During the horrid times of World War II, Death has been everywhere. He later explores the world of Molching through Liesel’s eyes and shows fascination and fear of humans. In Markus Zusak’s “The Book Thief” shows a story of a girl named Liesel Meminger lived through her life in Molching under the care of the Hubermanns, Rosa and Hans, after losing her family. Once she learned to read with the help of Hans Hubermann, she began getting or stealing books, and would eventually write her own book, describing the experiences and reliving the memories with the others before their final moments. Even during the hatred-filled times in Liesel’s life, the people in her life showed her the brighter sides of Molching.
Even after losing her mother and brother, the story
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progresses and she grows closer to her peers.
Death even states his fascination for humans with a heart, stating, “I see their ugly and their beauty, and I wonder how the same thing can be both (Zusak 491).” When there were Jews marching into Himmel Street, Hans was willing to give a Jew a piece of bread, despite having to face consequences. Later, both Liesel and her best friend, Rudy, dropped pieces of bread for the Jews to pick up. Besides the Jews, the pilot from the beginning was mentioned later on, who was dying from a plane crash. Before his soul gets taken, Ruby placed a teddy bear into his arms.
With every book Liesel receives, the books start to have a significance in her life. All from The Gravedigger’s Handbook to her own book. The first book she gets is the start of her closeness to Hans, who read and taught her to read using this book. The Shoulder Shrug is the second book she steals during a bonfire featuring a Jew protagonist, which showed her hatred for Hitler. Death even states, “It would inspire Hans Hubermann to come up
with a plan to help the Jewish fist fighter [Max] (Zusak 83).” The mayor’s wife, Ilsa, witnesses this and brings Liesel to her library. The Standover Man and The Word Shaker are both books created by Max. The Standover Man talks about Max’s life, represented as a bird who was afraid of “men standing over him” until he meets Liesel. The Word Shaker is another story Max has for Liesel before he left, so Rosa gives Liesel the book. The story talks about how words can be used against hatred. During one of the marches, all the frightened people calmed down when Liesel began reading The Whistler and caused Frau Holtzaphel to ask Liesel to read to her, despite being an adversary to Rosa. Liesel steals The Dream Carrier from Ilsa’s library, then reads this to Max when he fell ill. The title represents how Liesel shows how she does not want Max to die like her brother, ‘holding on’ to Max’s dream. Sooner, Ilsa purposely leaves out The Complete Duden Dictionary and Thesaurus for Liesel, which makes Liesel feel aware of these words. The Last Human Stranger becomes the final book Liesel steals, but becomes upset with how she has to stay motivated, wondering what good are words. Liesel then writes to Ilsa, who returns with a journal, telling Liesel, “You can certainly write. You write well (Zusak 523).” By using words, they can play with people’s emotions, especially for Death. During the grim times of World War II, Death does his part of gathering souls in the aftermath. Many interpretations of Death associated with being emotionless, carrying a scythe, or having skull-like features. However, Death replies, “Forget the scythe, Goddamn it, I needed a broom or a mop. And I needed a vacation (Zusak 307).” Throughout Zusak’s story, Death always mentions how tiring his job was, since Death was everywhere in 1943. Always informed and fascinated by humans, he finds inspiration from experiences like Liesel Meminger, a girl who survived the bombing of Molching. He even wanted to tell her, “How the same thing [humans] could be so ugly and so glorious, and its words and stories so damning and brilliant (Zusak 550).” Even if he is viewed as cold and emotionless, Death experiences sadness and happiness as he learns about the world in their perspective. Zusak's story of “The Book Thief” illustrates the ideals of words in the perspective of Liesel. Even after losing her family from the beginning, Liesel’s life would change with books. The books she finds often represent her bonds to those she cared for during World War II. The memories of those people would still continue to live in her own book, and she would be one of the people who survived, which Death finds to be interesting. With each soul carried, Death finds curiosity behind the person, including Liesel herself.
