The Book Thief Character Changes

Liesel’s Catastrophic Trauma Transformation of Change
Change is an important part of life. It is very interesting to see how one can change their personality and their beliefs. It is also very fascinating to see how one can realize that this world is not the world that you thought of. In the novel, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. Liesel undergoes many changes both as an individual and a character in the story. The protagonist, Liesel evolves from a powerless and meek character to a powerful and more defiant character. Firstly, Liesel transforms from a helpless character to a strong character that is capable of helping others. Furthermore, Liesel evolves from a character that was illiterate to an intelligent character, who understands the power
Liesel realizes how words can be good and evil. She learns that words and reading can bring families and communities together. When she is reading at the shelter, “Young kids [are] soothed by her voice, and everyone else saw visions of the whistler running from the crime scene... they [are] distracted now, by the girl with the book” (Zusak 381-382). When she reads at the shelter during the bomb raid, it gives the audience a sense of comfort and distraction. Because of her reading in the shelter, Frau Holtzapfel stops her grudge with the Hubermanns, and asks Liesel to read for her. Liesel realizes that words also have a good side, where the words have the power to bring people together. Liesel also comprehends that Adolf Hitler uses words to manipulate German citizens to carry out horrific facts, which cause a lot of deaths and suffering. So Liesel decides to create her own novel, so she can spread the good in words. Her last line ends with, “I have hated words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right” (Zusak 528). This shows how the power of words has impacted Liesel in good and bad ways. She shows that she wants to use the words for good, rather than evil. The fact that Liesel was illiterate and now she is writing a book to spread awareness is very impressive. In
Therefore, Liesel evolves from a lonely character that had nobody to a character who creates many incredible bonds with her new family and friends. Even though Liesel has a hard time trusting and allowing herself to vulnerable, she easily starts an incredible and amazing bond with her foster father, Hans Hubermann. When Liesel was getting to know him, “Liesel observed the strangeness of her foster father’s eyes. They were made of kindness, and sliver... Upon seeing those eyes, understood that Hans Hubermann was worth a lot” (Zusak 34). No one has ever played her music, and no one has ever taught her how to read till Hans came along. No one has ever cared for her like Hans has. This is why Liesel loves Hans the most out of everybody. Liesel also starts an amazing and a heartwarming relationship with Max Vandenburg, who is a Jew surviving in Hubermann’s basement. “You could say argue that Liesel Meminger had it easy. She did have it easy compared to max Vanderburg... anything was better than being a Jew.” (Zusak 161). Liesel was a lost girl who had nobody till her new family found her. Max has also lost his family but he is also by the Nazis. Liesel and Max are both broken people living in a broken world. They both have lost many important things in their lives, this is what makes them bond really easily. Liesel did not care that Max was Jewish; they still create