The Book Thief Essay

The Book Thief directed by Brian Percival is set in the dark eras of World War 2. Liesel is a young girl who lives with her parents on Heaven Street in Molching, Germany. The Book Thief also comes in a book, written by Markus Zusak

Percivel uses many techniques in The Book Thief motifs are used largely through books and writing. One of the largest elements in this text is writing and books they impact numerous characters lives and personal stories in different ways. The relationship between Max and Liesel flourishes through writing, when Max writes her a book on the pages of “Mein Kampf”. We can tell by the title that books and writing will be a major aspect in the text. Although books can be a sign of hope in this film, the Nazis want

nothing to do with Jewish books and organise a book burning ceremony. It is not only books that are burnt in the scene it goes beyond, anything authored by a Jew was authorized to be burnt. The Germans goals right throughout the movie was to eliminate the Jewish race, so therefor the burnings of the book does not particularly aim at one author but yet fulfills the Nazis goal of removing the Jewish people. During the film Liesel steals books from Frau Hermann’s library after he gave Liesel a letter apologising about firing Rosa. Liesel then must also write an apology letter back to Hermann for destroying one of her books. Books and writing in this film express to us that they have the power to over rule the hatred and differences in Germany at that time.

Hans’s accordion appears several times throughout the film, it is one of the symbols Percival.

The accordion means so much to Hans because it was formally owned by Erik Vandenburg a friend who saved his life, Hans was gifted the accordion after Vandenburg saved his life in a battle they fought together. A great responsibility comes with the accordion Hans feels the responsibility to live considering Erik died, through this he learns to play the instrument to honour Erik Vandenburg. Erik’s son was Max a boy who showed up on the Hubermann’s front step and his first words were “do you still play the accordion?” Instantly the connection between Max and Hans was formed, Erik risked his life to save Hans now Hans must risk his own to save Max. The accordion symbolized that Max has a chance of surviving the Holocaust. The accordion is a symbol of comfort and hope, during the air raids when Liesel reads a strory to the people of Himmel Street, she feels as though she gives the people in the bunker the same comfort that she receives when Hans plays the accordion to her, the feeling of chance, relaxation and distraction. At the end of the film when Heaven Street, Molching is bombed and Liesel lay trapped underneath the wreckage, being the last remaining member of her family. She finds the accordion right next to her she squeezes it alarming the police, resulting in Liesel being saved. This is not only a symbol of great losses but it recognizes that music can provide nourishment during

great times of suffering.

There are many themes in the film one such theme that is present throughout the whole text is Mortality, which is conveyed by Death. Death is not only an event that occurs to several different characters, but he narrates the film. Percivel does this in order to keep the viewers constantly focused on mortality. Death is sense does not kill anyone; he exists to separate the souls from the bodies of the dead.