The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak Essay

Death states that, “I’m always finding humans at their best and worst. I see their ugly and their beauty, and I wonder how the same thing can be both” (Zusak 491). This book shows us human doing things that weren’t even imaginable before this point. Many people give into ideas that were lies. But, we also watch a few people go out of their way and sacrifice everything for a man they barely even know. They do everything they can to keep him safe and alive. They work harder, the get another job, and they even steal. In Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief, death examines the ugliness and the beauty of humans.

Through all of the irony and vivid coloring, The Book Thief is more easily understood after acquiring knowledge of reading literature with greater care and meticulousness. Applying chapters of How to Read Literature like a Professor can better enhance a reader’s awareness of hidden messages and symbols within certain works of literature. In Chapter Two, Foster explains how meals suggest a communion between all parties involved in it. Markus Zusak also uses meals and food to bring families together in The Book Thief. Foster also explains, in Chapter Eleven, how violence in literature usually stands for more than just violence.

Death is a very well-known figure that is feared by many in all countries. He is suspected of being cruel, disturbing and all synonyms of horrifying. Death is inevitable and that is the most fearing aspect of his persona. In Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief, Death is made to seem or resemble humans. Effectively using the narration role, Death introduces a unique description and definition of colors in which he uses as a tool to effectively engage the readers to the events occurring throughout the book. He also demonstrates him personal and different experiences as well, mostly about soul gathering and the implications of WWII that have affected him. On the contrary to Death’s dead, appalling and scary nature that many interpret him to be

Mahatma Gandhi once said “An unjust law is itself a species of violence. Arrest for its breach is more so. Now the law of nonviolence says that violence should be resisted not by counter-violence but by nonviolence. This I do by breaking the law and by peacefully submitting to arrest and imprisonment.” Markus Zusak’s novel, The Book Thief clearly demonstrates the positive outcome from acts of resistance through exchanges between characters. For instance, Hans displays resistance through his acts of kindness. In addition, Max’s courageous actions portray defiance. Lastly, Liesel uses the power of books and words to defy the Fascistic beliefs. Through exchanges between characters, acts of resistance against the Nazi regime are performed.

Historically, people have used literacy to obtain political power. In the novel The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, it is evident that books, reading, and words themselves represent power for different characters in different ways. Close analysis of Liesel Meminger and Max Vandenburg reveals that power can be achieved through literacy in a context where literacy is severely limited.

explores her love of books and her thrive to steal she is acquainted with a Jew, who comes to

2. It is ironic that Liesel steals books because the first time she steals the book she is not even able to read yet. The first time she stole a book was at her brothers funeral to keep as a memory of him and also her mother. Liesel was upset and "she started to dig" for The Gravediggers Handbook (Zusak 23).This seemed ironic also, because she dug for a book in the snow at her brothers burial. Hitler used words as a powerful tool to change the way a whole country viewed Jews. Words turn into something to use as hate from the Nazis and Hitler toward the Jews. Germans are scared of words that show how Jews really are .They have bonfires and they throw the books in the bonfire and burn them, along with the truth about Jews. Even though Germans in general have a hatred towards books, Liesel is saved by words. Max, who is a Jew is also saved by words. Max

“When Liesel arrived in Molching, she had at least some inkling that she was being saved, but that was not a comfort” (Zusak 23). Liesel Meminger from The Book Thief was a very dynamic character throughout her story. She showed how strong she could be, but she was still haunted by her past. Although many misfortunes came to her, she tried not to let them get to her and stayed strong-minded. She was not afraid to put herself in danger to protect the ones she loved. At the beginning of the story, she would not even go into the Hubermann’s in fear of what would happen. However, she realized by the end of the story that they were her true family. She was an angry girl who despised her new family, but that all changed. Liesel Meminger from The Book

The main character in the book thief was Liesel. Liesel was presented by the death of her father because of his Communist sympathies. On the way to her foster home, on the train, he brother dies unexpectedly, this effect Liesel. She picks up a book off the ground that fell out one of the gravedigger’s jacket and keeps it hence the name “the book thief”. After the death of her brother Liesel is vulnerable, she opens up when she arrives at the Hubermanns her foster home because she can trust them the same with Hans, Rudy, and Max.

In the book The Book Thief by Markus Zusak the theme words are more powerful than actions becomes clear through plot, character, and setting. This book takes place in Germany when Hitler was in rule. During this time we meet a Jew, Max, who is running for his life. Max is more afraid of what Hitler will say than do. He comes to the Hubermann household for protection where he meets Rosa, Hans, and of course Liesel. Rosa and Hans Hubermann how haven’t joined the Notizie party, but Hans has sent out an application to join. Hans was in World War 1 and his life was saved by Max’s father. Max’s father had an accordion and he died in this war. Han’s took the accordion back to Max’s mother when she told him he could keep it. Hans told Max’s mother that if she was ever in

Alphonse Elric from Full Metal Alchemist says, "humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost." In the novel, The Book Thief, Markus Zusak portrays the multiple transactions humanity experiences but in return, they put their self at risk for defying others of higher power through some of those transactions. For example, the older character's transactions with people of lower stature, the young adults' dangerous interactions and the children's exchanges with the enemies all defy the Nazi party. Therefore, through their transactions, the characters of all ages show forms for resistance towards the Nazi regime.

Political Project- The book I am reading is The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak. The political person who has a large influence on the events of the story is Adolf Hitler. Hitler was born April 20th, 1889, in Braunau Am Inn, Austria, as the fourth child of six children. By the age of 18 Hitler had become an orphan with his mother dying of breast cancer and his father of what is most likely pleural hemorrhage.

Throughout the novel The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak, Rudy Steiner has shown his heroic capability by continuously putting other’s needs before his own. His interminable behavior towards the less fortunate, Liesel, and many different characters demonstrates his boldness and bravery to help others, just as a hero would do. From the beginning of the book, you can infer that Rudy is an altruistic character from his actions of defending Liesel in front of her classmates (page 51), to feeding the undesirable Jews on the streets of Molching (page 440). Therefore, under all of these circumstances, Rudy seems undaunted by the consequences that he may have brought upon himself. Now, with World War Two under way, the young boy feels the need to protect his family, friends, and the new girl on Himmel Street, Liesel.

“Here is a small fact: You are going to die”(Zusak 3). The Book Thief, a historical fiction book by Markus Zusak, is narrated by Death. The novel takes place during the 1930’s and 40’s in Nazi Germany and follows 9 year old Liesel Meminger, who death refers to as “The Book Thief.” After her father, mother, and then brother are killed, Liesel becomes an orphan and is taken in by Hans and Rosa Hubermann in Molching. Throughout the book, she meets many people including the Mayor’s wife, Isla Hermann, and Max Vandenburg, a Jew who is hiding from the Nazi’s in the Hubermann’s basement. Although Liesel’s life is filled with death and loss, she ends up surviving an air raid on her street and after the war, she is reunited with Max who survived

The main reason the author of the article wrote this was to show how Markus Zusak (the author of the Book Thief) was inspired from a young age to write about difficult times during Germany’s regime. The article states, “ My mom is German my father is Austrian. I grew up hearing those stories. One of my mum’s stories was about something that happened when she was six. She heard a noise that sounded like cattle being herded down the street.