The Book thief opinion essay
English 10th
09/06/13
The Piece of Bread (303-305) I watched the procession of Jews walk through the streets like a herd of cows headed to the slaughterhouse. I tried not to do anything to indicate I was against a decision made by the fuhrer, because that would spell trouble for me and my family. But I could not. I couldn’t just watch as these people walked on. No one else seemed to bat an eye at what was going on. The soldiers, some merely boys, had Hitler shining in their eyes. One man caught my attention. He was older than most of them, he had a long beard and worn, ripped clothes. His eyes were a sorrowful color, the color of agony. He was near weightless, but anyone could see it was far too much for his legs to carry. He kept falling. The others just kept walking past, and the guards were prodding him on, not caring, yelling at him to get up. The weight from his body was like the earth on his hands. I couldn’t take it anymore. This is not right. Liesel watched me as I let go of her hand, and I think she knew what I was doing before I did.
I reached into an empty paint can and made my way through the crowd. I gave him a piece of bread. That’s all. I knew I was going to get punished, but at least this man will have the feeling that someone cares, before his life ends. The man places his hands on my shins, and moved on to place his head at my ankles. I fought back the tears, for this man, so humbled and made to feel so worthless that he thanks me for a piece of bread as though I were giving him and every Jew in Germany freedom. The other Jews walked passed and stared, along with the crowd. A guard caught up soon enough and I knew the punishment had arrived. First was the old man. I watched with my jaw and fists clenched.
I was preparing myself, and I glanced at Liesel in the crowd. She looked away quickly into Rudy’s shoulder, and that was when I felt the first flame dance across my back. Then another followed by two more. Next thing I
09/06/13
The Piece of Bread (303-305) I watched the procession of Jews walk through the streets like a herd of cows headed to the slaughterhouse. I tried not to do anything to indicate I was against a decision made by the fuhrer, because that would spell trouble for me and my family. But I could not. I couldn’t just watch as these people walked on. No one else seemed to bat an eye at what was going on. The soldiers, some merely boys, had Hitler shining in their eyes. One man caught my attention. He was older than most of them, he had a long beard and worn, ripped clothes. His eyes were a sorrowful color, the color of agony. He was near weightless, but anyone could see it was far too much for his legs to carry. He kept falling. The others just kept walking past, and the guards were prodding him on, not caring, yelling at him to get up. The weight from his body was like the earth on his hands. I couldn’t take it anymore. This is not right. Liesel watched me as I let go of her hand, and I think she knew what I was doing before I did.
I reached into an empty paint can and made my way through the crowd. I gave him a piece of bread. That’s all. I knew I was going to get punished, but at least this man will have the feeling that someone cares, before his life ends. The man places his hands on my shins, and moved on to place his head at my ankles. I fought back the tears, for this man, so humbled and made to feel so worthless that he thanks me for a piece of bread as though I were giving him and every Jew in Germany freedom. The other Jews walked passed and stared, along with the crowd. A guard caught up soon enough and I knew the punishment had arrived. First was the old man. I watched with my jaw and fists clenched.
I was preparing myself, and I glanced at Liesel in the crowd. She looked away quickly into Rudy’s shoulder, and that was when I felt the first flame dance across my back. Then another followed by two more. Next thing I