Not Really a Book Thief
“Irony is the humor of fate.” (Twila Vernon) Irony is all around us, as if it is a humor that does not happen intentionally. The novel The Book Thief by Markus Zusak has many instances of irony, from calling Himmel Street which means heaven (a place that actually resembles a living hell), to Rudy saying “you will be dying to kiss me” (Zusak, 38) when the time he actually receives a kiss he is dead. The book shows that there is humor in almost everything in life, such as stealing apples from orchards, playing the accordion, and of course stealing books. For this instance, the irony on why Liesel Meminger likes to steal books, and how the books represent that time in her life, one way or another will be discussed. Mark Zusak shows the irony in Liesel’s book stealing by making her not able to read, not actually stealing books, and making her hunger for books more than anything else, to enhance the complexity of the protagonist.
Liesel starts stealing books, even when she is not able to read. She finds her first book when she is with her mother Paula, just after her brother Werner died. The book she acquires is called The Gravedigger’s Handbook. The reason why she took the book is because it is a reminder of her real mother, and her brother that has passed away. It is bittersweet, as it is possibly the only memory that she has of her little brother Werner, and her mother Paula. This is all ironic because the memory that she has of her family is a book, and she has very little, to no knowledge of how to read.
Many of the books that Liesel has taken throughout the novel were given to her indirectly, and not actually stolen. For example, Ilsa Hermann (Wife of the mayor of Molching), leaves the window open in hopes that Liesel will come to the library once again. Another example is when she retrieves The Shoulder Shrug from the bonfire, which was not actually stolen, as it was not possessed by anyone; it was going to be fuel for the fire. This is very ironic because she does not “steal” many books, but she was at the right place at the right time to find the books. “The book thief had struck for the first time – the beginning of an illustrious career.” (Mark Zusak (5.119)) Liesel’s book stealing does not really qualify as thievery. This is because most of the time when she steals a book, Ilsa was leaving things like snacks beside the window that she left open for Liesel.
In the hard times of World War II, many people are going into a state of poverty and desperation. Even though the Hubermanns and most of Molching is decaying, Liesel strives for knowledge more than anything else. “Although something inside her told her that this was a crime – after all, her three books were the most precious items she owned – she was compelled to see the thing lit.” (18.12) Liesel treasures her books more than many things, because it holds many of her memories, good and bad, is used as a bonding tool for people like Hans, Ilsa, and Max. This is why Liesel always looks for ways to get and read new books. This is ironic because while many are sacrificing their lives for food and money, and the average kid will only want a new toy, Liesel will go out of her way and put herself in danger for a new book.
Liesel’s case of a reading habit in a war-troubled environment has proven to be tough on anyone in her situation. Her career as a Book Thief is the opposite of what you would think it would be. Instead of being a thief that is well-equipped in the German language, you get a poorly educated teenager in the middle of a world war that is given books. Her love of “stealing” books has shown to have massive irony by almost being the complete opposite of what her nickname should make her.
Citations
Zusak, Markus. The Book Thief. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2006. Print.
Jonah Cunanan
“Irony is the humor of fate.” (Twila Vernon) Irony is all around us, as if it is a humor that does not happen intentionally. The novel The Book Thief by Markus Zusak has many instances of irony, from calling Himmel Street which means heaven (a place that actually resembles a living hell), to Rudy saying “you will be dying to kiss me” (Zusak, 38) when the time he actually receives a kiss he is dead. The book shows that there is humor in almost everything in life, such as stealing apples from orchards, playing the accordion, and of course stealing books. For this instance, the irony on why Liesel Meminger likes to steal books, and how the books represent that time in her life, one way or another will be discussed. Mark Zusak shows the irony in Liesel’s book stealing by making her not able to read, not actually stealing books, and making her hunger for books more than anything else, to enhance the complexity of the protagonist.
Liesel starts stealing books, even when she is not able to read. She finds her first book when she is with her mother Paula, just after her brother Werner died. The book she acquires is called The Gravedigger’s Handbook. The reason why she took the book is because it is a reminder of her real mother, and her brother that has passed away. It is bittersweet, as it is possibly the only memory that she has of her little brother Werner, and her mother Paula. This is all ironic because the memory that she has of her family is a book, and she has very little, to no knowledge of how to read.
Many of the books that Liesel has taken throughout the novel were given to her indirectly, and not actually stolen. For example, Ilsa Hermann (Wife of the mayor of Molching), leaves the window open in hopes that Liesel will come to the library once again. Another example is when she retrieves The Shoulder Shrug from the bonfire, which was not actually stolen, as it was not possessed by anyone; it was going to be fuel for the fire. This is very ironic because she does not “steal” many books, but she was at the right place at the right time to find the books. “The book thief had struck for the first time – the beginning of an illustrious career.” (Mark Zusak (5.119)) Liesel’s book stealing does not really qualify as thievery. This is because most of the time when she steals a book, Ilsa was leaving things like snacks beside the window that she left open for Liesel.
In the hard times of World War II, many people are going into a state of poverty and desperation. Even though the Hubermanns and most of Molching is decaying, Liesel strives for knowledge more than anything else. “Although something inside her told her that this was a crime – after all, her three books were the most precious items she owned – she was compelled to see the thing lit.” (18.12) Liesel treasures her books more than many things, because it holds many of her memories, good and bad, is used as a bonding tool for people like Hans, Ilsa, and Max. This is why Liesel always looks for ways to get and read new books. This is ironic because while many are sacrificing their lives for food and money, and the average kid will only want a new toy, Liesel will go out of her way and put herself in danger for a new book.
Liesel’s case of a reading habit in a war-troubled environment has proven to be tough on anyone in her situation. Her career as a Book Thief is the opposite of what you would think it would be. Instead of being a thief that is well-equipped in the German language, you get a poorly educated teenager in the middle of a world war that is given books. Her love of “stealing” books has shown to have massive irony by almost being the complete opposite of what her nickname should make her.
Citations
Zusak, Markus. The Book Thief. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2006. Print.
Jonah Cunanan