The Book Thief by Markus Zusak develops the story of Liesel Meminger throughout World War II. Zusak selects a interesting and unique character for narrator: Death, and develops him as an omniscient first person narration throughout the story. The research question was selected because of this different choice of narrator and this investigation will examine the possible reasoning for Death as a narrator and overall, the effectiveness of this technique through examination of Death’s character traits, his views on the human race, and how Death choices to unfold the story of “The Book Thief.”
An important element of the narrative technique in The Book Thief, is the development of the narrator as a character in the novel. Death has an evident personality …show more content…
At times death seems almost like a mother, very caring and nurturing, writing in a diary and finding Liesel’s story so touching. “Please believe me when I tell you that I picked up each soul that day as if it were newly born. I even kissed a few weary, poisoned cheeks. I listened to their last, gasping cries. Their vanishing words. I watched their love visions and freed them from their fears.” (Part Six, Death’s Diary: The Partisans). At other times, he is more dry and straightforward. He sounds sardonic and ironic and shows less sensitivity. “I’m not too great at that sort of comforting thing, especially when my hands are cold and the bed is warm” (Part Ten, The End of the World (Part II)). Death’s physical description is somewhat irrelevant to the story, since he so rarely interacts with them, however, he does offer tidbits of information regarding his physical appearance in the way of tenderly mocking the human perception of “Death.” “I like this human idea of the grim reaper. I like the scythe. It amuses me.” (Part One, The Heavyweight Champion of the School-Yard), Later on, he goes on to further explain his appearance, “I do not carry a sickle or a scythe. I only wear a hooded black robe when it’s
An important element of the narrative technique in The Book Thief, is the development of the narrator as a character in the novel. Death has an evident personality …show more content…
At times death seems almost like a mother, very caring and nurturing, writing in a diary and finding Liesel’s story so touching. “Please believe me when I tell you that I picked up each soul that day as if it were newly born. I even kissed a few weary, poisoned cheeks. I listened to their last, gasping cries. Their vanishing words. I watched their love visions and freed them from their fears.” (Part Six, Death’s Diary: The Partisans). At other times, he is more dry and straightforward. He sounds sardonic and ironic and shows less sensitivity. “I’m not too great at that sort of comforting thing, especially when my hands are cold and the bed is warm” (Part Ten, The End of the World (Part II)). Death’s physical description is somewhat irrelevant to the story, since he so rarely interacts with them, however, he does offer tidbits of information regarding his physical appearance in the way of tenderly mocking the human perception of “Death.” “I like this human idea of the grim reaper. I like the scythe. It amuses me.” (Part One, The Heavyweight Champion of the School-Yard), Later on, he goes on to further explain his appearance, “I do not carry a sickle or a scythe. I only wear a hooded black robe when it’s