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Freedom In The Censors And The Book Thief

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Alyssa Kim Mrs. Sooter English 10 HP 28 February, 2023 The Meaning of Freedom Throughout all of history, freedom has been fought for endlessly, yet what is freedom? The definition is vague, yet there is a trend present in both reality and fiction, as authoritarian governments in The Censors and The Book Thief support a certain definition of freedom. The selection of text gives a message that freedom is the ability to do whatever you please, yet it’s only achievable through power and authority, and having true freedom restricts the freedom of the weak. Beginning with one selection, The Censors is a short story that gives a message of freedom, and shows how only the powerful can obtain freedom. The story takes place in 1976 Argentina, when …show more content…

The main character, Liesel, is a young girl who has little grasp on the reality of the world around her, and in a burst of outrage after finding out that Hitler might’ve taken away her mother, she expresses her taste against the Nazi party. The Book Thief states, “... Liesel could feel the slush of anger, stirring hotly in her stomach. “I hate the Fuhrer,” she said, “I hate him.” And Hans Hubermann? What did he do? What did he say? Did he bend down and embrace his foster daughter, as he wanted to? … Not exactly. He clenched his eyes. Then opened them. He slapped Liesel Meminger squarely in the face. “Don’t ever say that!” His voice was quiet, but sharp.” (Zusak 118). During this time, Hitler and the Nazi party had full control over Germany, and those who opposed them would be sent to concentration camps. It was so bad, that Hans Hubermann had to slap his daughter to send the message that she mustn’t ever use that type of language when in reference to the Fuhrer. The Fuhrer also exercises his freedom not only in how people perceive him, but in how he treats others. Another character in the novel named Max, was one of the many Jews who were subjected to the restriction of freedom by Hitler when they were massacred and placed into concentration camps. Fortunately for Liesel and her foster parents, they were not a target of Hitler, so they got to enjoy relatively nicer lives, while those who Hitler wanted to exercise his freedom upon, weren’t as fortunate. This goes to show that Hitler is a prime example of having power, so he can do as he pleases, while anyone who doesn’t have power is limited to his

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Hans is Liesel's foster father, and he is a pacifist who is opposed to the Nazis. He is punished for his beliefs by being sent to fight in the war, and he is forced to participate in the killing of innocent civilians. This experience changes him, and he becomes more aware of the true nature of war and the evils of the Nazi regime. The Book Thief is a powerful novel that explores the theme of a loss of innocence in a wartime setting. Through the characters of Liesel, Rudy, and Hans, the reader is able to see the devastating effects of war and the

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Many a dark and dangerous time in human history has censorship ravaged a country. Often, the censoring is enacted by a power-hungry ruler or group of people in an attempt to squelch a less powerful group. Hitler’s oppression of the Jewish during the Holocaust is an easy example. Americans tend to think they are above such dangerous futures and are therefore arrogantly naïve to the possibility. Ray Bradbury attempts to squash that naiveté in his novel Fahrenheit 451.

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Censorship and The Effect on Society In the movie adaptation of The Book Thief by Brian Percival (2013), many dystopian elements are showcased, but the censoring of books through organized book burnings is the largest, and the most obvious dystopian element visible. For example, in the movie, it is clear that books are the largest dystopian element through the censoring and hiding of books, from the quote “Go on, burn a book. Go on! I’ll be watching” (Youtube).

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She hated him because he took her mother and her friend Max away. The Book Thief how a dominant culture can use censorship to control how others are seen. By censoring books Hitler stopped questions from arising about his beliefs, and controlled how the Jewish were perceived. The censored book The Shoulder Shrug changed how Liesel saw the world around her, broadening and changing her point of view.

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You truly don’t know what you have until it’s gone. Everyday things are taken for granted. In “The Book Thief” It shows incredible examples of how loss transforms you for the better. “The Book Thief” Written by Markus Zusak is a novel based on Nazi-Germany during post World War 2. It Features the scary truth along with harsh humor, The story is told through the eyes of brave, Jewish girl named Liesel.

