The Embodiment Of Resilience
What would you do if you had no control over losing everything you have ever loved? In the novel, The Book Thief, written by Marcus Zusak you will learn of a young girl named Liesel Meminger. The story takes place in WW2 Germany. Liesel is first put into foster care due to her parents communist beliefs and her only brother dies in the process. Hans and Rosa Huberman happily take Liesel in as their daughter. Leisel makes many new friends while staying with the Hubermans, but is faced with many obstacles including losing her biological parents, her two best friends, and her loving foster parents all because of the Nazis and their hatred of the Jews. The one thing that never leaves Liesel is her books. In the Novel, The Book Thief, Marcus Zusak uses the themes of loss, love and resilience to illustrate the life of Liesel Meminger.
Marcus Zusak uses the theme of love to show the relationships Liesel makes and the belongings she cherishes. Liesel Meminger
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Death , the narrator of the novel, says “Imagine smiling after a slap in the face. Then think of doing it twenty-four hours a day.” (Zusak 211). This quote is about the struggle of hiding a Jew in Nazi Germany, yet it relates to the life of Liesel. She is constantly battling loss throughout her life, yet she remains childlike and loving. This can be blamed on her naiveness but it also can be caused by her toughness and character. Liesel's character developed through her difficulties. She may not have her loved ones still in her life but she carries their memories in separate ways. Leisel learns literature, music, gentleness, kindness, and compassion through Hans. She learns discipline and hardwork through Rosa. She learns toughness through Max, and she learns love through Rudy. Liesel used the memories and lessons she learned to attack grief with