The Book Thief Book Vs Movie
The Book Thief Essay
Mark Zusak’s novel, The Book Thief, was better than the film, as it dives deeper into the various perspectives and personalities of the characters. It builds up the character of Max, and the minor characters (such as the Holtzapfel family) build up the story. By reading this story, you learn about the themes of mortality and the power of words which aren’t as present in the film.
Max, in the film, appears to be nothing more than another helpless and weak Jew. He is in hiding, he has to depend on others, he gets sick and he feels like a burden. He is portrayed as such in the book as well, but the book also includes another side to him - the side that is strong and has love to fight for. You learn that from a young age, Max has always had a fighting spirit. When he was around 13, he was known as “the …show more content…
Without him being apparent in the movie, you lose the meaning behind that theme. Unlike in the movie, death constantly reminds you to be aware of the characters’ mortality. In the very first scene of the book, somebody dies. It’s because death is just a normal part of being human. It’s not something to fear and it’s not something to celebrate either; death is just an event that will occur and we’ll all have to face that reality at some point in our lives. Death is just a part of you. “You want to know what I truly look like? I'll help you out. Find yourself a mirror while I continue.” (307) It’s something to mourn over, but you eventually come to terms with it and remember the people for who they were and not for what happened to them. In the end, this message helps Liesel cope and grow, and the readers learn from this as well. Because we are aware of the deaths to come, it doesn’t become a tragedy like in the movie. It was something that was sad, but you remembered the story for the characters and not for the sorrow you
Mark Zusak’s novel, The Book Thief, was better than the film, as it dives deeper into the various perspectives and personalities of the characters. It builds up the character of Max, and the minor characters (such as the Holtzapfel family) build up the story. By reading this story, you learn about the themes of mortality and the power of words which aren’t as present in the film.
Max, in the film, appears to be nothing more than another helpless and weak Jew. He is in hiding, he has to depend on others, he gets sick and he feels like a burden. He is portrayed as such in the book as well, but the book also includes another side to him - the side that is strong and has love to fight for. You learn that from a young age, Max has always had a fighting spirit. When he was around 13, he was known as “the …show more content…
Without him being apparent in the movie, you lose the meaning behind that theme. Unlike in the movie, death constantly reminds you to be aware of the characters’ mortality. In the very first scene of the book, somebody dies. It’s because death is just a normal part of being human. It’s not something to fear and it’s not something to celebrate either; death is just an event that will occur and we’ll all have to face that reality at some point in our lives. Death is just a part of you. “You want to know what I truly look like? I'll help you out. Find yourself a mirror while I continue.” (307) It’s something to mourn over, but you eventually come to terms with it and remember the people for who they were and not for what happened to them. In the end, this message helps Liesel cope and grow, and the readers learn from this as well. Because we are aware of the deaths to come, it doesn’t become a tragedy like in the movie. It was something that was sad, but you remembered the story for the characters and not for the sorrow you