Struggles In The Book Thief

Mark Zusak’s The Book Thief: A Hard Journey

Nazi Germany was a time of great suffering and cruelty and the only way to overcome these injustices was with help from friends and family. Marz Zusak’s The Book Thief depicts Nazi Germany as a time of great pain and struggle to survive in life in the characters daily lives. Hans Hubermann and Liesel Meminger are especially affected by these struggles, but they cope with struggles and help other people cope with their struggles by showing sympathy, offering a sense of safety and security and by showing affection. Ultimately, these characters teach us ways to cope with overwhelming grief and suffering.

In The Book Thief, one character in particular jumps out in terms of their sympathy and that is

Hans. Hans shows great sympathy throughout the book in any way he can. For example, Hans is walking past a street with Rudy Steiner and Liesel when he reaches into his paint car, Death narrates “ 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, like magic.” (Zusak, 395). Hans hands the piece of bread to the Jew because he want to help him, he shows great sympathy by helping the Jew with one of his struggles. Hans is a formidable character for helping Jews when it is against the Nazi beliefs.

Hans goes against Nazi beliefs to be sympathetic to Jewish people.

For example, Hans sees the words Jewish Filth written on a Jew owned store he decides to help the man “ I will come tomorrow, he said and repaint your door” (Zusak, 181). Hans goes against the Nazis because they write slurs on Jewish people's stores and homes and that is against his beliefs, he helps the Jewish people with their problems by lending them a hand. Hans does not only show great sympathy, but he also provides feelings of security to his

family.

The Book Thief has many characters who offer a sense of safety and security to their family and community. Hans tries to make people feel safe in order to help them and protect them. For example, Hans initially comes to Liesel’s room to make sure that she feels safe,
“ Possibly the only good to come out of these nightmares was that it brought Hans Hubermann, her new papa, into the room, to soothe her, to love her” (Zusak, 36). Hans gives Liesel a sense of security by just being there to comfort her and protect her, which helps her cope with the hard times she is facing. Through Hans, Liesel learns how to make other people feel safe and secure.

Liesel works very hard to make everyone in her community feels as safe and secure as she can. For example, Liesel reads to the community when they are in the bunker to relax them and make them feel better, Death says “ When she turned to page two, it was Rudy who noticed. He paid direct attention to what Liesel was reading, and he tapped his brothers and his sisters, telling them to do the same…. and soon, a quietness started bleeding through the crowded basement” (Zusak, 381). Reading is one of Liesel’s main coping strategies and this strategy helps her calm other people down and help them feel safer in dark times. Liesel not only makes people feel safe and secure, but also shows affection towards other who are her friends and loved ones.

Liesel shows affection towards people in order to make them feel better in dire situations, especially to Rudy Steiner and Max Vandenburg. Liesel shows affection towards Max by caring for his health and safety. For example, Liesel brings Max a gift to make him feel better when he is in a coma, “Wake Up! she wanted to scream. Or shake him. She didn’t. All Liesel could do was watch the ball and its trampled, flaking skin. It was the first gift of many. (Zusak, 320-321). Liesel brings many presents for Max after the ball in hopes of making him get better and to show her affection towards him as a brother figure, these presents help Liesel maintain herself sane by believing that the gifts will make him feel better. Max is not the only one that Liesel shows affection towards, she shows affection towards Rudy.

Liesel constantly worries about Rudy and what trouble he is getting himself into.

For instance, Liesel tries to cheer up Rudy after his failed attempt at stealing, “ What am I waiting for? he asked, but Liesel didn’t reply. Again Rudy opened his mouth, but without words. He placed the toolbox on the ground and sat on it. His socks grew cold and wet. ‘Lucky there’s another pair in the toolbox’, Liesel suggested, and she could see him trying not to laugh, despite himself” (Zusak, 404). This proves that Liesel really cares for Rudy because she is trying to cheer him up at a bad time for him in his life, she helps him cope with his problems by showing affection towards him. Affection is not only shown by Liesel, but also by Hans and Rosa

Hubermann.
Hans and Rosa show great affection towards Liesel throughout the book. For example, Hans and Rosa meet Liesel when she is being delivered to them because they are going to be her foster parents, “ After a few minutes, a very tall man comes out. Hans Hubermann, Liesel’s foster father…. On the other side was the squat shape of Rosa Hubermann” (Zusak, 27). Hans and Rosa are Liesel’s foster parents and they have her out of affection for her, they help her cope with the constant struggles of living in Germany.

In conclusion, Liesel Meminger and Hans Hubermann help their family and friends cope with the constant struggles of life by showing great sympathy, offering a sense of safety and security and showing tremendous amounts of affection. Liesel and Hans show how people can help other people cope with their lives in the best way possible.