Theme Of Isolation In The Book Thief

For most individuals, a failure to connect to someone or something external to themselves, typically results in a feeling of isolation and/or alienation and compromises a sense of well-being. This is expressed within Tim Winton’s mini series Cloudstreet (2011) and Markus Zusak's novel The Book Thief (2005) through various characters. For the mini series Cloudstreet (2011) this expression is shown within the character of Dolly Pickles and Oriel Lamb. This is also shown through the character Max Vandenburg and Liesel Meminger from the text The Book Thief (2005). Each character has a feeling of isolation and alienation for their area of belonging or in certain periods of their lives. However, the way they handle this feeling of confinement differs as each learn to compromise and become accustomed in

adapting this feeling into their well-being through connecting to something or someone other than themselves.

Isolation and alienation has been a constant thing within the lives of Max Vandenburg and Dolly Pickles.

For Dolly her confinements is based on her ability to feel a sense of belonging. This leads to her confusing sexual activities and promiscuity with affection. These feelings of misunderstanding drive a wedge between her family, resulting in more of an isolating feeling. For Max Vandenburg his isolation is caused due to his choice of religion. During the era and area of where Max lived is the reason behind him being alienated, and lose his sense of belonging. The reign of Adolf Hitler during Nazi Germany, discriminated and propaganda against Jews, which is Max’s choice of religion. For Max he escaped his feelings of isolation and alienation through his will to defy Hitler and the society of Nazi Germany. He achieved this by fighting Hitler in the basement of the Hubermanns. “In the basement of 33 Himmel street, Max Vandenburg could feel the fists of an entire nation” (The Book Thief, 2005, pg 112). Liesel Meminger and the Hubermann family also assisted Max is distracting himself from this feeling of isolation. He compromised his life to revolve around theirs and in writing stories for Liesel Max was able to have a distraction from his life as a Jew. These acts

provided purpose to Max’s life giving him meaning and a feeling of worth. However, not all escapes provide these same feelings. For Dolly Pickles her escape was through alcohol and having sexual affairs with other men. This form of escape lead her to feel a form of isolation towards her family, and later those she surrounded herself with. However, moving into Cloudstreet with the Lambs Dolly was influence through their way of living. Adventually Dolly’s connection grew for Cloudstreet and all those living within it. “I can’t bare to think of any of us leaving. We belong to it … and I want to stay” (Cloudstreet, 2011). Resulting on her feelings of confinement to distinguish, along with her hostility towards Oriel Lamb. For Both Dolly and Max these feelings were based on the outcome of other people purposely alienation both individual. Expressions of alienation and isolation can be recognised in different forms.

These forms of isolation and alienation slightly differ through the character of Liesel Meminger within The Book Thief (2005) and Oriel Lamb from the series Cloudstreet (2011). Although, for both characters, at an early age their families either abandoned them through death or safety, their sense of belonging was only lost for a short period, as isolation was not intended on their family's behalf. Both characters were able to overcome these feelings of isolation and alienation through gaining a connection to something or someone external to themselves. For Oriel Lamb her connection drifter towards the belief in God and the idea that working is the only way to survive and overcome her guilt. “Keepin’ yer head over water .. war is our natural state” (Cloudstreet, 2011). However, this connection to God was short lived after the misfortunate occurrence of her son drowning and later living with the Pickle family on Cloudstreet. Her connection change as her sense of belonging influenced her. Liesel Meminger was influenced by those she surrounded herself with, literature and her area of belonging. These connections lead Liesel to feel happiness, however, resulted in her changing her perception on life. Her connection to words drove Liesel away from people whilst also bringing her closer to others. “I have hated the words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right.” (Zusak, 2005, pg 562). These feelings of connection to spiritual beings, literature and those who they surrounded themselves with allowed for these characters to have meaning to their lives and rid of isolation and alienation. “It’s the pointless things that give your life meaning. Friendship, compassion, art, love. All of them pointless. But they’re what keeps life from being meaningless” (Cloudstreet, 2011). Yet, connecting to someone or something external to yourself, does not permanently rid of the isolation and alienating feelings. As a result people are left confused and mistaken these unknown feelings causing them to compromise their well-being and develop new form of isolation and alienation.