Themes In The Book Thief

“I saw the book thief three times” (Zusak 5). This quote shows the theme death is inevitable which overtakes Liesel’s life, the main character in Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief, because the narrator of the story is Death. He basically says that Liesel will be around the death of three different people and this is how Death finds her story. Liesel's story begins in a tragic way. On the way to her new home, Liesel shockingly loses her brother. She is now forced to cope with death. Given Liesel's series of unfortunate events, she has to learn how to cope with now learning that death is inevitable. The Book Thief is a 550 page novel that later became a major motion picture which takes place in Molching, Germany during World War II when the Nazi’s

were in power. The Book Thief is Liesel’s story and her journey on Himmel Street.

She meets new people and forms bonds with them. As Liesel grows up, she discovers her greatest loves: books and words. The book and the movie both express the importance of death; however, the book and the movie have similar and different ways of conveying the message. Throughout the book, the themes Zusak conveys include death is inevitable. In both the movie and the book, the theme “death is inevitable” is shown similarly and differently through the setting, events, characters and symbols.

In both the movie and the book, the theme “death is inevitable” is shown similarly and differently through the setting. The setting is shown through the war time in Germany and presence of Dachau. To begin, war time is portrayed in the novel when the people of Germany ration their food so that everyone gets food and it doesn’t become scarce during the war. Death says, “It was brought about by one opportunity, and it was driven by one inescapable force-Rudy’s hunger” (Zusak 149). The quote shows that during war time, the sacrifice of the common people,not fighting, are helping the war effort by giving up some of their luxury food items. The people who are rationing are

getting less food, so they are going hungry. Some big families would starve and eventually die from hunger. In addition, wartime brings soldiers to fight another country, and when war happens, death inevitably will be present. Wartime is not a great time, often the cities look dirty and it brings poverty among its people. For an example of wartime: Death says, “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” (Zuzak 394). This quote is showing death is inevitable during wartime and at Dachau. Wartime is shown in the quote because the elderly man is grateful for the bread while he and everyone around him are dying of starvation. The elderly Jew was dying of starvation as he was marching to Dachau, the closest death camp to Molching. During World War II, Hitler was trying to eliminate the Jews which were a religious group. This scene in the movie is portrayed differently from the book. In the movie Hans tries to help a man being accused of being a Jew whereas the book he gives bread to a Jewish man, even though they are portrayed differently the event has the same outcome. The author of the book demonstrates the message by continuously proving that rationing leads to starvation through Rudy. The author also writes about the numerous times the Jews were being marched through the town, unlike in the movie they only show one Jew march. In the movie, the director still portrays the theme of death is inevitable, but portrays wartime in the town. The movie shows the town being dirty and dark and the characters clothes being filthy. Death is also present in war due to soldiers dying while fighting for their country, the common people of Germany dying of starvation and disease and the Jews dying as martyrs for their religion while Hitler is trying to eliminate them.

In both the movie and book, the theme of “death is inevitable” is shown similarly and differently through the events. By the many different events including: when Rudy jumped in river and Liesel thought he died, the death of Ilsa’s son and the Himmel Street bombing. To start, the theme that death is inevitable is proven when Rudy jumps in the river to get Liesel’s book. In the book, Rudy jumps in to save Liesel's book thrown in by Viktor Kemmel, the new leader of fruit steelers, and in the movie, Rudy throws the notebook in the river so Franz Deutscher doesn’t see. Even though the movie scene is different from the book, Rudy still jumps in the River to retrieve it. Death says, “Soon, he peeled off his coat and jumped in, wading to the middle of the river” (Zusak 302). The quote happens when Rudy jumps in the river to get the book and he doesn’t resurface for a while making Leisel scared. She is scared Rudy would die from hypothermia. The fear of death overcame her because she had learned from experience that death is inevitable. Another way to convey the message that death is inevitable is through the death of Ilsa Hermann’s son. Ilsa, the wife of the mayor, shows Leisel her library of books. Leisel later picks up a book, opens it and it says Ilsa’s son’s name in it. Liesel discovers that he had died long ago reminding her about death. Death writes about Ilsa saying, “He froze to death, I’m sure of it.”(Zusak 146). The quote shows Ilsa was disturbed from the reminder of death. She knew that death was inevitable but she didn't expect it to come that fast. The movie and the novel portray this event in the same way, Leisel seeing the book and showing it to Ilsa and Ilsa explains the effects death has on her. The final way the theme of death is inevitable is shown is in the Himmel Street bombing. In the book Death says, “Oh, there were warnings, all right. In Molching, they came with bombs” (Zuzak 530). The quote shows that the bombs bring death. The bombing kills everyone but Leisel, proving death is inevitable. The novel and the movie covey the message that death is inevitable by showing the impact of all the deaths to Leisel. She sees all the people she loves and cares about dead. Therefore this reminds her of the painful knowledge that death is inevitable.

