Book Thief Power

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In The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, the author conveys the importance and power that words can have. The author shows how words can be used for the good of the people. With the good use of words comes the bad use,“The words. Why did they have to exist? Without them, there wouldn't be any of this. Without words, the Führer was nothing”(Zusak 350). The novel suggests that without words, Hitler may have never rose to power. However the novel also alludes that “Words can inspire. And words can destroy. Choose yours well”(Sharma) as a type of moral to the story.
One way that Zusak projects the power of words is how they connect people together. For example, when Liesel is adopted by the Hubermann's, “they discovered she couldn't read or write”(Zusak …show more content…
“She was a girl. In Nazi Germany. How fitting that she was discovering the power of words”(Zusak 99). Death’s quote displays how even though Liesel is just a girl in a big county, she has power to do good, through her words. Later in the novel, in the same library, Liesel learns that she can use words to hurt as well “Now she became spiteful. More spiteful and evil than she thought herself capable”(Zusak 180). Liesel did not know she was capable of saying such horrible things to Ilsa Hermann. Through Liesel's experience she finds “The injury of words. Yes, the brutality of words”(Zusak 180). Ultimately, Liesel realizes that she does not want to use words for causing pain, but instead wants to use them for comforting others. For example, in the bomb shelter Liesel “could feel their frightened eyes hanging on to her as she hauled the words in and breathed them out. A voice played the notes inside her. This, it said, is your accordion”(Zusak). The accordion is a symbol for comfort in the novel, therefore Liesel's words become a comfort as well. Liesel's words have the power to calm people because “Somewhere inside her were the souls of words”(Zusak 343). In conclusion, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak alludes to the importance of words and the negative and positive effect words can have. Throughout the novel, Liesel uses words to comfort those around her and ultimately make a connection with them.
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