The Book Thief By Mark Zusak: An Analysis

I did not know the Californian Constitution was the 3rd longest in the United State and so many commissions had attempted to revise it, but every time with very little success. I also had no idea that California’s large budget deficit, record budget delays, and very low job approval rating were all partly due to the heaviness of its Constitution. Californian Constitution is different from the US Constitution in its length and heaviness. With 512 amendments, the Constitution of California is indeed eight times the length of the U.S Constitution. Looking to address the fast peace economic growth following the Gold Rush, the California’s second constitution has an strong focus on economic and social matters, which are usually only detailed broadly

Liesel’s empowerment stems from three sovereign aspects, from discovering the influence of words through books, to discovering new ideas and concepts, and revolting against the horrific Nazi agenda. The younger generation in The Book Thief during Nazi Germany shows a constant hope for the Jewish people in the future. Liesel’s empowerment not only benefits her, but it benefits other people as well, like Max. “Now I think we are friends, this girl and me. On her birthday it was she who gave a gift to me” (Max 35.20) this quote reveals the trust that Max has put into Liesel because of her strong willed empowerment, which gives him strength to keep continuing his journey with the family.

The novel, The Book Thief, excellently shows the power of words and how they can have great power and influence people. Through thoughts and actions of Liesel, Markus Zusak illustrates not only that they are powerful, but even dangerous because of this. This can be seen through the imaginary fist fight with Hitler, Liesels words toward Ilsa, and the last words in her book she wrote.

The Book Thief’s main character is Liesel Meminger throughout the book she develops more and more by opening up and doing new things. At first she was very shy and would not do hardly anything for example, “It took nearly fifteen minutes to coax her from the car. It was the tall man who did it. Quietly.”(28) That is when she first got out of the car “There was the gate next, which she clung to.”(28) This shows all the more how shy she was at the beginning of the book when she first arrived on Himmel Street. Then as the book goes on she starts to adopt her foster-mother, Rosa or Mama’s style of speaking and starts cussing some when talking to her best friend, Rudy and even the mayors wife when she terminated her mothers washing and ironing

Liesel Meminger is the daughter of Paula Meminger. She is also the sister of late Warren Meminger. Consequently, she steals the first book in the novel, called The Gravedigger's Handbook. Therefore, Death gave her the nickname of “ the book thief” before us knowing that she would become “the book thief”. Liesel Meminger is the hardworking, book-thieving, kind-hearted protagonist of The Book Thief. She loves books so much that she steals them, even before knowing how to read. All of this started because stealing books reminds her of Warren Meminger. This is even she bonds more with Hans Hubermann, her foster father, dedicates his time to teach her how to read. We might be asking, why hasn’t she gotten an education at the age of 10. The answer is not as clear as others, but it definitely has to do with Liesel father’s communist affiliations. He was part of the German Communist Party, that was popular when Hitler took over. This is also the reason why she had to be fostered.

Also, when Max says, “The best word shakers were the ones who understood their true power of words,”(446) he inspired Liesel to write her own book, The Book Thief. Liesel learns that with her words she can give someone hope, light, and galvanize them to persist and persevere when they are at their darkest times. “There was once a strange, small man,” she said.

“The power of words, written or spoken, have life. They can change the world.” (search quotes). The power of words should not be underestimated. Liesel proves this to be true in the novel and the film The Book Thief. She uses words to develop relationships with her foster father, Hans Hubermann; Max Vandenburg, the illicit Jew in her basement; and her neighbours. In the novel The Book Thief by Markus Zusak there is much more relationship development compared to the film The Book Thief directed by Brian Percival. This consequently causes the theme of the power of words to be less prominent in the film.

She uses words to escape reality and to provide comfort for herself. An example of this is when Liesel starts reading with Hans Hubermann after her nightmares. Hans and Liesel read together without worrying about anything; they read to provide a distraction. Reading also helped Liesel gain more knowledge about the world around her. She knew why her mother gave her away to another family, and she knew why Max was hidden from the eyes of the Nazis. Reading also helped Liesel see the true power of words. The novel states that, “Words had rendered Liesel useless, but now, when she sat on the floor……...she felt an innate sense of power. It happened every time she deciphered a new word or pieced together a sentence”(147). During bombings, words are what Liesel used to bring people together and comfort them. This was why Liesel felt powerful when she read, and her reading also helped others find hope during times of distress. “For at least 20 minutes, she handed out the story. The youngest kids were soothed by her voice” (381). Liesel also starts writing about her life experiences and calls her book The Book Thief. “I have hated the words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right” (528). This quote from Liesel’s book shows how Liesel wishes to change people’s thoughts and beliefs by making her words right. She wants to defeat the Führer using her words, and wishes

