Themes In The Book Thief

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Recommended: The book thief analysis

Markus Zusak's the book thief is a tragic story not only because of the ending chapters, plot, and characters but because of the constant morality struggle between the characters in the novel. Because of the time period of which this novel took place these morals are easyily identifiable in each character. The main theme that Zusak is trying to portray is that you dont have to become corrupt in a difficult time. Each character in the novel have their own moral values that guide their life through a time where there was so much to hate. These moral values can be seen easily through Liesel Meminger, Rudy Steiner, Hans Hubermann.

Liesel meminger believes everybody is equal. As one of her moral values she doesn't understand why individuals, especially
When Tommy Muellers studder made him a target for bullyies rudy stood up for him because he believed that pointing out others flaws in a negative way was wrong. We also see that he knows stealing is wrong. When rudy stole a potato from the grocery store he only took one because he thought that taking more would be wrong. Also when liesel decided to steal from the boy on the bike a second time rudy stops her because he knows it's wrong to steal a second time from him because it is easy.

Hans hubermann is a kind man with excellent life moral values, Hans even risks his own family's safety to maintain his moral beliefs by hiding a jew in his family's basement. He had disagreed with hitler from the biggining when he started his subjugation of jews. He believes that max has the right to his own life and therefore aggress to hide him in there basement. Hans risks his own family's safety to maintain his moral beliefs. Hans never showed any support for hitler, and bought an old and used copy of Mein Kampf when he was forced to buy it and never read the book.

In conclusion the main theme of the novel is morality Zusak is trying to tell the reader that it is possible to stay decent in an indecent time and that every human has the power to have positive life morals. This theme is explored through liesel as she refuses to judge people, rudy, who knows wrong from right, and Hans Hubermann who proves his morals when he hides a jew, Max,

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