Character Analysis Essay In The Book Thief

July 23, 2021 by Essay Writer

Haley Squiers Goodman Period 1 May 14, 2013 Character Analysis Essay In The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, the author uses characterization to show how Liesel has a deeper understanding of people without realizing it and maintaining her innocence. For a young girl to live in hard times as these were in WWII Germany, Liesel seems to understand the big picture even from her quaint setting in Munich. Liesel feels very close to a Jew her parents are helping keep hidden from Nazi eye.

His name is Max, and when he falls ill, Liesel is there to put hope in this dark situation. But when you wake up, I’ll tell you about it. I’ll tell you it was the grayest afternoon you can imagine” (Zusak 320). When Max sleeps in sickness Liesel gives him updates on weather and brings him presents. She always gave Max a clear picture of the outside world because he couldn’t get one. She knows even in a comatose state that he would appreciate the gesture.
This shows her innocence because there is no way she can do anything for this man who is believe to dying but hold hope.

Children seem to give the best hope, because they are unaware that hope has the capability of crushing someone. In the book Delirium by Lauren Oliver, The main character’s cousin was not given this luxury of hope although she does remind of Liesel because of so many terrible things to have witnessed at such a young age. “Often I wish this would all be over Liesel, but then you do something like walk down the basement steps with a snowman in your hands” (Zusak 313).

Liesel is giving Max another weather report even in his sickness; when he was awake, Liesel gave similar reports. This holds onto her innocence because of the snowman, and what kid didn’t dream about making snowmen whenever snow covered the ground. But Max lets her know the grimness behind this is his quote. He lets her know often he does wish things were all over but Liesel makes sure that even in hard times he has some happiness. This eminds me of the song Blood by The Middle East, I think that the song interpret how Max feels very well with being so hopeless and not in control of things and how sad he is because of this. And Liesel is able to see this in Max and she feels the same way only about different things. Liesel is a diverse character that brings understanding and innocence together even though she is young. The characterization that Zusak uses throughout the novel to showcase these traits is ever present. Liesel is a character everyone learns to identify with and love.

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