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Examples Of Cruelty In The Book Thief

Decent Essays

“Like most misery, it started with apparent happiness.” – The Book Thief

“The Book Thief,” is a No.1 International Best-selling novel by Markus Zusak. In the two chapters: “The Long walk to Dachau” and “Peace,” the themes of cruelty and kindness are strongly portrayed through many literary techniques and other ways. My analysis on this question is to see how and why these two themes are illustrated in the two chapters, and under what circumstances they chose to behave like that.

Cruelty is a major theme and an apparent issue throughout the novel, due to the fragile situation depicted in the book. One very good example of human kindness is portrayed in the chapter “The Long Walk to Dachau,” in which there is a scene exemplifying the harsh …show more content…

After, what is considered by the Nazi’s as an “inhumane” act, some people start to despise hans, just because he helped a Jew. The quote “Silver eyes were pelted then,” really shows how loathed he was by everyone. The word “pelted” shows that he was hurled, attacked and in a way almost beaten up in a physiological way. The color “silver” is used throughout the book to describe various things, such as: Hans’s eyes, Hans’s accordion and The Gravedigger’s Handbook. Therefore, you could say in a way that the color “silver” was foreshadowing events which would unfold later. I find this phrase very unique, as it is trying to say that the kindness in Hans’ eyes were being attacked. “Silver” is usually associated with kindness, and it also refered as that in the book. So to say that “silver eyes were pelted then,” is almost like saying that he was being attacked, his kindness, which if you think, is very absurd and inhuman to the very least. It also mentions “a cart was turned over and paint flowed onto the street.” This is suggesting that people have turned over Hans’s paint cart, because of his behavior. This really illustrates that there was no sincerity in people, and cruelty had to be displayed, even for the most slightest human …show more content…

Hans is in a very hostile position, at that point. His actions are being frowned upon, and yet Rudy and Liesel seem to help him immediately, without even thinking twice. “When Liesel and Rudy made it through and helped Hans to his feet, there were so many voices. Words and sunlight. That’s how she remembered it. The light sparkling on the road and the words like waves, breaking on her back. Only as they walked away did they notice the bread sitting rejected on the street.” This quote symbolizes a very important meaning: no matter how hard you try to be fair and just, you might not always achieve what you want, i think that is what the rejected piece of bread signifies. In a way, the author makes the reader think about their own life for a second, which helps them to better connect with the story. Although, Hans did a kind deed, he had to repent for it. The only thing he got was help from Rudy and Liesel. Although, in the end help from Rudy and Liesel didn’t change things very much, it is not always the outcome that matters, but it is the thought, and in this case Rudy and Liesel definitely had the

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