Power Of Language In The Book Thief
In Markus Zusak's historical novel The Book Thief, Liesel starts off the novel illiterate and she gets a sudden impulse to learn how to read. As Liesel learns how to read she soon discovers how words could hold a unique power to convince people to commit severe acts of cruelty. She finds out that words can be powerful. The power of language can be both good and bad. However, this historical novel shows that the power of language can be used for bad.
Max had created many drawings throughout the time he had stayed with the Huberman's. One of the many drawings was “Not the Führer- the conductor”( Zusak 279). In the novel, Max portrays in his drawing that the Führer is the conductor and the Germans are basically his musicians. Max had represented
the Führer as the conductor because just like a conductor, the Führer conducts his words and motions to the Germans then the Germans play the words and motions out like musicians. In which the Germans help the Führer commit his planned acts of cruelty.
Other than drawings, Max also wrote stories. The story that Max given Liesel before he left was The Word Shaker, in which it said “Yes, the Führer decided that he would rule the world with words… His first plan of attack was to plant the words in as many areas of his homeland as possible. He planted them day and night, and cultivated them. He watched them grow, until eventually, great forests of words had risen throughout Germany…. It was a nation of farmed thoughts”( Zusak 445).
Max had created many drawings throughout the time he had stayed with the Huberman's. One of the many drawings was “Not the Führer- the conductor”( Zusak 279). In the novel, Max portrays in his drawing that the Führer is the conductor and the Germans are basically his musicians. Max had represented
the Führer as the conductor because just like a conductor, the Führer conducts his words and motions to the Germans then the Germans play the words and motions out like musicians. In which the Germans help the Führer commit his planned acts of cruelty.
Other than drawings, Max also wrote stories. The story that Max given Liesel before he left was The Word Shaker, in which it said “Yes, the Führer decided that he would rule the world with words… His first plan of attack was to plant the words in as many areas of his homeland as possible. He planted them day and night, and cultivated them. He watched them grow, until eventually, great forests of words had risen throughout Germany…. It was a nation of farmed thoughts”( Zusak 445).