Symbolism In The Book Thief

When writing a book authors like to use colors and symbols to describe and help make the story. In most books color is used a lot in the story to describe things from the sky to people's clothes. The Book Thief use color theory very often. Color Theory says that people will judge a character on the environment and what colors are in the environment(“Color Theory“). We are told the color of the sky when the main narrator Death is doing his job. He does not like his job so he uses colors to distract him from taking people's souls. Death says that he looks at the sky when he is doing his job, "I do try to enjoy every color I see - the whole spectrum. A billion or so flavors, none of them quite the same, and a sky to slowly suck on. It takes the edge off the stress," (Zusak 4). The color of the sky when someone dies had a lot of meaning behind the color. In the Book Thief, the colors are red, blue, black show up in the book the most.

In Markus Zusak's novel The Book Thief, the principle character, Liesel Meminger, tries to make due through World War 2 while attempting to figure out how to peruse and compose. All through the book the writer needs the peruser to see that words are a thought or story, as well as an energy to control a man's psyche or activity, and this spared Liesel at last.

One of the main characteristics of war is its ability to take away individuals’ feelings of strength. Such individuals will become unable to feel a sense of identity unless they find some source of power, no matter its form may be. The main characters in The Book Thief and Between Shades of Gray use art and literature as a means for empowering themselves within the conflict-ridden setting around them: World War II. The “testimony [of these characters is produced] to create an absolute record, to speak in a world where [their] voices have been extinguished” (Sepetys 338). Liesel, the main character in The Book Thief, and Lina, from Between Shades of Gray, create testimony of their endurances by leaving behind writing and drawings that tell their story to future generations after being forced into silence during their own lifetime.

After reading and scrutinizing The Book Thief, one can see that bread, the accordion, and books, the three main symbols used in the novel, are indispensable to the merriment of the book. To add information, these three symbols all represent different things, actions, and people, but can all be compared and contrasted. Three different ways that these emblems can be compared and contrasted is by looking at what they represent, why they represent it, and the reasoning behind why the author used that specific symbol.

In the book thief books were used to represent friendships, comfort, and opposition. Books were used as symbols by a friendship with the mayor's Wife. Liesel would go to the Mayor's Library and steel books. Liesel thought that she didn't know she was coming, but she actually did. After the bombing at the end “the mayor and a fluffy-haired woman...:” who was the mayor’s wife showed up to take her home.

I have read many books throughout my years but none has been quite like Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief. Many authors give the readers dull, pointless stories that are hard to get into but not Zusak; Zusak gives the readers a feeling that they are in or taking part in the story. The best type of book is one that you can’t put down; because of the writing style of Markus Zusak's, The Book Thief is one of those books. By the use of literary devices, an omniscient point of view, and not keeping the order of the events necessarily straight Zusak makes his writing different and more intriguing than other authors. A lot of authors barely ever use literary devices and if they use them it’s always the same type of device, but Zusak uses an abundant amount of different literary devices per page.

“She was a girl with a mountain to climb,” writes Markus Zusak on page 86 of The Book Thief. The quote was referring to Liesel Meminger, the main character of the novel. I believe that Liesel had multiple mountains to climb throughout the book. Each large problem, or mountain, had its own hills and smaller problems that she needed to deal with. Zusak’s writing style showcases all the aspects of Liesel’s story, because his use of details and choice of words show how Liesel struggled through The Book Thief.

The accordion is taken wherever Hans Hubermann goes, and the fact that he is leaving it to go off to war makes it a more visible symbol. Hubermann is leaving it because one it reminds him of the friend who saved him, and two as a comfort to his wife and adopted daughter. To describe the accordion as a symbol in one word, it would be regret. By Hans going to his second war, he remembers a tragic thing that happened at the first war he fought in. His friend had played the accordion and had volunteered Hans for a job, instead of having him go to the fight they were going to. Because of the friend Hans lived, while everyone who went to fight that day died. The friend had taught Hans to play the accordion, so when it came to taking the accordion

Over the course of one’s life, it is inevitable to encounter bumps in the road. Some might be small, and some might be big. The response to these “bumps” is the development of individuals all around us. Some difficulties in our life help us realize our true hidden potential, whereas some problems help us understand life as a whole, these make us the people we are today. Living and understanding the disputes symbolise who we are. For instance, in Mark Zusak's book, The Book Thief, the reader gets an understanding of how certain conflicts create attributes in the characters and how it can symbolise an individual. The author manipulates symbolism, and conflicts to develop Liesel from a young powerless child to a woman who represents strength,

