Vous êtes sur la page 1sur 2

Markus Zusaks novel The book thief illustrates death being a crucial aspect in the life of the principle

protagonist Liesel Meminger through the events that unfold in her life. This makes death himself an appropriate narrator for Liesels emotional story of struggle and perseverance. Deaths role in the novel is clearly in considerate to Liesels encounters with death; it is inconspicuous in the near fatal suffering of Max Vandenberg the young Jew, and similarly the unbelievable carnage wrought by the bombing on Himmel Street which prominently features the theme of death. This makes death himself an appropriate narrator for Liesels emotional story of struggle and perseverance. Clearly the omnipresence of death makes himself a suitable narrator to recount Liesels story. Zusak creates the theme of death to continuously revolve around the life of the main protagonist Liesel which is revealed through their various encounters with each other. Throughout the course of the novel death and Liesel intersect paths with each other exactly three times which begins with the death of her beloved young brother Werner. Werner dies a slow and painful death to malnourishment which marks her first meeting with death leaving Liesel distraught and inconsolable. The second encounter with death is when Liesel witnesses a pilot die and seems to sympathies for him as Rudy places a Teddy bear respectfully. The third time Liesel runs in to death is during the horrific bombing of Himmel Street sending her loved ones to their demise except her. A quote that marks Liesel and deaths relationship is when death states I saw the book thief three times. Liesel is dubbed by death as the book thief as she as an insatiable appetite to steal books. The quote notifies that death plays a crucial role In Liesels life hence death saying that he will meet Liesel three times. Given the extraordinary emphasis placed on death with reference to Liesel the chief protagonist it is therefore suitable for the narrator to be death himself.

Zusak similarly surrounds death with another leading character within the novel Max Vandenberg a close friend of Liesel. Max Vandenberg is a young Jew who suffers through the regime of Nazi Germany and is violently persecuted which leads him to encounter death. Max while staying at the Hubbermans residence as a fugitive forms a close bond to Liesel due to the dark past they share and hatred of Hitler. However Max collapses which leads him too tenaciously to cling on to dear life as death himself slowly nears. During this critical time Liesel fears losing Max and tries to prevent him dying in this pitiful death through various intricate ways which do succeed. However the reality of how close Max arrived at deaths feet can be highlighted by the quote What in gods name will do with the body. This quote is stated by Rosa and describes the panic of what to do with a Jewish body what would they do with it, where would they dispose of it, and could they even properly bury him believing Max to be as good as dead. Death himself plays not only a major role in Liesel life but also in the ones of her loved ones making death an apt and appropriate narrator. Zusak utilizes the theme of death to be a fundamental aspect of the emotional climax of the novel for Liesel and her loved ones. During the climax of the novel Himmel Street unbelievable carnage is wrought upon the once peaceful little street. The ramification of the bomb is not only felt by the street but also by the residents of the street leading to their timeless demise. The only survivor of this tragic incident is Liesel who when witnessing the result of the bombing is left distressed and panic stricken seeing all her loved ones have

passed on. Death is the only being who witnesses this graphic incident in its entirety and Liesels reaction to it. Death is again at Liesels side when is at her weakest. The quote Theyre not moving by Liesel illustrates that everyone she once left is gone no longer alive which is highlighted due to them no longer moving. Death affects the life of every character within the novel not just Liesel making him a fitting narrator. Zusaks novel The book thief employs the character of death has a suitable and fitting narrator to recount the story of Liesels story. Death is an apt narrator of the novel due to the theme of death playing a pivotal role in the life of Liesel through three encounters with each other. Death not only affects the life of Liesel but also her loved ones and a stark example is Max Vandenberg the Jew who just barely clings on to life. During the climax of the novel death plays a critical role in the bombing where every character meets their end except for Liesel. Clearly death plays a Interpol part in the novel which makes him an apposite narrator.

Vous aimerez peut-être aussi