Liesel's Struggle In The Book Thief By Markus Zusak

At one point in time, it is inevitable for one to experience character building struggles. How these struggles affect individuals depends not only on themselves, but on those who suffer these burdens alongside them; whether they are literally going through the same situation or they are someone that is confided in. In Markus Zusak’s novel The Book Thief, Liesel Meminger’s struggles against imposed laws and societal expectations effectively reveals the rebellious aspect of human nature. Rather than allowing these struggles to conquer her, Liesel keeps a tight grip on her closest of connections and allows them to fuel her to rebel against and reject what is forced upon her and stand out. She is empowered by her close familial, friendly and brotherly

relationships.
Throughout her childhood, Liesel holds many close relationships with her family.

Although she has to leave many family members behind in the past, she maintains deep connections to them on an emotional level. Liesel has also been able to build a very strong relationship with her foster family, to an extent where she treats them like biological kin. Even as she has gotten used to her new home and to her foster parents, Liesel still constantly thinks about her mother and continues to care deeply about her. When Liesel learns that Hitler took her mother away, she states bluntly and out of anger that she “hate[s] the Führer” (Zusak 115). With no more than these few words Liesel rebels, not merely against the Führer, but against societal standards. In Nazi Germany, everyone is expected to love Hitler and the Nazi party. They are expected to salute, not by hello or Guten Tag, but rather by “Heil Hitler” (50). This is taken very seriously by some; Frau Diller, an owner of “the corner shop at the end of Himmel street” (49) refuses to serve customers who enter her shop without saying “Heil Hitler”. One must also remember that Liesel once dreamt that “he crouched down and smiled at her” and then “she returned the smile” (20). This means, not only did she not hate Hitler, but she also admired him and wanted him to recognize her. Out of affection towards her mother , Liesel changes her views towards the Führer, rejecting social and political standards; it is only natural that her love

for her mother outweighs the opinions of others and what she is supposed to think and do.
Displayed prominently throughout the novel, the encouragement that Liesel retains from her close relationships does not only benefit others, but herself as well. At school, Liesel is known and made fun of as the girl who can not read, with even her teacher saying “she cannot do it” (76) when it is supposed to be Liesel’s turn to read; her teacher, someone who is meant to support and help the students, simply puts her down. This illustrates that the society expects and assumes that Liesel will never be at the reading level of someone of her age. However, Liesel continues to develop her ability to read during nightly sessions with her foster father, Hans Hubermann. Hans’ constant encouragement and display of affection towards Liesel fuels her to ignore what other people say and strive to her final goal. Though human beings are often victims of peer pressure and influence, the words and actions of encouragement of those closest to one will always have the biggest impact on one’s confidence, letting one rebel against labels and expectations set upon them by others.
Although Liesel’s brother, Werner, appears but once in the novel, having died at the very beginning, Liesel remains closely connected to him and his memory spurs the beginning of her journey through the world of literature. The Grave Digger’s Handbook, the book that Liesel collected at her brother’s burial, is notably significant to Liesel. She constantly dreams about him and this book is “her last link to him” (38). Liesel’s urge to read this book was fueled by her need to reinforce this link, to avoid losing the connection she has with her dead brother. The content of the book is insignificant; it is the connection that she holds with it, on a deep, emotional level that matters. As with Hans, her brother, although dead, plants her goal of reading and writing as The Grave Digger’s Handbook was the first book she read, and the reading of this book was sparked by his memory. This is a goal that many people at her school, her teacher and her fellow classmates, as mentioned earlier, believed that she would never accomplish. This further emphasizes the nature of her rebellion against societal expectations being seeded from her close connections.
As early as their first meeting, it was evident that Rudy Steiner and Liesel were bound to become best friends. They are very similar, in a way that separates them from the rest of society. When Liesel becomes aware of the “Jesse Owens incident” (56) she reacts very differently from the actual bystanders of the event. Rather than shunning him, as did the society whom are unaccepting towards people of colour, and lecturing him for his “act of childhood infamy” (56), this knowledge brings Liesel closer to Rudy, letting her accept him for the fact that he is not the same as everyone else. This shows that Liesel does not care about what the society thinks, she does not fall in line with them. Instead, she supports Rudy, both because of her love for him and because it is what she thinks is right. Liesel’s support of Rudy reveals the rebellious element of human nature as she rebels against the views and opinions of society illustrating that her care and compassion for her friend is much stronger than the influence of others.
Thievery is a skill that both Liesel and Rudy acquire and develop throughout the novel. It is what “cements their friendship completely” and it is “driven by one inescapable force―Rudy’s hunger” (149). The fact that this, an action that goes against the law and the beliefs of the community, is what completely seals their friendship, demonstrates the strength of the trust that they have for one another and how either one of them is willing to take risks for the other’s well-being, particularly Liesel. She goes against what society perceives as right and begins to help Rudy steal food. To Liesel it is more important that her friend, who barely eats, gets food is, especially if those whom they are stealing from are fortunate people who already have enough and are well-nourished. This can be viewed as an act of kindness and compassion; however, according to law and societal expectations this a grave act of rebellious crime.
The building of such a close friendship between Max Vandenburg and Liesel results in a relationship so close that it resembles that of two siblings.

