The two most important characters in The Book Thief are Liesel and Max. Throughout the novel, both of Max and Liesel encounter various problems which they try to cope with. In Liesel’s case, most of her problems stem from her fear of abandonment. Liesel was “abandoned” by her mother when she was young and that caused her to fear being all alone. That’s why when both Max and Hans, two people that have had an impact in her life, leave, Liesel gets scared that she will never see them again. Liesel copes with these problems by reading. Books help Liesel escape her worries/fears and, to her, reading gives her power, something she feels she doesn’t have. In Max’s case, he has to deal with the fact that people want him dead for being a Jew and that he is endangering Liesel’s family by staying with them. Max tries to cope with his problems and eventually takes matters into his own hands. Max leaves Liesel’s family, essentially protecting them, only leaving a note saying, “ you’ve done enough” (Zusak, 398). This course of action is in complete contrast with what happens in Monkey Beach. In Monkey Beach, the main character, Lisa loses two people that were very important to her. While Max decides that he will fix his problems by not endangering people anymore, Lisa runs away from the pain of losing her loved ones, essentially leaving her life behind. It’s hard to say if the characters are coping well or not with their problems. It seems more like they’re dealing with their problems the only way they can.
Escaping Into Books and Protecting Those You Love
January 14, 2011 by ramirez234
Hmmm…fear of abandonment? Did you read Kiterunner? What about Amir? When does he ever reconcile his relationship with his father?
I think the sad thing is that Amir never really gets to fully reconcile with his dad. It seems like his dad has accepted Amir before he passes away, but then we learn of the whole secret behind Amir and Hassan been half-brothers. I’m certain that Amir would have wanted to talk to his father after learning about Hassan. Did Amir’s dad ever accept him or did he just settle on him because Hassan wasn’t there? I don’t know. It would be great to think that Amir’s dad accepted him but I think in the end, Amir’s dad didn’t, or couldn’t, fully accept neither Amir nor Hassan.