The Role Of Rudy's Friendship In The Grapes Of Wrath

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In the mid 1930’s a huge event occurred in our world which left a significant amount of damage and pain to many. World War 2 was the war of hatred and discrimination. After the First World War, the treaty of Versailles (France, Germany, Britain, Austria-Hungary and the United States) came to an agreement that Germany would be held responsible for causing the war. Germany now had to pay back France every single penny they owed. Germany was also no longer allowed to produce weapons, have an air force and could only have 100 000 men in their army. These events lead up to the 1935 elections which Adolph Hitler won. Unfortunately, Hitler turned the democratic country into a dictatorship. Hitler convinced most Germans that they were the superior race and that anyone outside of that race (Jews and gypsies) should be eliminated from human existence. This was the time setting of the novel “Book Thief” by Markus Zusak. In the novel, characters had very little to survive and needed assistance to help them cope through this horrible time. Helping each other feel human again and, supporting each other by creating relationships with one in other are just two ways that the characters were able to survive, cope and support each other throughout the book. These dark times dehumanized many people. Life was now just about getting through, being able to pay your bill and bring food to your family’s table. During this time, having trust in someone was something that was very rare because, it was as if everyone was for themselves and would do anything to keep them or their family safe. But, when someone would do a small gesture it would bring back a piece of their humanity to them because they would be feeling again. Hans Hubermann brings some of this life back into Liesel’s life when he starts teaching her how to read. In the novel it says “A black book with silver writing on it came hurtling out and landed on the floor… Then he read the title, with concentration aloud: The Grave Digger’s Handbook”. “Is this yours? “ “Yes, Papa.” “Do you want to read it?” Again, “Yes Papa.” …. “Well, we’d better read it, then.” On the same page it says “You wouldn’t think it, she wrote, but it was not so much the school who helped me to read. It was Papa.” (Page 63 – 64, Zusak). This shows that Hans is helping her feel like a kid again by educating her. Hans helping her learn how to read creates a distraction for her on what’s actually happening. This is a way that Hans help Liesel feel human again because teaching her how to read was something different from her regular routine which contained mostly of her just sobbing in her bed all day thinking about the death of her brother. This demonstrates that Hans support and belief in Liesel throughout the story is part of the reason why she is able to survive and get through her hardships from previous events. Although Hans teaching Liesel how to read becomes a distraction for her to help forget about what happening in her community, Rudy’s friendship with Liesel is also another way Liesel feel human again. …show more content…
Rudy is probably one of Liesel only friends in the novel. With Rudy, Liesel seems to always be having fun (as she should because she is just a kid). For intense in the novel it says “Insane or not, Rudy was always destined to be Liesel 's best friend. A snowball in the face is surely the perfect beginning to a lasting friendship.” (Page 48, Zusak). This quote shows that although it was a very dark time, kids like Liesel and Rudy still had laughter and joy in their life through natural situations as simple as a snowfall fight which in their case, was the start to their beautiful friendship. Helping one in another fell human again was just one way characters …show more content…
Helping each other feel human again and supporting each other though this time by creating relationships were 2 ways that the characters of this novel were able to survive, cope and support each other throughout the

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