In conclusion “ The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak has strongly developed the theme words have the power and brilliance to outshine any actions. Hans, Rosa, Liesel, Max, Rudy, and Hitler all show this throughout the book. The setting, Germany during Hitler’s rule, really made a difference and helped developed the theme. The plots biggest conflict was Hitler trying to destroy people with his words, and by making people afraid by his words. These relationships Liesel has with people and words wouldn’t have happened if her brother died. Even though it was very sad for Liesel his death saved

Death is a very well-known figure that is feared by many in all countries. He is suspected of being cruel, disturbing and all synonyms of horrifying. Death is inevitable and that is the most fearing aspect of his persona. In Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief, Death is made to seem or resemble humans. Effectively using the narration role, Death introduces a unique description and definition of colors in which he uses as a tool to effectively engage the readers to the events occurring throughout the book. He also demonstrates him personal and different experiences as well, mostly about soul gathering and the implications of WWII that have affected him. On the contrary to Death’s dead, appalling and scary nature that many interpret him to be

6,000,000 Jews were killed in the Holocaust, more than the populations of Jamaica, Iceland, and Uruguay combined. While 6,000,000 Jews may have been killed or had their lives ruined, many were able to overcome adversity, escape their captors and live to tell the tale. Eva Schloss was able to survive in Auschwitz-Birkenau until the Russians captured it. Some children’s books tell great stories of how people dealt with the horrors of the Holocaust, and the innocence of children throughout the war. While it may be fiction, in The Book Thief Liesel Meminger and her family were able to hide a Jew in their home, and her father even gave bread to a Jew marching to Dachau.

"I have hated the words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right" (528.) In The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, the power of words is a reoccuring theme that leads to Liesel forming a strong bond with a tall man with silver eyes, a feather haired jew, and a woman with fluffy hair that is always in a bathrobe, and changes all of their lives. Words are dangerous and beautiful, they can tear worlds apart and rebuild them, they can hurt and heal, and they are one of the most powerful forces on Earth. In The Book Thief, Liesel Meminger recognises the power of words, and rather than using them like Hitler did, out of hatred, she uses language to fight against injustice and share her thoughts. Words help Liesel connect to 3 specific people, that all change the course of her life through words. Hans Hubermann: the silver-eyed man, Ilsa Hermann: the woman with fluffy white hair, and Max Vandenburg: the feather haired jew. Liesel's story begins with Hans teaching her how to read, and gradually grows to Ilsa sharing her library, and finally, Max inspiring her to write and tell her own story.

When I was around five years I loved following my older sister around our house begging her to read me my favorite book. I remember it was about this little house that lived out in the countryside, with her family. The home was small and beautiful, but she was well cared for. The house was beloved by her families for many years. Cheerfully and contentedly she sat until one day her family left. Years passed by and they never came back, she watched her town flourish and grow while she became smaller and less meaningful. The house which was once filled with enchantment, was now lonely and hollow. One day an older woman who grew up running and playing on the lawns of the house noticed her. She reminisced about all the joy and laughter that was shared in the little house and decides to fix her up. Growing up, this was my favorite book because I would always feel so much sympathy towards the home. To my five year old self, the most disastrous things someone could be was lost and lonely.

Philip K. Dick, a notable author, once said “There exists, for everyone, a sentence - a series of words - that has the power to destroy you. Another sentence exists, another series of words, that could heal you. If you're lucky you will get the second, but you can be certain of getting the first.” The Book Thief explores an array of themes but none more meaningful than the power of language to heal and destroy. The novel follows the life of Liesel Meminger, who learns how much words can influence her life in minuscule ways. Learning the alphabet and creating words was one the first ways that Hans and Liesel bonded. They would sit in the basement for long hours writing words on the wall. The power of words also brought Max and Liesel together. Liesel would describe the weather to him when was trapped in the basement. Hitler used the power words to spread propaganda of racism and hatred. Ultimately, it’s Liesel’s words in her journal she leaves behind after the bombing that institutes the emotional connection Death feels to her. The power of words is the most important theme in The Book Thief.

In the novel The Book Thief written by Marcus Zusak, Max found himself in a situation where the propaganda that Hitler has set affected his life in many ways. With the help of Liesel’s words and reading and the care that the Hubermanns gave, Max grew stronger and he had the courage to stand up and protect himself from the force that Hitler had set against the him and the Jews. By having the his power of will, Max was fighting Hitler in his own circumstances even if it 's just in his imagination.