Hans Hubermann's accordion first presents itself as one of Hans Hubermann’s many defining characteristics, along with his kindness to Liesel, and his rolling of cigarettes. It completes his easygoing, well-natured demeanor and makes him likeable to readers. In the bleak, depressing circumstances that bring Liesel to Molching, the accordion symbolizes comfort and a sense of security -- the same feelings that Hans Hubermann brings to the very beginning of the book. As the plot develops, the accordion becomes much more significant to Hans’ story. A memento from his Jewish friend, Erik Vandenburg, who died in Hans’ place during World War I, the accordion is a reminder to Hans Hubermann of the kindness from his friend which saved him from death.

Death can be thought of as a very violent being and people often associate it with maliciousness. The animated coloring plays to a reader’s familiarity of certain colors and what they represent to create a more vehement image. In the chapter titled “Beside the Railway Line”, Death states that something is blinding white when Liesel’s brother dies. It could possibly be comparing the white snow with the cold of death. There is also repeated mention of the colors of Rudy’s hair and Hans’ eyes. Rudy’s hair is described as being “lemon yellow”. Humanity mostly affiliates the color yellow with happiness, memory, communication, youthfulness and carelessness. But in The Book Thief it is twisted into a grim style. In the novel, Rudy is very happy and he cherishes his youth. When he dies, Liesel remembers the kiss he kept asking for and the mean things she would say to him and it causes great pain for her. Death almost always explains the way a person is when it comes for them. He says that Hans’ silver eyes were open and that Hans’ came peacefully. Silver is often correlated with love and peace. Only because Liesel loved Hans so much, is that why the silver of his eyes are so very important. Death gives a tranquil atmosphere to the violence it concocts. Readers become comfortable with Death the idea of it and frequently miss the gesture of violence.

Hans is Liesel's foster father, her Papa. He is a very tall man who walks upright, plays the accordion, and has silver eyes. His quiet, gentle nature is what wins Liesel over, and Death tells us that he is the one Liesel loves most. He is a painter who doesn't agree with the acts of the Nazi Party, but applies for membership to keep up the appearance of loyalty so that he can protect his family. He has been able to evade Death multiple times, and he is a well-liked man in Molching, except for those who call him a Jew lover. He is a talented accordion player and often plays for patrons in the local bars. Liesel associates his accordion playing with safety. He sits with Liesel and teaches her to read during midnight lessons and also during afternoon

In history, art has been known as a production of works for emotional power. Art is formed by artists who have a story to share. It is used to express a deep emotion they cannot quite put into words, for example, sorrow or grief. Throughout the novel, Markus Zusak shows people distracting themselves from desperate times of sorrow through art. The use of art in The Book Thief represents creative outlets used as a coping mechanism for each character. The forms of art in the midst of pain are an accordion, a sketchbook, and books. To someone who were to pick up one of these items wouldn’t see much importance but to the main characters, they are what keeps them inspired and hopeful during the catastrophic events caused by Hitler.

Markus Zusak who is born in Sydney, Australia wrote a novel entitled The Book Thief. He began his career writing fictions for young adults. His first novel entitled The Underdog was published in 1999 and followed by two sequels. The Book Thief was Zusak’s first adult fiction anf fifth novel that was published last 2006 in Australia. Zusak received a Michael L. Printz award, a citation given for literary excellence in young adult literature in writing this novel. His father was born Australian and his mother is a German and both of his parents experienced World War II in their own countries. Markus Zusak wrote this novel based and inspired on the real stories that his parents told him about the wartime in Munich and in Vienna when he was a child.

Hans Hubermann’s eminent accordion demonstrates the hopefulness in the characters around him. The accordion’s appearance in the story line shows the importance of faith in Liesel during the hard times, acting like an “announcement of safety” (Zusak 38). Throughout the book, the accordion symbolizes the distraction from the rough life the Hubermanns live because it reminds them of fond memories. The accordion’s distinguished characteristics add to the upbeat and comfortable mood of the movie. Liesel finds comfort in the slow moving notes of the accordion when she awakes from her nightmares because it helps her forget her memories that haunt her (Percival). The instrument represents the soul of the old man who brought Liesel up and gained a special trust, therefore important to the connection of the characters. The accordion shows in both the book and movie, demonstrating the importance it has on Liesel's life and her association with Hans. On the contrary, the lack of cigarettes in the movie evidences the inchoate character of Hans