The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is narrated by Death who relays 10 year-old Liesel Meminger’s story as she lives in Nazi Germany. Liesel was sent off to live with her foster parents Hans Hubermann and Rosa Hubermann on Himmel Street when her brother died on the train there. She learns to love her Mama, Papa, her best friend Rudy, books and the delight of stealing them as she lives there. When the Hubermanns hide a Jew in their basement, Liesel discovers brilliant and terrible things about life in Nazi Germany. As the Hubermanns situation gets worse, Max, the Jew, is forced to leave and Hans Hubermann is issued to fight in the war. One night, Liesel was writing her book in her basement when an unannounced bomb dropped on Himmel Street killing
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Because of this war, children like Liesel and Rudy are stuck in between childhood and maturity. Also, since Death is the narrator he gives us his own views of war. War and Death are often thought as best friends, but in the book Death is rather depressed and tired of collecting souls for War. War largely shapes the story and its characters.
Another theme in the story is love. There is Rudy’s romantic love for Liesel, Hans’ kindness and compassion for a Jew, the strange motherly love Rosa has for Liesel, and Liesel’s love of (stealing) books. These examples of love also goes to show, in the midst of hatred you can still find love. Especially during World War II, Jews had to find a compassionate soul that would take them in, and you wouldn’t know who to trust. Love is an important theme in the story because Liesel learns a lot through love and her most important relationships were based on love.
Words, specifically the power of words, is arguably the most important theme of the story. If Hitler had not rose to power with words of hatred, Liesel would have never gone to Himmel Street. Words tore her family apart, developed her relationship with her Papa, and saved her life. The story tells us how destructive and wonderful words are, especially during that time period. Throughout the story, words play a significant part in the plot of the story and Liesel’s
Because of this war, children like Liesel and Rudy are stuck in between childhood and maturity. Also, since Death is the narrator he gives us his own views of war. War and Death are often thought as best friends, but in the book Death is rather depressed and tired of collecting souls for War. War largely shapes the story and its characters.
Another theme in the story is love. There is Rudy’s romantic love for Liesel, Hans’ kindness and compassion for a Jew, the strange motherly love Rosa has for Liesel, and Liesel’s love of (stealing) books. These examples of love also goes to show, in the midst of hatred you can still find love. Especially during World War II, Jews had to find a compassionate soul that would take them in, and you wouldn’t know who to trust. Love is an important theme in the story because Liesel learns a lot through love and her most important relationships were based on love.
Words, specifically the power of words, is arguably the most important theme of the story. If Hitler had not rose to power with words of hatred, Liesel would have never gone to Himmel Street. Words tore her family apart, developed her relationship with her Papa, and saved her life. The story tells us how destructive and wonderful words are, especially during that time period. Throughout the story, words play a significant part in the plot of the story and Liesel’s