignity as he would equally distribute anything they stole to everyone within the gang. After Liesel and Rudy get wrongly influenced by the apple-stealing gang and helping them steal, she still shows human dignity to those she stole from by her knowing how valuable human life is and wanting to steal without endangering anyone during the process. Arthur also demonstrates this by giving everyone a fair share of what had been stolen for the day. Liesel also portrays this when Arthur had gotten caught “Liesel arrived and started pulling the fabric of his pants” (Zusak, 165) by means of trying the rescue Arthur. The apple-stealing gang overall shows human dignity towards one another by being there for each
Adam and Eve had a perfect Garden of Eden, until Eve ate the apple and contaminated the garden. In being tricked by the snake, Eve betrayed God’s word. Mankind has often betrayed others because of the darkness in their heart. In A Separate Peace, John Knowles uses Phineas as a sacrificial lamb to portray Gene’s savage side and demonstrate that peace can never be achieved at a worldwide level until man accepts the darkness in his own heart.
Hans supports the Jewish community, who are viewed as ‘undesirables subhumans’ by society. The ethical values which Hans holds are apparent in the way he treats starving and helpless Jews traveling through Molching, “The Jew stood before him, expecting another handful of derision, but he watched with everyone else as Hans Hubermann held his hand out and presented a piece of bread” (Zusak 395). As a consequence of rejecting societal expectations and ideologies, the character Hans Hubermann solidifies the notion that every individual deserves basic human respect. Therefore, Hans develops a love for humanity and the individual he is helping through refusing to obey corrupt societal expectations. Aiding those who are injured is a gateway to love as it changes the world for the individual one is
Max uses Mein Kampf as a kind of cover so people wouldn’t suspect that he was a Jew and he escapes to the Hubermann’s house as Hans promised to help the Vandenburg’s if they ever needed it as he was friends with Max’s father in the war and Max’s father saved Hans’ life. Liesel is curious but also scared of Max at first but they bond over the fact that they both have nightmares, have lost their families and are both “fist-fighters” Since Max is always hiding in the basement, Liesel begins to describe the weather to him and brought him snow where they had a snowball fight and built a snowman with Hans and Rosa. Soon after, Max falls ill and she brings him 13 presents, hoping that he will wake up and reads to him every morning and night. Max also begins to share stories with Liesel and for her birthday makes her a book called “The Standover Man” which is about his life and journey. Max also begins to have daydreams where he fights Hitler and Hitler always uses his words to excite the crowd and uses them as a weapon. Liesel and Rudy also begin to steal food with a group of
In the novel The Book Thief by Markus Zusak the narrator is Death, who shows itself as sympathetic and sensitive towards the suffering of the world and the cruel human nature, through its eyes, we can get to know the heartbreaking story of Liesel Meminger an ordinary, but very lucky nine-year old German girl; living in the midst of World War II in Germany. In this book the author provides a different insight and observation about humanity during this time period from a German view and not an Allied perspective, as we are used to.
This realization, although suspected by the narrator for a long time, shows the true irony of Liesel’s thefts: that she never needs to steal them. When she steals her last book, The Last Human Stranger, she even takes a plate of cookies and leaves a note. Although none of these books are featured as heavily as her first few thefts, their titles reference parts of Liesel’s struggles such as her relationship with Max, her role in uplifting her community in the bunker, her continuing education, and her status being the only survivor of the final bombing. In conclusion, the books which Liesel steals are very influential in her development through the course of the novel, with the titles themselves references other parts of her life.
Liesel Meminger was a very bright girl that didn’t have the resources to flourish. Her mother must hide from the Nazis because she is a communist and sends Liesel ...
Liesel’s mom leaves her with foster parents because she wishes to protect her from the fate she is enduring. The words Paula, Liesel’s mom, uses go against Hitler because she is a communist which resulted in her being taken away and Liesel to lose her mother and experience the loss of her. This shows Liesel experiences unhappiness because of her mother’s disappearance which is caused by the words she openly uses that contradicts Hitler.
Liesel experiences abandonment throughout her life, and the novel during a suppressed time in World War II Germany. Through her experiences Liesel’s learns to equate abandonment with love knowing that circumstance have forced her loved ones to leave her.
Part of the development of a human being involves acquiring the ability to classify good and evil as well as distinguishing right from wrong. It has become an inherent trait that is invariably used in our everyday lives. In John Gardner’s novel, Grendel, the main character, Grendel, seeks to find the meaning of life. Through his journey, a depiction of the forces of good and evil is revealed. Aside from being a novel about the search for the meaning of life, Grendel also suggest society’s good and evil have a meaningful and imbalanced relationship where good prevails evil yet facing evil is still critical.
Even though Liesel is just a kid and is going through some tough times, it still doesn’t give her the right to steal. Besides, Death claims that you could argue that others have it harder during this time and I agree. If you were a Jew during this time, that was bad news. They were persecuted, hunted, and killed by the Nazis. Liesel, on the other hand, although have lost her brother and may never see her mother again, is not living in constant fear for her life. The novel even states, “anything is better than being a Jew.” (Zusak
Many would get away with something that is unfair and unjust in the world. When the boys killed Simon, they felt no repercussions for their actions, even though it was an accident. The boys thought he was "The Beast", and when Simon fell into the middle of the circle, he was slain by vicious beatings. With no repercussions for the boys' actions, when it came time for someone to be killed again, no one had any remorse for slaying one of the smartest and most reliable boys on the island. ' "See?
Theme: Situations and surroundings can shatter the innocence of friendship, but more the identity of the individuals.
During Markus Zusak’s book we observe the beauty of humans at many times. One of the most beautiful things a human does is when Max, the jew the Hubermanns are hiding from the nazis, gives Liesel a book that he made himself. But he says that “Now I think we are friends, this girl and me. On her birthday it was she who gave a gift to me”(Zusak 235). Max made this book for leisel by taking paint from the basement and painting over pages in Mein Kampf. He lets the pages dry and then he writes a story on them. He makes this book for Liesel because he can’t afford to buy one, and even if he could he can’t leave the house. But when he gives Liesel the book we also examine humans doing something so unbelievably nice. Liesel accepts max as a friend. Which in the long run will help Max out a lot, because he is locked in the basement and he can’t even go up stairs during the day. So someone who is there to talk to him, and someone for him to talk to will help him out. Throughout this book we watch their friendship grow. Liesel feels bad for Max because he is stuck in the basement so on a regular basis she will tell Max what the weather is like...
“And my foe beheld it shine. And he knew that it was mine.” The story of Adam and Eve connects to the apple because it clarifies that the apple becomes a desirable commodity, due to the fact that both the enemy and speaker wants to obtain the apple. The apple became a desirable commodity to Adam and Eve when they were told that they couldn’t eat it. The last few stanzas of the poem sums up the fate of enemy, “And into my garden stole.
The king didn't want to hear another word about the thief, “It doesn't matter anymore, I have tasted my apples and I am satisfied.” he said. The determined boy went to his brothers and told them what he wanted to do. The two older brothers agreed so they could impress their father after they failed him. They gathered weapons and other materials and set