The Book Thief Morality Quotes

An individual's morals are rooted in their personal views which may be contradictory to the principles manifested by society. In The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, characters living on Himmel Street who neglect Nazi ideology experience love for each other and humanity, thereby living a contented life in harsh conditions. The different types of love which individuals on Himmel Street encounter from refusing to obey societal ideologies and expectations is formed by supporting those in need and developing relationships with those that society has degraded.

Characters of Himmel Street which support those who have been marginalized by society encounter love for humanity as they share a form of love with the individual they are comforting. Liesel Meminger is a character on Himmel street that continually comforts others, which is noticeable in the way she treats the character Max Vandenburg who has been abused by societal ideologies. It is evident that Liesel supports Max when she obtains gifts for him, while he is ill and concealing from the Nazis, “Whenever she

walked to and from school now, Liesel was on the lookout for discarded items that might be valuable to a dying man. [...] If nothing else, it showed that she cared” (Zusak 321). The character Liesel learns to love Max by viewing past the false societal judgment of Jews. The comforting of Max which Leisel executes leads to a cheerful life for Max because it produces hope that he will live and be cared for during the persecution of the Jews.
Hans Hubermann is another character of Himmel Street which assists those who are harmed by societal ideologies.

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

comforting.
Furthermore, characters of Himmel Street who refuse to comply with societal ideologies and expectations discover how to adapt to intimate and loving relationships with those that society has agonized. Through developing relationships with individuals society have stamped as threats, characters of Himmel Street overcome hate rooted in society. The character Liesel Meminger constructs a loving friendship with Max Vandenburg. As a result of Liesel not complying with societal expectations and ideologies, she overcomes the prominent issue of discriminating against certain minorities in society. A specific instance which illustrates that by Liesel not conforming to societal expectations, she has developed a caring friendship with Max is when she recognizes and approaches him from a group of Jewish prisoners, “ Liesel searched them and it was not so much a recognition of facial features that gave Max Vandenburg away. [...] Leisel felt herself pausing as she found the only face looking directly into the German spectators. [...] Never had a heart been so definite and big in her adolescent chest ” (Zusak 509). The friendship navigates both Max and Liesel to a contented life because of the love they encounter from constructing their relationship. Max and Liesel share love amongst each other because Liesel once more administers hope for Max, reminding him that he is loved and the pain he is enduring will come to an end.
The foster parents of Liesel Meminger, Hans Hubermann and Rosa Hubermann grow to love their adopted child, despite their differences, which would alternately constrain their relationship when conforming to societal expectations. The central difference between Liesel and her foster parents is that Liesel's biological father is a communist. It is apparent that the family relationship between Liesel and her foster parents has prospered when Hans on various occasion lingers in Liesel's room after her constant nightmares, “ 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). On the occasion that Hans and Rosa complied to societal expectations, the family relationship between Liesel her foster parents would languish because of their differences. Liesel and her foster parents, overcome the belief of segregating minorities from society and learn to love those society has labeled as the ‘undesirables.’ The integration of Liesel in the lives of her foster parents has resulted in a happier life for them as they love her as if she is their own child, seeing past any differences. Only through refusing to accept societal ideologies and expectations can characters living on Himmel Street come together in loving relationships with those that society has persecuted, which consequently leads to the happiness in each individuals life.
Developing a contented life is executed by loving others and humankind, which certain individuals on Himmel Street experience from refusing to adhere to societal expectations and ideologies. Through rejecting societal expectations and ideologies, individuals on Himmel Street grasp the concept that aiding those society has marginalized and assembling relationships that societal expectations go against, results in love. To conclude, love is the greatest force in nature, able to overcome any unethical concepts rooted in society.