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Power Of Words In Max Vandenberg's The Book Thief

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The unbreakable, Max Vandenberg, Max Vandenberg is a Jewish fist-fighter who ends up hiding in the basement of the Hubermann’s residence. Max windups there because Max’s father saved Hans’s life in World War I, as a way of repaying Max’s father Hans takes Max into care, however, this inevitably positions the Hubermann’s life in grave jeopardy. Max also feels ashamed of his burden towards the Hubermann’s, since he knows that his presence means that the Hubermann’s are no longer safe. Besides from their deep hatred for Hitler, Max, and Liesel connect in plenty of ways, they both suffer nightmares about their bygones, as well as imagining themselves literary fighting Germans. They also use Hans Hubermann as a way to relieve themselves from problems …show more content…

As Liesel Meminger manages to cripple the hearts of many and patch them over and over again. It makes them weep for the monsters that human beings can be, but rather delight in how wonderful we are capable of being. With that in mind, the power of words was, in fact, pivotal in the contribution to the survival and endurance of the major characters in the novel. Through the power of words, you can deceive and alter the perception of life and creation on others. In deduction, Mark Zusak effectively uses the power of words to demonstrate how crucial it was to the survival and growth of major characters, he also expresses this through numerous perspectives. Liesel represents the power of words and its ability to deceive and persuade; however, Rudy is affected negatively the most through the power of words, these representations of how words can be powerful are merely exercised through emotional measures rather than through expression of thought, which certainly affects the outcome of the story. The literary devices in the novel have allowed the author to depict an image of how the power of words is displayed. Besides this, the application of this analysis could be more intensive that just this instance, which is why it is critical to understand the power of analyzing the effect that words can have, they can revamp and change views to represent a completely different perspective. The Book Thief is a buoyant novel that educates and guides youth to be more cautious about the effect of words on altering your

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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.

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504 Words | 3 Pages

A Jewish Influence Liesel Meminger, the 10-14-year-old protagonist of The Book Thief, has lived a life so filled with tragedies that every little happy moment in her life is put on a large scale. While each influence comes from different sources, Max Vandenburg and his influences are apparent more so than childhood best friend Rudy Steiner and his comical relief and optimism, or even foster parents Hans and Rosa Hubermann, who both are influential in different, yet significant ways that only a parental figure can demonstrate. Max gives Liesel a firsthand insight on how Jews are treated and help her develop her own opinion; he’s a friend that has experienced as much, if not more tragedy than she;, and finally, the two books he wrote for her, The Standover Man & The Word Shaker further distend her love for reading and books. Therefore, Max Vandenburg is the most influential person in Liesel

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483 Words | 2 Pages

Both these protagonists happen to be political refugees avoiding Nazi persecution: Liesel’s parents were Communists and Max is a Jew. Max and Liesel alike have recurring nightmares about the last time they saw their families and these help Max and Liesel link themselves in areas where no one would understand their pain due to the loss of their family. Unlike most relationships theirs is based on their similar past and personalities as well as unspoken understanding along with the trust for each other. These similarities form a strong bond between Max and Liesel and this makes “The Standover Man”, a book compiled by Max using pages from “Mein Kampf” important, as Max helps Liesel realize that the power of words can be used to delight as well as harm others. “The best standover man I’ve ever known is not a man at all...”, a line within “The Standover Man” implies that Max believes that Liesel and he need each other and this friendship is unique to both of

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749 Words | 3 Pages

Although humans may originally behave due to innate reasons, much of literature argues external forces shape character and possess the power to influence the way societies behave. Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief exhibits how individuals may react in times of discrimination, and demonstrates the love and hate accompanying war. Difficult times challenge morality, and tests one’s limits; Liesel Meminger perseveres through arduous events, namely due to her identity as a creative and brave adolescent. Liesel’s identity is shaped and ultimately strengthened by outside forces.

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888 Words | 4 Pages

Everything Rudy does after that moment, when you know he’s going to die at the age of 14, everything is in the shadow of that.’ (Zusak, 2010). Max Vandenburg is the Jewish man who seeks refuge in the Hubermann’s basement putting their lives in great danger. Max’s father saved Hans’ life in World War II and caring for Max is Hans’ way of repaying Max for what his father did for him. Max and Liesel’s match of personalities and shared qualities enable the two to become such great friends, giving each other’s life purpose and the drive to survive the horrors of the war.

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605 Words | 3 Pages

Moreover, books resemble the gain of privilege, as the ability to read and write provides privileges to some characters. Thus, the act of stealing books by Liesel symbolises the theft of knowledge, which is a crucial element in developing the key theme of how words hold power and privilege.

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703 Words | 3 Pages

The power of language can greatly influence a person. Like in the novel, people today are being misled like the proles due to governments control over information. When sources are

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1208 Words | 5 Pages

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.

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840 Words | 4 Pages

Growing as a Character Every event in our lives happens for a reason, whether it is to learn from our mistakes or to gain experience from them. In Markus Zusak's novel “The Book Thief,” Liesel Meminger uses her experiences with living in the 1940s to learn life lessons and experience first hand the many terrible things Hitler is doing to people around her. She learns how to deal with the many obstacles that are thrown at her. Liesel grows as a character by following her step-father’s footsteps in being a kind and generous person, going through childhood with her best friend Rudy, and being aware of what is going on around her by learning from Max.

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1144 Words | 5 Pages

People Who Helped in Hidden Ways Topic: Germans that helped Jews during World War II Working thesis statement: Helping Jews was very dangerous in Nazi Germany during World War Two because of Hitler’s bigoted nationalism, yet numerous Germans civilians and soldiers assisted a Jew in some way during the time of war. In The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, Liesel’s fictitious family and friends help Jews in the same ways that real life Germans helped Jews to hide and escape during World War II. Rolling Introduction Introduction Paragraph #1 Introduction Paragraph #2 Religious intolerance and persecution of Jewish people was common in Nazi Germany; however, there were some Germans that helped Jews despite the dangers. Some brave German soldiers and

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712 Words | 3 Pages

Max accepts Liesel’s child-like sense of entertainment. While Liesel loyally builds a snowman for Max. When the snowball scene turns out wrong, Liesel loyally tried to nurse him back to safety. Liesel had the courage to accept befriend Max and loyal enough to keep it a secret.

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978 Words | 4 Pages

Having no one familiar to turn to, she finds a passion for words and continues to steal more books and develops strength through her burgeoning intellect of words. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is about the power of words; in this novel Zusak reveals that one who truly knows the hidden strength behind all words, can dominate others because words are more powerful than any weapon. The importance of words is shown through the symbolism of certain words throughout the novel; the motif of hunger, how it leads to her hunger for words; and how different Liesel’s world would be without words. Simple words can have deeper meanings.

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862 Words | 4 Pages

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.

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767 Words | 4 Pages

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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529 Words | 3 Pages

There are many ways words can be used, they can be used in a negative or positive way. For example, a positive way that words were used in The Book Thief is when Liesel reads out loud in the basement during the air raid. She thought of the accordion how it comforted her when Hans

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