Character Analysis Of Liesel In The Book Thief

Richard Puz once said, “Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.” Throughout The Book Thief, this idea is portrayed through the life of Liesel, a young German girl living during the reign of Hitler. The many deaths of her loved ones began to construe her character as strong and fearless at a young age. In the novel, Liesel loses her biological family, her Jewish friend Max, and the people of Himmel Street. All the loss has left Liesel distraught and their lasting memories help her develop into a well-rounded character. Liesel’s loss of her biological family was an aid in developing the person she would become. From when her father disappears to her mother abandoning her shortly after watching her own brother’s life be taken by death. Anyone who experiences this would forever be changed as a person and their outlook on life would be altered. Consequently, Liesel learns at a very young age how important life is. Although all the loss for someone her age or any age was troubling, there was one positive aspect. As a result, it created Liesel’s hatred for Hitler as it says in the novel “The word communist + a large bonfire + a collection of dead letters + the suffering of her mother + the death of her brother = the Führer (Zusak 115).”

If it were not for her nightmares she too would have passed. However, she could not sleep so instead read and wrote while in the basement. This is when you see Liesel at her worst point, for she has truly lost everyone. It is in this part where death acknowledges all the loss Liesel has faced, but still continues to live her life to the fullest. Death sums it up best when he says “i wanted to tell the book thief many things, about beauty and brutality. But what could i tell her about those things she didn’t already know? (Zusak 550).” From this point on Liesel must live her life full of