From 1933 to 1945, it was a tough time for Jews under Hitler’s reign. It was crawling with Nazi soldiers who were constantly looking for Jews to put away. In the book Thief, written by Markus Zusak, the main character Liesel Meminger becomes sympathetic towards Jews as she helps to care for and shelter Max Vandenburgh, a Jewish refugee. Liese’s character evolves tremendously as her relationships with others grow. The relationships she builds with her foster parents, the mayor’s wife, and the runaway jew help shape her into the person she is at the end of the novel. Liesel’s relationship with her foster mom, Rosa, has a powerful impact on her character’s growth. In the beginning, Liesel’s character is shown as shy, scared, and not bold or outgoing. …show more content…
Liesel's family is poor and can’t afford luxuries such as books; however, this doesn’t stop Liesel from learning to read or finding her love for literature. Growing up poor, Liesel has always had to depend on stealing and being sneaky if she wanted anything other than food. After the Füher’s birthday celebration, Liesel steals a book from the bottom of the fire. “She had gotten away with nothing. The mayor’s wife saw her, all right. She was just waiting for the right moment” (Zusak 132). Death introduces the connection between Ilsa and Liesel, which prepares the reader for further interactions. Later in the novel, Liesel and her best friend Rudy sneak into Ilsa’s house and into her library for Liesel to read. Ilsa knows about the sneaking in but doesn’t do anything about it because she understands Liesel’s circumstances. “My only hope is that one day you will knock on the front door and enter the library in a more civilized manner” (Zusak 369). As Death reads the letter to Liesel from Ilsa, the reader gets to know Ilsa a little better and realizes her desire for a relationship with Liesel. This relationship builds later into the novel and develops Leisel's character for the
In The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, there were countless examples that showed the author using a poetic writing style to describe the story of Liesel Meminger. The remarkable use of Death as the narrator intrigued me as a reader due to the fact that the story was about the holocaust. I loved the frequent use of foreshadowing; the bold type drew attention and would almost act as a spoiler in the story. This made me feel as if I was watching a black and white movie; it was both unsetting and unsentimental
as well as their families. Regardless of the risks, humanity was there in the shadows.In the Book Thief Markus Zusak explores a myriad of themes. He introduces powerful concepts of hatred, helplessness, and humanity. Zusak uses a man named Hans as a symbol of humanity. Which Hans embodies throughout the novel. Hans shows how humanity is not elaborate gestures, but rather actions from the heart. Zusak gives examples of the resilience of humanity in the midst of brutality. With many challenging situations
In “The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak, tragedy plays a central role in shaping the characters and their experiences. Through the lens of a war-torn Germany during World War II, the novel teaches valuable lessons about the human condition. Tragic events, while devastating, reveal the strength of the human spirit and the importance of love, empathy, and memory. As the characters face unimaginable loss, their responses to these tragedies illustrate resilience and hope in even the darkest times. From the
todays societies take for granted. The reading of books was limited; only books approved by Hitler could be read, the rest were set for removal (burning of books). Markus Zusak writes his novel in this time period, allowing for the characters and events to have a lot of correlation to this period in time. In his novel, "The Book Thief", Zusak valorizes an aspect of humanity throughout the novel through depicting the human desire to push the limits of the status quo in one's own society, because of how
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is a very famous historical fiction book in this decade. This 550 paged book has encouraged many teens to know more about the Holocaust, a genocide that took place during World War II. Markus Zusak wrote this book based on information from his parents’ memory, not based on a modern day conflict. His parents’ experience during the war greatly influenced him. Even though many of the characters in this book are fictional, the origins, the towns, the events and the actions
Books are treasures of humanity's valued heritage, but they can also lure people into deluded and deceptive thoughts. Starting from this broad and complex theme, Markus Zusak, the author of The Book Thief, sets a deep tone throughout the work: a tone of bright and indomitable hope intertwined with a myriad of colours of both evil and humanity. Through Zusak’s detailed portrayal of the neighbours' everyday interactions, readers witness Liesel's transformation from an innocent young girl into a protagonist
During the horrid times of World War II, Death has been everywhere. He later explores the world of Molching through Liesel’s eyes and shows fascination and fear of humans. In Markus Zusak’s “The Book Thief” shows a story of a girl named Liesel Meminger lived through her life in Molching under the care of the Hubermanns, Rosa and Hans, after losing her family. Once she learned to read with the help of Hans Hubermann, she began getting or stealing books, and would eventually write her own book, describing
In the novel, The Book Thief, Death is the narrator of the story, and follows around the protagonist, Liesel Meminger, as she lives in Nazi Germany, and how her life changes when a Jewish man named Max Vandenburg shows up at her door, taking refuge in Liesel and her foster parent’s basement. Markus Zusak’s choice as Death influences many themes of the story, where if Liesel or an unnamed narrator wouldn’t have the same influence. One reason Zusak probably chose Death as the narrator is because
help, and heal someone. Depending on who is saying something, and how they say it, it affects people differently. During World War II, Hitler used his power to influence people with fear and hope to do dehumanize the Jews. Throughout The Book Thief, Markus Zusak uses cacophonous diction, imagery, and the third person point of view to relay the power of words which creates a sympathetic and frightened nature, that exposes the hardships that people face during the Holocaust. The power of words can give
“I have hated words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right.”-Book Thief (528). In The Book Thief, a historical fiction novel, the protagonist reveals that words hold the power to spread ideas, and it suggests that the power can be dangerous. Liesel Meminger is a courageous little girl, who was adopted by Hans and Rosa Hubermann. They lived in a small town called Molching, just outside of Munich, Germany. One night, Hans finds The Grave Digger's Handbook smushed under Liesel's mattress
feelings and opinions are what creates a well formed, civilized society. Through emotions that people pertain and the unconditional risks that they take, it is what identifies them to be a part of society. Markus Zusak uses Death’s point of view, symbolism, and characterization in The Book Thief to convey that people’s feelings and beliefs during the Nazi’s era are what ultimately reflects its society which in turn allows them to uphold their beliefs against the totalitarian government. Death is
As Markus Zusak once said through the words of his character, Death, “* * * HERE IS A SMALL FACT * * * You are going to die,” (Zusak 3). While this may seem like a jarring statement to suddenly hear while going about life, in reality, everyone in his or her right mind knows that death will eventually come. Each and every life will reach an end at some point in time or another, and our kindred will be the ones left to deal with the aftermath. There is no eluding death. Even though some may try to
sometimes it’s the force that causes the most strain on the lives of the family members. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is a wonderfully crafted historical drama about Liesel Meminger and her life and experiences in Nazi Germany. While Zusak typically depicts family as being a source of contentment, he also describes familial associations as a force that is far from being solely beneficial. Throughout the story Zusak portrays family as being one of the most pivotal forces on the lives of the characters.
A theme in “The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak is the strength of love and the way it affects others. Zusak presents this theme in the story through personal sacrifice for loved ones. Papa, Liesel's foster father, sacrifices his money/tobacco to buy books for Liesel, his foster daughter. “She came home to find something wrapped in newspaper under the Christmas tree. “From Saint Niklaus,” Papa said. Unfurling the paper she unwrapped two small books.” (Zusak,88) Leisel is ecstatic about her new present
Every person goes through some event that may shape their lives, while it may be very small and uneventful like a simple conversation, or a death among the family, both of these events change how a person develops. In The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, the main character Liesel has to suffer through the horrific events of World War II in Germany during Hitler's reign. In the beginning, Liesel loses her brother and ends up living with two adoptive parents. At first she is very scared and feeling lonely