Book Thief War Analysis

Isaac Asimov once said “It is not only the living who are killed in war”. The theme of war is prevalent in the novel, as the story revolves around war. Asimov quote suggest that there is more victims involved in war, not just the living, in which case the emotional well-being for Liesel may also constitute as a victim of war. In Zusak's novel, Book Thief, takes place in Germany during World War 2. The novel follows Liesel a child who growing up during wartime Germany. The second world war had a serious impact on many of the characters in the novel. However, the character that is affected the most by the war is the protagonist, Liesel. For instance, at the beginning of the novel, Liesel is torn away from her biological family. Additionally, during the war with the introduction of Max, a Jew, lastly the war devastated Liesel's new home at Himmel Street. The war has a drastic impact on Liesel's life as she continues to develop

This event occurs towards the end of the story and simultaneously at the end of the war. Throughout the novel, several air raid drills were conducted during the war. In some cases, people are forced in bomb shelters. This particular air strike was different as there were no air raid siren or warning of the imminent bombings. As a result, all of the Himmel Street's residents perish, except for Liesel who was at the basement at the time. As Death recounts “Rudy Steiner slept. Mama and Papa slept. Frau Holtzapfel, … All sleeping. All dying” (498). In which case, Death also describes the aftermath of the bombings. This scene vividly depicts Liesel's grief as she was the lone survivor of the air raid. For this reason, air raids which is associated with war time conflict manages to turn Liesel's life upside down from joyful bliss to a devastating misery. Therefore emphasizing that due to the war reaching Munich, it ended up traumatizing Liesel once