Their relationship develops throughout the novel. They started as strangers when Max first stumbled into the Hubermanns’ house, then it developed as they started talking, “swapping nightmares”(220). As acquaintances, they would read together. Slowly they would become good friends, sharing wisdom and relying on each other. Liesel, at heart, is a very compassionate and caring person. She is willing to burden herself for the sakes of those close to her, telling her mother to come and get her if Max wakes up, to “scream out” and “start swearing” at her because “everyone will believe it” (319). The moment that her mother does so results in a slap on face from her teacher, Liesel, however is overjoyed, as a slap in the face means “Max is alive” (333). She is selfless in her actions towards her friends and brotherly figure, Max, in particular. It is a social and political expectation that all Germans detest the Jews. Liesel’s care for Max outweighs her care for following the rules leading her to rebel against them. Her care for Max is further emphasized by the fact that she is willing get humiliated in front of everyone and getting slapped for the sake of knowing that he is

alive.
Liesel’s decision to get injured at the soccer game was based solely off her strong emotions and urge to protect Max; she began to panic, “come on, Liesel, think, think”(340). Her panicked emotions lead her to the solution of getting injured to warn her family. Once again, the fact that he is a Jew fails to affect her decisions to love and protect him, although according to laws and social standards, it should. The fact that he is a Jew and is fragile rather enhances her caring emotions for Max and fuels her rebellious urge to protect him
The uninhibited nature of Liesel’s emotions is strongly demonstrated when Liesel runs at Max, in front of everyone, soldiers, civilians and Jews alike, careless towards what they see or believe, putting herself at risk, once again, for Max. Even when Max tells her to “let go” (511), for her own safety, she persists, getting physically thrown out. Still, Liesel went back to Max, which results in her brutal whipping. This is her most outright and rebellious act yet, as her rebellion in this particular situation is open and extremely evident to the population whilst, for the most part, Liesel’s rebellions have been secretive. Despite the fact that she had gotten kicked out multiple times, Liesel kept on going back to see Max. Driven by her care for Max, imposed laws and rules fail yet again, to keep her away from him.
Countless times throughout Markus Zusak’s novel The Book Thief, Liesel exhibits the rebellious aspects of human nature through her struggles against societal and political standards. These acts of rebellion are fueled by those intimately connected to her, her family, Rudy Steiner and Max Vandenburg. Her rebellion against societal standards is something that everyone must follow. One must always keep close, tight connections with those that one loves and help them in anyway possible, even if it will go against what other people judge as ‘right’, going against these social standards for a better cause what proves to be more important. Although she is only a young girl, Liesel has a big heart and she can serve as a role model for everyone, young and old.