The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak, is a story set in Nazi Germany, the protagonist, Liesel Meminger, gets taken to a because her mom cannot manage to take care of her. The central theme, the power of words, is demonstrated throughout the story by Lisel’s love for books, and ability to use words to relieve and connect with others. It also shows how words can be used to manipulate and control people. “When she came to write her story, she would wonder when the books and the words started to mean not just something, but everything.” (Zusak, page 30).
The Hubermanns are also hiding a Jewish man, Max, from Hitler and his devious Nazi regime. Hitler wants to kill off all the Jews, and create one supreme Aryan race. Throughout the course of the book, all of these characters have something to do with who lives or who dies, depending on the words they use. The power of words is so strong that they can save or destroy someone or something physically or emotionally. Max is saved by a collection of words by the book Mein Kampf when he is riding the train to the Hubermanns to try to get to safety from the wrath of the Naxi regime.
The Book Thief written by Markus Zusak exemplifies many themes, one of which being thievery. Our two main thieves including Liesel Meminger and Rudy Steiner, are under harsh circumstances at home. These two children take food and books throughout the course of the novel and the reasons they steal vary. The thing about thievery is that it can never simply be justified; there are elements to consider such as the circumstances of the thief, and specifically what is being stolen. While at first glance stealing is wrong—depending on the context—stealing can be justified.
In Markus Zusak's The Book Theif, Death observes both the beauty and ugly in people, and wonders "how the same thing can be both". In the historical novel, ugliness and beauty affect the characters and the other humans in their lives. Much of this beauty and ugly can come from the same thing. Whilst the love and compassion of characters such as Rudy and Hans is shown on many occasions, there is also a lot of dangerous and awful circumstances that they are faced with, and also that they bring upon those people that are close to them. Although Death is the one that notices the good and bad in people, this situation also applies to
In the novel “The Book Thief” By Markus Zusak, almost all of the character have been affected by the power of words at some time or another in their stories. When the book first starts the main character is very uneducated and unaware of what is happening in the world around her but as the book progresses she slowly becomes better educated and learns how to uses her words so that they make an impact on those around her. In the book one of the most important themes is the power of words. The power of words have impacted the Jewish citizens, helped Ilsa Hermann out of her depression and made it so Max’s believes he is not deserving of help. The first way that the power of words is shown in the novel is when Max's is daydreaming about fighting Hitler.
In The Book Thief, words are used to influence, manipulate, and be used positively in a favor or negatively in a favor. Nazi Germany is a place where the immense power of words was used to help and destroy. The words are used to create comfort and sanity throughout the book, but words have also torn people apart. Focusing on this theme, the power of words as it is seen, that words have great power, but it is the way they are used that determines the way the word defines me.
To love is to risk. Whether that is risking life, belief, health, or reputation, it is still a risk at any rate to give devotion to another. No era in history knows this better than during the Holocaust. Still, the most unexpected of people would die trying to help Jews escape persecution, they would help others who didn't share the same moral foundation as they did, they would share food rations when they barely had enough for themselves, or they would risk their public standing and forever be labeled as a sympathizer just to help a suffering soul regain his balance. Similarly, Markus Zusak's The Book Thief demonstrates a complete comprehension of how humans act against self preservation and individual comfort when challenged with harrowing situations that appeal to their own personal connections.
“The words were on their way, and when they arrived she would hold them in her hand like clouds and she would wring them out like the rain” - Markus Zusak (the book thief) Words are powerful. They bring hope, give courage, show enlightenment, however, if used in the wrong way, these same words can also bring pain and cause grief. I formed a relationship with words when I was eight. My mother gave me my first novel: the naughtiest girl helps a friend.
Based on the circumstances that they are developed in, humans are capable of both good and evil. Markus Zusak's The Book Thief explores the complexities of human nature through his use of setting, symbols and characters. Different characters possess different qualities based on their experiences. Symbols are used to illustrate both the beauty and the ugliness in humanity. Also, in the novel, the setting in which the character is raised has either a negative or positive effect on the characters actions.
Max not only is in danger himself, but puts Liesel's whole family at risk. “Now I think we are friends, this girl and me. On her birthday it was she who gave a gift to me,”(Zusak Ch 12). Liesel gave Max the gift of friendship, and that meant a lot to Max. Liesel hugs Max as an act of pity, but Max sees it more than that.
In “The Book Thief” Liesel cares for Max, although it is wrong. War changes people and creates skills. What most believe is true might just be a lie. “They say truth is the first casualty of war, but who defines what is true? The duty of every soldier is to protect the innocent and sometimes that means to tell a lie, to show that war isn't just natural selection on a grand scale.
In the novel, Liesel’s behavior shows justice and love through her friendship with Max. Although her relationship with Max in the beginning of the book was rather awkward, soon her perspective towards Max soothes and their relationship bonds to a friendship. There are some times when Liesel’s actions were unbelievable, especially during the Jew parade. “ ‘ You have to let go of me Liesel.’
Courageously, Liesel went ahead and befriended Max. Liesel made Max feel wanted and his whole attitude changed. Instead of feeling like an unwanted Jew that represented everything wrong with Germany, Liesel made Max feel like a human. In other words, Liesel took Max how he already was and left him better than he was previous to their relationship. Liesel courageously developed loyalty toward Max in a time when she could have seen him as an enemy.
Humans lie and steal without hesitation to survive. That is how man is. However, human nature does not allow for cruelty to exist without the other end of the spectrum - kindness. In his novel, The Book Thief, Markus Zusak reveals the extreme malice possible in humans, along with the tenderness that stems from it. In times of hate and paranoia in Nazi Germany, ones who live morally are rare.
One by one they climbed into the ring and beat him down. They made him bleed. They let him suffer." (Zusak 254). Max is struggling to understand that he's a Jew, doesn't understand why people hate him and why people follow Hitler.
