The Book Thief Themes

Prominent Themes in

The Book Thief

Trust & Loyalty

The characters in the novel display strong characteristics of trust and loyalty through different acts, and it helps them form stronger bonds and relationships. Rudy shows loyalty towards Liesel by defending him and staying by her side when she needs him. He, unlike her other friends, does not ditch her when they are caught stealing apples. Hans owes a favor to Erik Vandenburg, Max's father, for saving his life in the war. He remains loyal and chooses to risk his life to help Max.

Friendship is built on trust, and trust is built on loyalty, so remaining honest is important in forming relationships.

Appreciation of Life

way #2

2) Appreciating the current circumstances of your life:

It is important to make the most of your current circumstances. We often forget to cherish the life happening around us, until it is taken away and we wish it was the way it used to be. You never know how suddenly it can change, like when Rudy dies, and Liesel regrets missing the opportunity to give him the kiss he's been wanting since they met. Max also was unknowingly taking the shelter of Hubermann's basement for granted, because he had no idea that he would soon be sent to a concentration camp, where the conditions would be much worse.

By Marianne Cordeau

Appreciation of Life

way #1

The Book Thief emits a strong message to value life. This appreciation can be perceived in two ways.

1) Appreciating the gift of life itself:

Death, the narrator who takes the souls of the dead, has overtime come to realize how lucky people are to live. He has witnessed countless deaths and collected millions of souls around the world. He reminds us of how precious life is, and how quickly it can be taken away.

Liesel also learns to appreciate life after the bombing of Himmel Street, where she looses everyone that she loves. The deaths in the novel provide a constant reminder to be grateful for our life and the lives of the ones we love.

The Black & White of Humans

Love & Friendship

In the novel, we see humans at their extremes; when they are most cruel and when they can be so kind. Hitler is an example of savagery and inhumane malice. He is the devil that sits atop of Germans' shoulders, rivaled only by the angel sitting across from him. In a world controlled by such a hateful soul are people like Hans and Liesel, who remind people of their humanity. This good versus evil exemplifies how the world is a stew of the sympathetic and the empty-hearted.

Love and friendship hold a great value in the novel The Book Thief. They stitch the holes that war and hatred make.

There is a young love that sparks between Liesel and Rudy, and they confide in each other and care for one another.

Liesel and Max develop a strong relationship, bonding over trains, dreams, fists, and a love for words. They share their emotions and stories, and together they overcome the obstacles of life.

The love that Hans Hubermann shows Liesel allows her to grow into a mature and kind girl, as can be seen when she gives bread to the Jews, just like her father had done.

The spreading of love and friendship is key in the restoration of faith in humanity.

The Power of Words

The Horrors of Nazi Germany

The main character, Liesel Meminger, finds comfort in words and develops a love for books, stealing them whenever she can lay her hands on one. Words are prevalent throughout the entire story, and their significance never falters. Learning them brings Liesel and Hans together, reading them to Max forms a bond between him and Liesel, and calms the mass of people hanging onto their lives in the dark basement. Yet we also discover that words can be dangerous. Spreading them gives Hitler power, speaking them in defense of a Jew raises suspicion and results in Max having to leave.

The power of words is also exposed when Max writes a story for Liesel called "The Word Shaker", about a girl who feeds on words, and with them, nothing can bring her down.

The time period in which the novel The Book Thief occurs (1939 - 1943) holds an underlying message of how horrible Nazi Germany was. Max Vandenburg, the Jew hiding in the Hubermann's basement, is described as malnourished, weak, and most certainly, always hiding from the world outside; from Hitler. This shows how terrible the Fürher was to the Jews, sending them to concentration camps and causing them a life of fear and pain.