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 Markus Zusak’s novel, the book thief, Liesel Meminger is surrounded by death and fear as that is the norm in the 1930’s. Liesel is a strong young girl who has been deeply affected by her brother’s death and her mother leaving her and finds comfort in ‘The Grave Digger’s Handbook’, the book she stole at the site of her brother’s burial. Throughout the novel Liesel finds comfort in other books and reads them to escape the terrible reality that is Nazi Germany. Together with books she overcomes obstacles she wouldn't have been able to do without them
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is intriguing in the sense that it conveys the story of a young girl in Nazi Germany from the perspective of Death himself. Throughout this book, Death points out the destruction humanity causes, and this destruction comes in two forms: both physical, as well as emotional. Since this book is set in World War II, and physical destruction is a common occurrence during this time, Death frequently discusses its different forms, which include Jewish internment camps, bullets, bombs, as well as fires. These physical forms of destruction lead to deaths, as well as injuries that can take a toll on the emotional states of humans. Therefore, through Death’s descriptions of the many forms of physical destruction, as well
Death is a very well-known figure that is feared by many in all countries. He is suspected of being cruel, disturbing and all synonyms of horrifying. Death is inevitable and that is the most fearing aspect of his persona. In Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief, Death is made to seem or resemble humans. Effectively using the narration role, Death introduces a unique description and definition of colors in which he uses as a tool to effectively engage the readers to the events occurring throughout the book. He also demonstrates him personal and different experiences as well, mostly about soul gathering and the implications of WWII that have affected him. On the contrary to Death’s dead, appalling and scary nature that many interpret him to be during the book, Death shows many emotions and features to his personality that reasoning would declare otherwise. One of those feature would be the colors.
...by American bombers and everyone but Liesel dies on the street. Liesel only survives because she was writing a book of her own, and was in the basement when the bombs struck. When she is rescued by the police, she rushes to find her parents and Rudy, but only finds them both dead. The story ends with her being adopted by Ilsa Hermann. Of course, this does not mean the story is over; there is an epilogue. Max survives the war and later finds his way back to Liesel, who rejoices when they finally meet. When Liesel finally dies, death takes her away from the others and shows her the book that she was writing when the bombs fell. She asks him if he understood the meaning of it, to which he responds with his own sage advice. When death takes her soul away for good this time, and takes one last look at the title of the book. The Book Thief by Liesel Meminger.
Death states that, “I’m always finding humans at their best and worst. I see their ugly and their beauty, and I wonder how the same thing can be both” (Zusak 491). This book shows us human doing things that weren’t even imaginable before this point. Many people give into ideas that were lies. But, we also watch a few people go out of their way and sacrifice everything for a man they barely even know. They do everything they can to keep him safe and alive. They work harder, the get another job, and they even steal. In Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief, death examines the ugliness and the beauty of humans.
Inciting Incident: Liesel struggles with her reoccurring nightmares of her brother dying on the train. This is when her relationship with Hans starts to grow as he comes in and starts reading to her every night for comfort. She also meets her neighbor, Rudy Steiner, while playing soccer on the street.
The Book Thief written by Markus Zusak tells the story of a young girl in Nazi Germany named Liesel Meminger. Throughout the novel she encounters many issues and meets people that share the same problems she has. This includes abandonment and survivor's guilt. In the book the theme of survivor’s guilt and abandonment is shown prominently in characters Liesel, Hans, and Michael. Whether it is being the only one to a survive a bombing or leaving family behind they all feel toll of guilt and hurt as they struggle to get back normal lives.
In The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak, the author portrays the theme, those who have suffered in the past have a great deal of courage because of it. Liesel Meminger was a young girl in Germany during World War 2. In the beginning of the book, Liesel watches her own brother die and her own mother gives her up to foster parents, the Hubermanns. She learns to read and write there and has so many ups and downs throughout. As Germany was in the midst of WW2 there began to be air raids, where Germany’s citizens had to begin to take cover. Air raid sirens were heard all throughout Liesel’s city of Molching and all residents of Himmel Street were to take cover in the Fiedler’s basement (one of the residents on Himmel Street) because they had the deepest basement.
