Ethical Issues In The Book Thief

Hans's sense of loyalty and fairness is apparent in how he learns early on that he must keep up the facade of wanting to join the Nazi Party while doing what he can to act according to his true beliefs. Hans not only saved Max Vandenburg’s life but also that of a man being searched across the street from the family. Hans runs out and protects the man from the oncoming soldiers pleading that the man was good and wasn’t a jew. The soldiers don’t notice prize Hans from the man and carries the man away. The soldiers ask for Hans name and is told to get inside.

‘We request assistance.’” (38-39) He ended up signaling the officers and they were saved. Max has a different kind of personality, kind of shy, scared, and thinks he is not a smart person. He has a different approach to bullying.

7. Gravediggers Handbook: represents Liesel's turning point, Shoulder Shrug: the book is "not caring" but it makes everyone care more.

The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak, takes place in 1940s Nazi Germany in the small town of Molching. The main character, Liesel Meminger, takes on a role as the foster child of Hans and Rosa Hubermann. She also meets a young boy named Rudy Steiner, who goes on to be her best friend and lover. In the book, Liesel faces many challenges big and small. From hiding a Jew in the basement to a thieving lifestyle, Liesel has to learn to overcome all of life's problems. Through all of this, she is supported by her foster father Hans Hubermann who is caring to people he barely knows, intelligence despite his lack of education, and generosity even when he has little for himself.

It was stated that people were afraid of Max and bullied him, because of his father, Kenny Kane, who was supposedly in prison for murder. This character did not live up to the initial impression most readers had, because on page 160 it states “ so I wrote the unvanquished truth, for months and months, until it was spring again, and the world was really and truly green all over”, and at the beginning of the story Max stated on page 1 “ I never had a brain until Freak came along.” It was shown toward the end of the book, that Max had been affected by others actions towards him because if he wasn’t affected he would have probably acted a little smarter and considerate when he learned about Kevin’s death. An example of the way he actually acted is on page 155 “ a bunch of them jump on me and I keep going, running around in circles like an accident of

Crises are inevitable. However, dealing with a crisis is not always arduous due to their prevalence. However, books seem to be a popular choice, why? What makes them special and useful in times of crises? Some of the most well-known books involve a description of crisis or a character going through the crisis.

The Book Thief is about a young German girl named Liesel Meminger as she goes through life while living in Germany in 1939. Liesel and her foster parents live a normal life on 33 Himmel Street. There is only one difference between their family and the others, they are hiding Max Vandenburg (a Jewish man) in their basement during the time of the Holocaust. This story, narrated by Death follows the life of Liesel from her first step into 33 Himmel Street, until the day she died in Sydney, Australia.

He was trying to be a good father by letting Rudy experience a “normal childhood” while he could, and he didn’t want that opportunity taken away from him. Then again, the acceptance of the Nazi party recruit offer could have meant a longer life for the young Rudy Steiner. This is because Rudy is later killed by a bomb that lands on Himmel street. These examples from the text show the negative and positive affect of words (both written and spoken) on other characters throughout the story. Another quote that affected Max positively was Liesel’s when he fell to the ground when walking in the line of Jews. Liesel’s powerful citation was what struck Max to fight his way back up to the group to avoid being pounded on with the damaging whip. Liesel said what would bring Max back up to fight for what he had left. Liesel said to herself quietly, “Max. Jewish fist fighter. Maxi Taxi. That’s what that friend called you in Stuttgart when you fought on the street, remember? Remember, Max? You told me. I remember everything. That was you-the boy with the hard fists, and you said that you would launch a punch on death’s face when he came for you. Remember the snowman, Max? Remember? In the basement? Remember the

He had to survive all alone with his mother during the most difficult time and place, Nazi Germany during World War 2. ‘’All my life, I’ve been scared of men standing over me. I suppose my first standover man was my father, but he vanished before I could remember him’’(224-225) Having a controlling male figure his entire life made him a very submissive person. Though there was a negative outcome to it like him having to live all alone with his mother, the positive outcome was that it helped him to shape his character. He found the courage to escape Stuttgart and travel to Molching with the help of his friend Walter Kugler. He gave Max a copy of Mein Kampf with a key hidden inside. With that one key, Max would be able to do something he would’ve never thought of doing, finding

