Character Analysis Essay
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 reminds
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 reminds