Death is introduced immediately as the narrator of the book, and he reveals some key information about his personality. One of his most prominent characteristics is how he feels bored and irritated by his job, a feeling we can relate to;
"The trouble is, who could ever replace me? Who could step in while I take a break in your stock-standard resort-style holiday destination...?"
In this quote, Death is shown to be more human than his usual image suggests. He admits that he grows tired of his job and by wishing for a 'resort-style' holiday, he becomes relatable to the reader. We also feel sympathy for him, as he asks 'who could ever replace me?'. The use of the word ever implies that such a replacement is impossible. I think this is important
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By describing the sky as it darkened in colour and the way nothing seems to want to look at the scene, in our heard we think of a dystopian image which also foretells the darker events as the book progresses. Finally, 'they were you' infers that the victims were only humans, who could of been anyone, showing just how inhumane the Holocaust was. This is important both to the character of Death and the story, as it describes a dark reality unknown thus far by Liesel.
The final quote reminds us that Death is completely different from humans, but will always remain here to perform his job. Here, Death offers a cynical, yet truthful, view on the world;
"I can promise you that the world is a factory. The sun stirs it, the humans rule it. And I remain. I carry them away."
The use of a metaphor, 'the world is a factory', evokes an image of a factory busy with people and always moving, overseen by 'the humans [who] rule it' and kept alive by the sun. Death refers to those who rule as 'humans' rather than people which reminds us that he is detached - and different - from humans. Furthermore 'and I remain' is emotionless and blunt, finally and most importantly reminding us that Death is neither friend nor foe but rather, as in his own words, 'a result'. As some of the closing words, I feel these describe Death well, cementing his portrayal in the book as metaphysical rather than having a skeletal form, carrying a