One of the major consequences of Hans’ actions was that both the weak, starving Jewish man and Hans was whipped by the Nazis. The Jew was so weak as Markus Zusak said, “His eyes were the color of agony, and weightless as he was, he was too heavy for his legs to carry,” (Zusak 393). He was so feeble that his body couldn’t handle

Also, Hans feels guilty for what he did to Erik’s son, Max Vandenburg. Since the Vanderburg family is a family of Jews, the believe only one person in their family would survive, because of this the only person they try to save is Max, sending him to hide (which Max feels guilty for leaving his family behind). Though he stays at his friend’s store for sometime, when it gets too dangerous for him to be there, his friend, Walter Kugler goes to Himmel Street and Hans agrees to take Max, feeling it’s the least he can do for Erik. For the period of time that Max is in the Hubermann home, he becomes close with Hans, Ilsa and Liesel, with him writing books for Liesel, making a snowman in the basement and fist fights Hitler in the basement. To get to the Dachau Camp, at least once a

In the beginning of the book Maximum Ride max does not know that family is the most important thing in life so she is feeling lonely and stressed. One specific example that shows this is “max your way out of line” fang said furiously “ there is no way he is. Coming with us” Fang said. “He saved our lives and they were going to kill him” max told fang. “good” fang said. “ he tried to kill us a hundred times”. Max let the person who almost killed her fang and the rest of the flock come with them. And max does not see the big deal. Another specific example that shows this:. “ the one think we have is each other . the one thing we can depend on, no matter what. We have to… talk about stuff.” I would pretty much rather have been torn apart by wild animals. “I like it better when you don't talk” (22) Max is saying that to the person she loves the person who has always been there for her who cares about her. So why is she telling him to stop talking. Lastly a specific example that shows this:

Max was interesting from the start meaning his story in general. His whole plan could’ve gone completely wrong. But thanks for someone like Hans Huberman who understand his risks of keeping a Jew in his basement and accepted it. Max is the type of person who didn’t seem like he much so he took the littlest bit for granted. He always made sure Liesel, Rosa, and Hans all ate before they even thought of feeding him. Even if he got scraps he beyond thankful for that. He was similar to Liesel that’s why in the book they got along so well. But they are very different in some ways. Max can be very thoughtful sometimes, like when he was reading the book saying it was a great book. But then started ripping the pages out and painting over them to make a new book for

The acts of human nature can become a very difficult concept to understand. Markus Zusak uses Death throughout the The Book Thief to express the complexity of human nature. Death illustrates how complicated beings humans are and how they hold the capacity to act in both evil and beautiful ways. Throughout the novel Death helps give readers insight to the ignorance displayed and the pain it may cause a person. In the most troublesome and discriminatory times of the Holocaust, Death will point out the beautiful acts of compassion carried out by characters involved in the novel. Sometimes beauty and pain is mixed within the sacrifice some make for those they love and are loyal to.

There is a part where we watch as humans are so ugly that it is hard for us to imagine that what they had done is possible. Liesel is playing soccer in the park and all of a sudden all the kids stop because of a noise they hear coming down the street. They think it could be a herd of cattle, but that not what it is. It is a group of Jewish people being led, or forced, to the death camps by German soldiers. On there way we watch a man die “He was dead. The man was dead. Just give him five minutes and he would surely fall into the German gutter and die. They would all let him, and they would all watch”(Zusak 393). This is talking about how when a Jewish person would die, the Germans wouldn’t do anything. They wouldn’t care that a man died right in front of them. While the Jews are walking Hans, Liesel adopted father, gives them bread. While Hans is giving this man bread a German soldier notices what is going on. He walks over to the man and, “The Jew was whipped six times. On his back, his heart, and