Words can be as powerful as any weapon. They have the power to spread ideas, yet that power can be dangerous. They have the ability to hinder, help, and heal someone. Depending on who is saying something, and how they say it, it affects people differently. During World War II, Hitler used his power to influence people with fear and hope to do dehumanize the Jews. Throughout The Book Thief, Markus Zusak uses cacophonous diction, imagery, and the third person point of view to relay the power of words which creates a sympathetic and frightened nature, that exposes the hardships that people face during the Holocaust.
She feels the expected guilt from yelling at Ilsa Hermann and stealing her books, even though stealing is a loosely used term. Lisel knows that Ilsa is trying to help her but she still yells and emotionally wounds Ilsa. The guilt Liesel feels from that is normal. She also feels guilt that some Germans feel, from saying their Heil Hitlers when they don't support him. She can’t do anything to help all those imprisoned Jews, all she is able to do is falsely support Hitler. While Liesel deals with guilt differently than Michael it still creates a prominent result in her life story. Liesel is the main character of the book, Michael Holtzapfel is the better example of the prominence of the theme of
In the novel, The Book Thief, Death is the narrator of the story, and follows around the protagonist, Liesel Meminger, as she lives in Nazi Germany, and how her life changes when a Jewish man named Max Vandenburg shows up at her door, taking refuge in Liesel and her foster parent’s basement. Markus Zusak’s choice as Death influences many themes of the story, where if Liesel or an unnamed narrator wouldn’t have the same influence.
We all see things differently depending on our perspective. That may be the only viewpoint we get without somebody else’s opinion. Markus Zusak shows us an interesting view on Death in his novel, The Book Thief. The Book Thief is a story of a young girl, Liesel, who grows up in Nazi Germany, narrated by Death. Death does not usually have a voice, and it is interesting that Zusak chooses Death as the narrator. Throughout the book, Death interrupts to give us background information, little details, or often the blunt truth. One of Zusak’s purposes in The Book Thief is to show a new perspective of Death, and how he may be different than how we expected.
Death identifies himself as being fair, in the sense that he comes for everyone, no matter how old, kind, or venerable they are, even though he wishes he didn’t have to come for those he cares for. He notices the colors of the sky with each person he takes away and urges the readers to consider what color the sky will be when he comes for them specifically. At first he tries to describe himself as someone who is detached from humans and tries to distract himself from his distressing job by noticing the colors of the sky. However, his true personality is revealed through his close bonds with some of the characters. The omniscient point of view also allows Death to describe each character’s thoughts and feelings in depth and interweave each character’s personal story into the big picture. Death chooses not to introduce the readers to Max, Hans, or Rosa until they are introduced to Liesel’s first. Through this technique, the readers learn to understand the background of where each character came from and why they did the things they did. For example, when Hans gave bread to a walking by Jew, the readers could associate this action with his previously mentioned anti-Nazi beliefs and arguments with his son over joining the party. Death is also able to show the characters’ growth and emotional change over the course of the story. When Liesel arrived on Himmel Street, she was scared and
While in The Book Thief, Liesel Meminger, the protagonist seen through Death’s eyes changes through the pain of loss as well but Liesel has a whole different story of personal growth. Liesel comprehends the pain of loss of her father, mother and brother, and these experiences result in her actions and outlooks towards the other characters. When Liesel first arrives at the Hubermanns, her foster family, Liesel has a hard time trusting them or allowing herself to be vulnerable. Liesel comes off as being defensive, but as her foster family and new friends like Rudy and Max treat her kindly, she begins to open herself to the pain of others, while learning to express and alter her own pain and vulnerability. Liesel cares about justice in general, and feels frustrated and angry at the injustices spread by Hitler and war. Her experiences with loss give her motivation, and she is able to channel her anger to stick up for herself as well as others. “Liesel caught sight of him smiling with such absurdity that she dragged him down and started beating him up as well.” (Zusak, 2006, p.79), this is when Liesel beats up Ludwig Schmeikl, which she later saves him at the bonfire. This shows us how she changed from extreme disgust with him to caring enough to save his life. Throughout the novel, Liesel begins to realize that most people in life have experienced loss and pain, and she reevaluates