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Liesel, known as the book thief to the audience has a distinct passion for books and how much they mean to her. Stealing book after the book becomes a hobby for the young girl whose love of books is fostered by her foster father, Hans Hubermann. As Hans teaches Liesel how to read and write they develop an

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Nazi Germany isn’t the ideal place to raise a child, now is it? Liesel Meminger is just trying to survive, like most children are at the time. Money was tight and everything wasn’t the cleanest. When Liesel was brought to the Hubermann

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The Spread of Immoral Ideas Human corruption is not something that is unfamiliar with the world as national leaders, popular figures, and “friendly” neighborhood citizens have abused their power before. The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak is a historical fictional novel that is narrated by Death. The storyline follows the life of a young girl named Liesel Meminger who lives in Germany with her foster family during the era when the Nazis reigned by manipulating the German citizens. Ultimately, The Book Thief uses a combination of language and propaganda through the motifs of Adolf Hitler and his autobiography, Mein Kampf, to express how humans use words to spread immoral ideas.

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In the novel, the government controls every aspect of its citizens' lives, including their thoughts and beliefs, using fear and harassment to gain obedience from its citizens. In modern times, this can be seen in the increasing trend towards censorship of speech and expression seen largely in politics and social media. In his article, The Year in Censorship: 2019 in Review, Gennie Gebhart (2020) highlights instances of censorship, such as when "Facebook suspended dozens of accounts, pages, and groups related to a Brazilian fake news operation in July, citing their use of "coordinated inauthentic behavior" and "misleading others" (Gebhart, para. 6, 2020). This censorship can be a slippery slope that leads to a loss of individual liberties and the ability to express oneself freely, which often leads to a rise in violence, anarchy, and actually influences those under duress to fight back against tyranny.

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During WWII, Nazi Germany was a tumultuous and ideologically corrupted place. The Book Thief, a book by Marcus Zusak, tells the story of a foster child living in a small German town during the events of the Holocaust and the bombings. The book is classified as historical fiction, meaning that the characters and town did not actually exist, but the events, setting and details of the book are seated in historical fact. The portrayal of life in Nazi Germany as depicted in The Book Thief is accurate, specifically regarding the lives of children under Hitler, and the rallies, book burnings, and anti-semitic elitist ideology of the Nazi Party. The book may not be perfectly correct, but if nothing else, it precisely encompasses the general ideas of

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Justin Brunaugh Anita Gregory ENGL-112-NB July 21, 2023 [Title]: [Subtitle] Imagine living in a world where books are not being banned from libraries. A world where media is not being censored all around us, whether online or in-person. Each year, hundreds of books, articles, news reports, and social-media posts are censored by the government and companies across the United States. Last year, there was over one thousand books that were targeted for censorship in the United States.

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He even tried to push her away, but the girl was too strong.’” (511) The time of the Holocaust was hell-like for the Jews. Just because of their religion, they were harassed and and abused by the Germans in inhumane ways. However, Liesel was a girl who stood up for humanity and justice.

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Hans Hubermann, Liesel’s foster father, helped Jewish people in whatever way he could. When a Jewish shop named Kleinmann’s was vandalized, Hans asked the owner if he needed any help cleaning up, and promised to come back the next day and paint his door, which he did (Zusak 181-182). Hans delayed applying to the Nazi party because he didn’t agree with their beliefs, and by helping the owner he was put under more suspicion, however he felt that it was a proper action and didn’t allow danger to stop him. In addition to Hans act of kindness, the Hubermanns took a Jew named Max into their care, and allowed him to stay with them to be safe. In a book overview, Tabitha Hall observes, “Though not Jewish, Liesel and her foster parents struggle as they keep their Jewish friend hidden…” (“Overview: The Book Thief”).

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Also, when Mama was depressed about Papa going to war, Mama would sleep with Papa’s accordion Liesel acknowledged “that there was great beauty in what she was currently witnessing, and she chose not to disturb it” (Zusak, 429). Finally, when Liesel’s papa gave a Jew bread during the parade and what Liesel did during the parade, she gave Jews bread by placing them in the street. How the author characterized Liesel

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Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” Hans Hubermann stood strong through moments of adversity. He stuck to his beliefs and personal opinions under the unrelenting reign of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. In The Book Thief Hans Hubermann displayed his morals, a comforting essence, and trustworthiness under horribly negative conditions. First off, Hans Hubermann kept to his own moral beliefs despite the ever-changing society that surrounded him.

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