Loss, Perspective, And Change In The Book Thief By Markus Zusak

The story of The Book Thief demonstrates how differently children can develop depending on their childhood and events in their youth. The characters demonstrate many examples of how events impact children’s growth and how traumatic experiences and events, as well as outside influences, can change the course of a person’s life, especially at a young age. The Book Thief is a novel written by Markus Zusak. It explores themes of loss, perspective, and change through the eyes of death as the narrator provides meaningful insight into what it means to be human as the story follows a young German girl during WWII whose family harbours a Jewish man. The adult world and the perspective of adults destroy the innocence and joy of children due to the hurt

Soon after, tragedy strikes as she loses everyone in her life. The ignorance that envelops Liesel and hides her from the painful truth of her future also clouds her view of how much her new parents care for her. Death comments on the fate of Liesel’s life and her circumstances by acknowledging “If only she could be so oblivious again, to feel such love without knowing it” (358). This statement by death supports the idea that to be safe and comfortable is to be oblivious. As Liesel is revealed to the truth of her future, she is struck with a horrible tragedy. It is only when Liesel cannot reciprocate the love of her family that she learns how much and how deeply they care for her. Children are inherently unaware of certain aspects of the world, therefore the impact that breaking this mask of safety and ignorance has on children is far greater and more severe. To continue, after the bombing of Molching Liesel is trapped in the basement of her house, the only survivor of the attack. When the Air Raid Special Unit team comes to assess the damage, they find her trapped and are shocked to see

Due to this natural moldability, children are very susceptible to influence, especially by authority. When Rudy and Liesel meet their group of friends to steal food for themselves, they discover that a new member has been appointed as the leader of their group. This new leader, Viktor Chemmel, is spoken of in a way that suggests he is greedy, hateful, and immoral because of the pleasure he takes in stealing. Viktor states that ‘“Wanting more is our fundamental right as Germans. What does our Führer say?” He [answers] his own rhetoric. “We must take what is rightfully ours!”’ (273). Viktor’s statement shows how the words of someone in a position of power can influence individuals’ perspectives, especially those easily persuaded, such as children. In this case, Viktor believes that the German people are more worthy, or higher than others, and this idea is supported and validated by Hitler. The greed and superiority that Viktor feels may not come directly from the influence of Hitler, however, the support that Hitler gives sets Viktor on a path to believe this is right. Additionally, during a march used to display prisoners and Jewish people from the work camp Dachau, they pass through Molching. As the group of convicts and soldiers overseeing the march pass through, another result of Hitler’s influence is seen. Death states that the soldiers who are commanding the prisoners to continue marching,