The Book Thief Color Red Essay

The color red symbolics all of the colors and how each can have numerous emotions coming

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.

“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.

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.

Death’s detailing and descriptions of his soul gathering in the war and his human-like emotions further to the conclusion that is Death being or resembling humans. By Death saying “Far away, fires were burning…I had just picked up 200 murdered souls” (Zusak, 478), he discusses and implies his soul gathering and subtle emotions about what it is like to be Death. In Death saying “murdered souls”, Death shows the emotion of compassion towards the Jews being slaughtered in WWII. Death uses his experience as a gateway to express his inner feelings toward the situation with Liesel Meminger. By Death saying “I was on my way to Molching for more [souls]” (Zusak, 478), it effectively shows the connection in which is the third time Liesel and Death are united. This further depicting that Death uses his personal experiences of and with Liesel Meminger and War to express his true colors. In a final attempt to completely share his ideas,

The color "red" is most present when describing people and objects. One of the most obvious examples is the Ibis, colored in a shade of red, scarlet. Then, the tree the Ibis was in was called a "bleeding tree", which therein relates to red. Another would be when Doodle is under the bush. "Finally I went back and found him huddled beneath a red nightshade bush beside the road."(564) One of the other most obvious ones is when Brother lifts Doodle's head when he finds him under the bush. "He had been bleeding from the mouth, and his neck and the front of his shirt were stained a brilliant red."(564) The symbolism was shown through the entirety of the story as James Hurst brings beauty to the color red.

The Book Thief is set in the time of World War 2 where the Holocaust is present and disaster is everywhere. Throughout the story, Liesel, the main character, learns that words are extremely powerful and hold the ability for people to use them for good or for evil. Among the disaster and altercations, Liesel uses her literature to comfort her and make herself more powerful due to her knowledge, which demonstrates the theme of the story, the comfort and power of literature and words softens the pain of loss.

The color red is used in literature as well as throughout The Book Thief to display war, blood, and anger (Morton). Early in the novel, Death associates red with war, “The last time I saw her was red… Then bombs” (Zusak 12), Death uses the

In literature, red is often associated with blood and violence. Four researchers, Erella Hovers, Shimon Ilani, Ofer Bar-Yosef, and Bernard Vandermeersch, studied colored symbolism and concluded; “Color symbolism is one of the symbolic frameworks used extensively by contemporary societies to convey information and abstract messages through material objects” (Hovers et al.,2003.) Through the use of colors, May vividly expresses the emotions of the speaker towards society, regarding the topics of warfare and education. He specifically selects certain colors, like black and red, to stir up emotions within Jontae. The colors create a symbolic image, ultimately leading up to represent the violent scenes taking place. May writes his fear; “I know how often red is the only color left to reach” (18-19), to show his apprehension for Jontae a young male in society surrounded by warfare. Red in literature often represents blood, sacrifice, and violence. Using colors throughout the poem, creates a more vehement atmosphere, in which Jontae is left to choose between warfare, and discovering his identity in an alternative

When you think of the color red, you may automatically think of the ideas of death, emotion, or love. James Hurst uses the symbolic color of red help us visualize the story and bring it to life. For example, the narrator describes Doodle during the storm saying, “He had been bleeding from the mouth, and his neck and the front of his shirt were stained a brilliant red.” Hurst using the words bleeding and red give us a better visual to what is happening in the story. He as well does this when the narrator says, “ I began to weep, and the tear blurred vision in red before me looked very familiar.” This line shows Brother’s emotions, how angry he was and remorseful. Other instances where the author uses red is with Doodle’s mahogany casket, the bleeding tree, and the Ibis’

In the book Of Mice and Men many bad and good things happen to the protagonists George and Lennie. Overall, more bad things happen than good. That is why I think the color red represents the book the best. Red represents this book because there is death, there is evil, and there is power. All of these things are associated with the color red. Also, all of these things have a role in the book Of Mice and Men. All of these things can cause emotion which is another thing the color red represents. When there is death people are sad and angry, when someone is evil this usually causes anger, and power can cause many emotions. There are many other things that the color red represents can these are only a few of them.

The color, red, symbolizes a variety of different meanings like the quote from an unknown source, “Red, the single most dynamic and passionate color, symbolizes love, rage and courage. Demanding attention, red has great emotional impact. Those who select red are aggressive, impulsive and strive for success.” In the novel, “Beloved,” by Toni Morrison, the author demonstrates the color red for the future, memories, and hope.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak shows through the midst of brutality, beauty can still be shown. The main characters Liesel Meminger, Rudy Steiner and Hans Huberman, prove this statement they are all faced with perilous situations, but still manage to show beauty throughout the situations. Liesel Meminger display beauty during the air raids, as she manages to read to people in the basement. Rudy Steiner displays beauty he jumps in the river to get Liesel’s book. Through Hans Huberman nobel character he displays beauty as he risks his life to hide a Jewish man in his basement.

Question #1: Select a character and discuss how s/he is complex. Provide text evidence to support your thinking. I think that my most complex character would go to my main character, Robin. He is probably the most complex because on the outside he looks like your everyday, strong, tuff, brave, solider. But on the inside he’s almost he exact opposite.

Unlike the Nazi’s however, Liesel realizes the pain her words caused. "Blood leaked from her nose and licked at her lips. Her eyes had blackened. Cuts had opened up and a series of wounds were rising to the surface of her skin. All from words. From Liesel's words" (Zuask 253). A child, no more than 12 years old, was telling someone not to cry, that she was being “pathetic.” It was all because of one group of people taking the lives of millions that a young girl believes crying over your loved ones deaths was ridiculous. At one point, Death even compares itself to humanity saying, "You want to know what I truly look like? I'll help you out. Find yourself a mirror while I continue" (Zuask 307).