Throughout literature and film, writers use unbiased characters to tell their stories. These characters are vital to the integrity and validity of their stories. This holds true in Markus Zusak’s novel The Book Thief. Zusak shocked the world when readers learned his story was told by the perspective of Death. However, in Zusak’s mind, Death is not cynical, but rather harmless. The characterization Death used while introducing himself leads readers to conclude he is an unbiased narrator. The characterization of Death in which he describes himself in a fair manner leads readers to conclude he is unbiased. The novel begins with an introduction from the narrator, Death. He uses direct characterization to describe himself. Death bluntly states,
