In Markus Zusak’s novel, The Book Thief, Hans Hubermann and his wife, Rosa, newly foster nine-year-old Liesel Meminger. This new addition to the family changes all of their lives forever. The novel is narrated by Death, and is set in the small and fictitious town of Molching, Germany in the Second World War, Hans and everyone around him in Molching, Germany are expected to help support the Nazi party, even if it alters them as a person. Everyone is affected by this setting; some people had an innate kindness or cruelty within themselves beforehand, but for others, the setting leads to the development of a personality trait of either a newfound kindness or cruelty. Additionally, the setting is primarily Germany during World War I (during flashbacks) and Germany during World War II (the current war), both separately affected Hans’ actions.
Human kindness and cruelty go hand in hand as they are opposite …show more content…
The theme that kindness and cruelty go hand in hand is demonstrated by the actions of Hans, Max’s unfortunate heritage, and Himmel Street, the place where the two unite. The setting in World War I and World War II, both separately affected how Hans reacts to everything that is happening around him. Hans’ kindness was truly augmented by his experiences throughout the novel. The reader might have expected this to lead to the downfall of the Hubermanns, but what they would have not expected is that everyone but the main character of the novel, Liesel, would suddenly pass away due to a bomb dropped upon the whole neighbourhood. It can be viewed that Hans and his family had given so much kindness in taking care of Max that the whole neighbourhood suffered the repercussion, the cruelty, in the form of total
Human kindness and cruelty go hand in hand as they are opposite …show more content…
The theme that kindness and cruelty go hand in hand is demonstrated by the actions of Hans, Max’s unfortunate heritage, and Himmel Street, the place where the two unite. The setting in World War I and World War II, both separately affected how Hans reacts to everything that is happening around him. Hans’ kindness was truly augmented by his experiences throughout the novel. The reader might have expected this to lead to the downfall of the Hubermanns, but what they would have not expected is that everyone but the main character of the novel, Liesel, would suddenly pass away due to a bomb dropped upon the whole neighbourhood. It can be viewed that Hans and his family had given so much kindness in taking care of Max that the whole neighbourhood suffered the repercussion, the cruelty, in the form of total