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How Is Liesel Portrayed In The Book Thief

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In The Book Thief by Markus Zusak there are many book thieves portrayed throughout the novel. Some steal books for malicious intent while others steal for self-improvement. The thief that is focused on most is Liesel Meminger. She steals books to educate herself and escape from her own hectic world into another. The titles of the books she steals help to show situations she has encountered and situations she is trying to avoid. The title of the novel represents thieves such as Liesel, Adolf Hitler, and Death and why they stole books. Liesel stole The Gravedigger’s Handbook, The Shoulder Shrug, The Dream Carrier, and many other books. Liesel stole her first book from the gravedigger that buried her brother, Werner Meminger. The handbook starts out as something to remember her brother but then becomes something to learn from when her foster parent, Hans Hubermann, teaches Liesel how to read. She begins both reading and stealing to educate herself and to become a more independent person. With her newfound knowledge, …show more content…

The first book she stole is titled The Gravedigger’s Handbook. It represents the death of Liesel’s brother and the exorbitant numbers of deaths from World War II. It also represents the start of Liesel learning to read. The second book she stole is The Shoulder Shrug. This book has a Jewish protagonist and represents the destruction of information through book burnings like the one Liesel got this book from. The title shows the doubts that the Jews have of their survival during World War II. Liesel stole The Dream Carrier, The Last Human Stranger, and other books from Ilsa Hermann’s library. The title of The Dream Carrier reflects on the dream Liesel has had every night of her deceased brother Werner for years. The Last Human Stranger Reflects on how Liesel feels lonely and alienated from the majority of

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