Childhood In The Book Thief

For most people, childhood is a time that should be celebrated because of the bliss and innocence one experiences then. For others, it is the complete opposite. Childhood for those few can be described as being full of uncertainty and fear. In The Book Thief, Markus Zusak portrays Liesel’s childhood and adolescence as a time of tribulation and terror after being separated from her family, having to conform to a society she did not agree with, and living surrounded by war and violence. At only nine years of age, Liesel was separated from her biological family. Her family always lived in constant hunger due to poverty. Liesel’s mother had to sustain the family on her own now that her husband was taken away for being a communist. In an effort to make life better for her children, Mrs. Meminger decided to put her two children up

Nazi Germany was full of hatred and German-supremacy. Anyone who had a different opinion was wrong and should be treated as inferior. She attributed this German idea to the suffering of her family and herself. Her parents were called communists and for that reason were persecuted by the government. Liesel confessed to Hans that she hated Hitler, leading to a harsh slap in her face, literally and metaphorically, from Hans. This scene was heartbreaking for both Liesel and her father, as shown by the quote “Liesel stood up and also raised her arm. With absolute misery, she repeated it. ‘Heil Hitler.’ It was quite a sight - and eleven-year-old girl, trying not to cry on the church steps, saluting the Führer as the voices over Papa’s shoulder chopped and beat at the dark shape in the background” (Zusak 116, 117). Hans took it upon himself to explain to Liesel that she had to agree with and even glorify Hitler. Deep down, it hurt them both but especially Liesel. She even had to ask Hans if they were still friends after this