In both the movie and the book, the theme “death is inevitable” is shown similarly and differently through the characters.This is shown through Liesel's brother's death, Rudy's death and her parents death. To begin, Death says, “The dynamic train guard duo made their way back to the mother, the girl, and the small male corpse. Perhaps ten meters to my left, the pale, empty-stomached girl was standing, frozen-stricken. Her mouth jittered. Her cold arms were folded. Tears were frozen to the book thief's face.” (Zusak 8). This quote shows that Liesel is learning a very important lesson, death is inevitable. She never expected her brother to die this soon though. She is so shocked with her first experience with death she doesn’t know what to do. She is upset and cries over the loss of her brother. The novel and movie portray the message in the same way even though in the movie her brother dies of sickness on the train. The next way that death is inevitable is proven through a character is by the death of Rudy. Death writes, “The boy slept. His candlelit hair ignited the bed, and I picked both him and Bettina up with their souls still in the blanket” (Zusak 531). The quote shows death collecting the soul of Rudy and his sister. Death collecting souls is way of proving that death is inevitable; it has to be done sometime. Liesel is greatly affected by the loss of her best friend, Rudy. After Liesel is pulled from the rubble, she sees Rudy and starts shaking him to wake up and he doesn’t so all she can think to do is to give him what he always wanted, a kiss. She loves him and she wishes she would have told him that and so she kissed him after his death. Meaning that his death has an impact on Leisel. In the movie, Rudy’s death is portrayed a little differently. Once Liesel escapes the rubble she finds Rudy and he is still alive. He tells Liesel, “I love…” (Percival). Then Rudy dies and she kisses him. So the same effect of him dying is in the movie and novel but each started differently. The final way death is inevitable is proven through the characters Liesel's parents when they die. Death writes, “Liesel did not run or walk or move at all. Her eyes had scoured the humans and stopped hazily when she noticed the tall man and short, wardrobe woman. That’s my mama. That’s my papa.” (Zusak 536). This quote represents death is inevitable because Liesel has been through so much that seeing more dead people leaves her emotionless. Liesel keeps losing all the people she loves and cares about. The movie and the book portray this scene both with Leisel hugging her dead parents.

In both the movie and the book, the theme “death is inevitable” is shown similarly and differently through the symbols.

The symbols are shown through death being the narrator and death seeing in colors. Death writes, “I could introduce myself properly, but it’s not really necessary. You will know me well enough and soon enough, depending on a diverse range of variables” (Zusak 4). The quote introduces death as the narrator proving that death is inevitable because he’s telling the story. The message of death being the narrator is conveyed the same way in the novel and movie by death narrating the story. Another way the theme that death is inevitable is proven in death is in colors. For example, death writes, “I do, however, try to enjoy every color I see - the whole spectrum. It takes the edge off the stress. It helps me relax” (Zusak 4). The quote explains why death likes seeing in colors. Death sees in colors because death knows he is inevitable. Knowing this, death doesn’t like his job so he distracts himself. He distracts himself by seeing what color it is when he takes a soul. This message of death seeing in colors is only portrayed in the novel and not in the movie at all.

In conclusion, in both the movie and the book, the theme “death is inevitable” is shown similarly and differently through the setting, events, characters and symbols. Death is shown through many different aspects of Liesel's life. The people she loves and cares about are dying around her but Leisel doesn’t

let that stop her. She continues with her life even though she was greatly affected by death. Death is everywhere and sees all humans at one point. Overall death is inevitable; it’s a process of life. Death is always present and death in the end said, “I am haunted by humans” (Zusak 550).