Examples Of Thievery In The Book Thief

Thievery is a crime, stealing isn’t an act that is excused or looked at as innocent, however, in The Book Thief, Markus Zusak portrays thievery as more than just a criminal act. It is a way for characters to survive and have control in their lives during a time when they have no control. In his novel The Book Thief, Markus Zusak portrays thievery as a means for his characters to survive in a war torn town in Nazi Germany and as a way for them to take back control of their lives. The most obvious portrayal of thievery in the novel is of Liesel, Rudy, and the other children stealing food because they are hungry. Having to ration during wartime and having Max in her home, Liesel often does not get enough to eat. Her and Rudy join a group of kids focused on stealing food from residents of the town in order to have full stomachs everyday. This helps …show more content…
Her first act of thievery is stealing a book the gravediggers dropped while burying her young brother, even though she could not read. After being taught to read by Hans, her foster father, Liesel continues to steal books, first from a bonfire the Nazi soldiers held in town, and eventually from the mayor’s house. Stealing these books gives Liesel control in her life, being able to take all of this knowledge for herself, and she doesn’t hurt anyone by stealing books. Taking back control in her life by stealing and reading these books is what keeps Liesel content throughout the novel. Liesel stealing books is her way of taking her life back, the war is ruining her life in that the Nazis are destroying knowledge by burning books. She takes that knowledge back every time she steals and reads a book, and in that she also steals back the control over her life. Liesel isn’t an ordinary thief, stealing valuables to get by, she’s stealing knowledge in order to better herself and to control her