The Book Thief Language Analysis

Throughout the history of mankind, humans have used their ability to communicate in many two different ways. During WW2, both types of communication took place. Germans would call the persecuted Jews awful names, while others would encourage them to get back on their feet and survive. These people survived because of the positive words communicated to them during rough times. In the novel The Book Thief, written by Markus Zusak, many of its characters use words for the betterment of their audience.
Liesel, the main protagonist in this novel, proves to the reader that words bring a positive effect to its listeners. During the second air raid, Liesel and her family went to the Fiedler’s basement for shelter, where everyone stood still, petrified, waiting for their own demise. All of a sudden, Liesel softly reads to the rest of the families and is described as such, “The youngest kids were soothed by her voice, and everyone else saw visions of the whistler running from the crime scene” (Zusak 381). Liesel’s voice and the words she is speaking completely take
Liesel uses her words to calm people in times of stress and doubt. When Max had doubts about living, it was Liesel who came in and showed him how much he has to live for. Max uses his stories to inspire Liesel to be herself, and Death, without speaking to any character, provides unseen support to Liesel and reminds her of how lucky she was to escape death for as long as she did. By just writing a couple of words on a piece of paper or speaking a simple phrase, it it is crazy to think that these words can change someone’s life. If words can be so powerful, people should use conversation and diplomacy to solve the world’s problems, not war and violence. There has been to much death in this world that could have been avoided if violence was not involved. Words can be