The ending of The Book Thief, for the most part, is satisfying enough. The Book Thief being a cynical book meant that the downer ending was going to happen. The story doesn’t really end that happily, with only the two major characters, Liesel and Max, surviving the course of the book. What is probably the most infuriating part of the ending is the fact that nothing ever happens between Liesel and Rudy. It’s was obvious that the two liked each other and, at one point, the author sets up a scenario where the two seem like they are going to kiss, but it never happens. It’s really sad and ironic that the two of them do end up kissing, but after Rudy dies. One of the comments made by Death during the end of the book was, “I wanted to explain that I am constantly overestimating and underestimating the human race- rarely do I ever simply estimate it.” (Zusak, 550). The quote relates to a theme in the book which is, humans are unpredictable; they can both amaze and disappoint. Adding that comment really summed up what The Book Thief was all about. The mostly cynical ending of The Book thief is in contrast with the more idealistic ending of Slumdog Millionaire. In Slumdog Millionaire, Thomas, the main character, ends up with the money he won and with it he provides happy endings to most of the other important characters. The Book Thief’s ending may come of as cheap way to not finish all the different character arcs, but what the author did do, was finish Liesel’s arc. It was a sad ending, but one that shows that life is short and people must take each day like it’s their last.
Life and Death
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