The Book Thief By Mark Zusak: An Analysis

In The Book Thief, a work of historical fiction, written by Markus Zusak introduces the main character Liesel Meminger, the reader starts to see how she keeps having many conflicts but always stays positive. Liesel has many conflicts, for example her brother dies early in the book and that shapes the way she is. Later on Liesel steals books and that makes her happy because the first book she stole was the grave digger's handbook and that is how she remembers her brother. Liesel steals and reads books this is how she finds happiness with all the bad things going on around her. In the end of the book most of the people she loves die and it is hard for her to find happiness again. The author uses the setting and point of view to express theme and to make the reader feel sympathy; He uses this because with the theme of finding light in the darkness, deaths perception, and the setting of Germany makes the theme clearer.

Liesel Meminger is the daughter of Paula Meminger. She is also the sister of late Warren Meminger. Consequently, she steals the first book in the novel, called The Gravedigger's Handbook. Therefore, Death gave her the nickname of “ the book thief” before us knowing that she would become “the book thief”. Liesel Meminger is the hardworking, book-thieving, kind-hearted protagonist of The Book Thief. She loves books so much that she steals them, even before knowing how to read. All of this started because stealing books reminds her of Warren Meminger. This is even she bonds more with Hans Hubermann, her foster father, dedicates his time to teach her how to read. We might be asking, why hasn’t she gotten an education at the age of 10. The answer is not as clear as others, but it definitely has to do with Liesel father’s communist affiliations. He was part of the German Communist Party, that was popular when Hitler took over. This is also the reason why she had to be fostered.

“He does something to me, that boy. Every time. It’s his only detriment. He steps on my heart. He makes me cry,” (Zusak 531). The above statement was delivered by Death. In The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, Death is the narrator. Rudy Steiner is the human that the quote refers to. The protagonist of this novel is Liesel Meminger, and Rudy is her best friend. The novel is about Liesel’s years living in Molching, Germany during World War Two. Millions of people died during World War Two. Since it is Death’s job to carry away all the souls, he was a busy man at this time. Death usually does not pay attention to living humans. He makes immense efforts to distract himself from them. The question is: what makes Rudy so special that he provokes such emotion from Death? Death is haunted by Rudy because of his incredible acts of friendship towards Liesel and compassion towards those who were supposed to be his enemies.

"I have hated the words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right" (528.) In The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, the power of words is a reoccuring theme that leads to Liesel forming a strong bond with a tall man with silver eyes, a feather haired jew, and a woman with fluffy hair that is always in a bathrobe, and changes all of their lives. Words are dangerous and beautiful, they can tear worlds apart and rebuild them, they can hurt and heal, and they are one of the most powerful forces on Earth. In The Book Thief, Liesel Meminger recognises the power of words, and rather than using them like Hitler did, out of hatred, she uses language to fight against injustice and share her thoughts. Words help Liesel connect to 3 specific people, that all change the course of her life through words. Hans Hubermann: the silver-eyed man, Ilsa Hermann: the woman with fluffy white hair, and Max Vandenburg: the feather haired jew. Liesel's story begins with Hans teaching her how to read, and gradually grows to Ilsa sharing her library, and finally, Max inspiring her to write and tell her own story.

The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak, takes place in 1940s Nazi Germany in the small town of Molching. The main character, Liesel Meminger, takes on a role as the foster child of Hans and Rosa Hubermann. She also meets a young boy named Rudy Steiner, who goes on to be her best friend and lover. In the book, Liesel faces many challenges big and small. From hiding a Jew in the basement to a thieving lifestyle, Liesel has to learn to overcome all of life's problems. Through all of this, she is supported by her foster father Hans Hubermann who is caring to people he barely knows, intelligence despite his lack of education, and generosity even when he has little for himself.

