A variety of issues are illustrated through the use of characterisation and conflict in Markus Zusak’s ‘The Book Thief.’ The text is a coming of age story of an adolescent German girl, Liesel Meminger, who lives through extensive trials and tribulations in a hostile environment, a world war and her complex relationships with her friends and family. Zusak uses the inner conflict of his character Liesel to explore how individual’s cope with the loss of loved ones, and their impacts on characters. The relationship between Max and Liesel illustrates the importance of friendship during hardship and Hans is employed to highlight the negative effects of the Nazi political regime.
Zusak uses the inner conflict of the character Liesel to explore the internal struggle after losing a loved one. The death of Liesel's brother causes her great suffering and results in her having nightmares. "Still in disbelief, she started to dig. He couldn't be dead. He couldn't be dead. He couldn't," Zusak employs repetition to enforce Liesel’s distressed disposition and to highlight the inner turmoil she faces. The charactisation of Liesel demonstrates the internal dilemma an individual faces when the death of a loved one occurs.
Zusak uses the relationship between Liesel and Max to demonstrate the importance of mate ship in a difficult situation. Max gives Liesel the book, The Standover Man, on his birthday after Liesel hugs Max. The hug, at that point in the novel, is more out of pity than love; however, The Standover Man changes the dynamics of the relationship. Zusak uses an allegory in the novel to show this, The Standover Man, to depict their lives, "Now I think we are friends, this girl and me. On her birthday it was she who gave a gift to me. "
The importance of friendship is shown using