The Book Thief Themes
The novel, The Book Thief, shows the destruction of literature and writing, as dramatized by the burning of Jewish creative and intellectual products in a book burning to commemorate Adolph Hitler's birthday.
From learning how to read, Liesel has come to discover many things she never knew before, such like how important it is to express oneself. It seems like words are basically the main thing that keeps her alive in the bleak world and that keeps her to encourage others in this chaos caused by warfare. When everything in her life is messed up, reading and writing takes her out of this world. Maybe that's part of the reason why she is so attracted to books. Even more than bread.
‘"Trust me, though, the words were on their way, and when they arrived, Liesel would hold them in her hands like the clouds, and she would wring them out, like the rain.”
The quote clearly shows that the power of words is portrayed in The Book Thief. Words can become the tool to brainwash the people when they’re used by Nazis. Words can become the strength to rescue and comfort people's minds when they’re used by Liesel. Words are so powerful in this novel that it can generate such resonance towards the reader.
We have to remind ourselves that words matter. They can persuade you to do anything from buying a product to persecuting an entire race of people. I once read that a word is like a living organism, capable of growing, changing, spreading, and influencing the world in many ways, directly and indirectly through others. As I ponder the power of the word to incite and divide, to calm and connect, or to create and effect change, I am ever more cautious in what I say and how I listen to the words around
From learning how to read, Liesel has come to discover many things she never knew before, such like how important it is to express oneself. It seems like words are basically the main thing that keeps her alive in the bleak world and that keeps her to encourage others in this chaos caused by warfare. When everything in her life is messed up, reading and writing takes her out of this world. Maybe that's part of the reason why she is so attracted to books. Even more than bread.
‘"Trust me, though, the words were on their way, and when they arrived, Liesel would hold them in her hands like the clouds, and she would wring them out, like the rain.”
The quote clearly shows that the power of words is portrayed in The Book Thief. Words can become the tool to brainwash the people when they’re used by Nazis. Words can become the strength to rescue and comfort people's minds when they’re used by Liesel. Words are so powerful in this novel that it can generate such resonance towards the reader.
We have to remind ourselves that words matter. They can persuade you to do anything from buying a product to persecuting an entire race of people. I once read that a word is like a living organism, capable of growing, changing, spreading, and influencing the world in many ways, directly and indirectly through others. As I ponder the power of the word to incite and divide, to calm and connect, or to create and effect change, I am ever more cautious in what I say and how I listen to the words around