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

The Book Thief’s main character is Liesel Meminger throughout the book she develops more and more by opening up and doing new things. At first she was very shy and would not do hardly anything for example, “It took nearly fifteen minutes to coax her from the car. It was the tall man who did it. Quietly.”(28) That is when she first got out of the car “There was the gate next, which she clung to.”(28) This shows all the more how shy she was at the beginning of the book when she first arrived on Himmel Street. Then as the book goes on she starts to adopt her foster-mother, Rosa or Mama’s style of speaking and starts cussing some when talking to her best friend, Rudy and even the mayors wife when she terminated her mothers washing and ironing

“The thing women have yet to learn is nobody gives you power. You just take it,” said comedian Roseanne Barr. A leader can overpower people; she can take control of what one can or cannot do, but only oneself can control how she treats others. In The Book Thief, Hitler is overpowering the Jews; Liesel, who is living with a foster family, and her family shelters Max, a Jewish man, during the Holocaust. Marcus Zusak’s characters, Liesel, Rosa, and Hans, explain their struggle of staying true to their core beliefs during Hitler’s reign in Nazi, Germany, showing the importance of making the correct decisions even when faced with a difficult situation.

“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

In conclusion “ The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak has strongly developed the theme words have the power and brilliance to outshine any actions. Hans, Rosa, Liesel, Max, Rudy, and Hitler all show this throughout the book. The setting, Germany during Hitler’s rule, really made a difference and helped developed the theme. The plots biggest conflict was Hitler trying to destroy people with his words, and by making people afraid by his words. These relationships Liesel has with people and words wouldn’t have happened if her brother died. Even though it was very sad for Liesel his death saved

She uses words to escape reality and to provide comfort for herself. An example of this is when Liesel starts reading with Hans Hubermann after her nightmares. Hans and Liesel read together without worrying about anything; they read to provide a distraction. Reading also helped Liesel gain more knowledge about the world around her. She knew why her mother gave her away to another family, and she knew why Max was hidden from the eyes of the Nazis. Reading also helped Liesel see the true power of words. The novel states that, “Words had rendered Liesel useless, but now, when she sat on the floor……...she felt an innate sense of power. It happened every time she deciphered a new word or pieced together a sentence”(147). During bombings, words are what Liesel used to bring people together and comfort them. This was why Liesel felt powerful when she read, and her reading also helped others find hope during times of distress. “For at least 20 minutes, she handed out the story. The youngest kids were soothed by her voice” (381). Liesel also starts writing about her life experiences and calls her book The Book Thief. “I have hated the words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right” (528). This quote from Liesel’s book shows how Liesel wishes to change people’s thoughts and beliefs by making her words right. She wants to defeat the Führer using her words, and wishes

The Book Thief is a novel about Liesel Meminger, an orphan who lives with her foster mama and papa. Because of her papa’s dept to a Jewish friend, they hide a young Jewish man in their basement. This happens during the rise of the Nazi Party in Germany, making this a very dangerous situation. One of the most recurring themes in the book is guilt, because Liesel, Hans, and Max all feel guilt over their survivals.

Words are one of the most powerful ways humans can connect with each other. Nazi Germany is a place where the use of words was the most powerful gift anyone could have. Since the novel is set in Germany during World War II the words back then had negatively influenced the society at that time, and positively influenced a young German girl named Liesel. In The Book, Thief Zusak tells the story of a German girl named Liesel who goes with Rosa and Hans Hubermann in Molching Germany, who become her foster parents. Liesel enjoys books and tends to steal various of them. The Hubermanns encounter a Jew named Max and do their best to help him survive the evil Nazi’s. The message in the book is that humans are so lucky they have words to use to express their thoughts and feelings and how simple a gift can be your worst nightmare because words are so powerful. With that much power, humans need to be careful. This message is demonstrated throughout the whole book, and characters. Words can be dangerous and can cause death, but also convey deep meaning while providing individuals with intelligence.

“The power of words, written or spoken, have life. They can change the world.” (search quotes). The power of words should not be underestimated. Liesel proves this to be true in the novel and the film The Book Thief. She uses words to develop relationships with her foster father, Hans Hubermann; Max Vandenburg, the illicit Jew in her basement; and her neighbours. In the novel The Book Thief by Markus Zusak there is much more relationship development compared to the film The Book Thief directed by Brian Percival. This consequently causes the theme of the power of words to be less prominent in the film.