Who Is More Powerful Than Words In The Book Thief

"Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless." -Mother Teresa. In other words, words can be short, but their meanings are much more powerful than what they appear to be. The power of words is compacted into those tiny little fragments and the effect that words have on people commonly goes unnoticed. And what better person to explain the power of words than one of the most influential people in the world, Mother Teresa. Words have so much more power than just being ways of exchanging information, but words also are ways to share feelings and most importantly, build relationships. Although many believe actions are more powerful than words, In The Book Thief, Zusak shows through character relationships that words,

Max and Liesel’s relationship is one of the most powerful ones in the story. Max develops a very strong relationship with Liesel through reading and bonding with her. Reading to each other comforts both characters and in the end, both characters are left with a relationship that lasts them their whole lives. One of the ways Liesel develops a relationship with Max is by bringing him crosswords. These crosswords give Max something to do, but also shows Max that Liesel is caring for Max. One afternoon when Liesel brings Max another crossword, Death describes, “[Liesel] would read while Max completed those crosswords. Often, she also left her books for Max to read while she was at school. Where Hans Hubermann and Erik Vandenburg were ultimately united by music, Max and Liesel were held together by the quiet gathering of words.” (248). During the time when Hans and Erik fought with one another, Erik was the one that saved Hans. Liesel bringing Max crosswords saves him. After years of hiding and being isolated from society, Liesel shows Max that she truly does care about him. Just by reading with Max and leaving him books, she shows him that she cares and that she very much values their