Symbolism In The Book Thief By Markus Zusak

Sym·bol·ism~ noun: the practice of representing things by symbols, or of investing things with a symbolic meaning or character (Dictionary.com). Symbolism is represented in a manifold of ways throughout The Book Thief written by Markus Zusak. Objects such as an accordion, and bread are symbolic items that are key features that tie the story together. Liesel Meminger’s precious books aren’t just books to her for they have a hidden identity in between the pages. All of these objects have a meaning in themselves but suggest other meanings as well. The story begins with Liesel and her brother on a train being taken to a distant land. Sadly her brother dies on the journey, and they bury him when the train stops. At the burial sight, as one of the grave diggers walks away an object falls from his coat. “There was something black and rectangular lodged in the snow. Only the girl saw it. She bent down and picked it up and held it firmly in her fingers. The book had silver writing on it” (Zusak 16). When Liesel grabbed the The Grave Digger’s Handbook, it wasn’t her intention to read, she didn’t even know how to

The suffering was cemented to the faces of the prisoners as they struggled on, hanging onto the hope that someone would save them. Without thinking, Hans did a horrible, yet kind, action that may have well put his whole family at risk. “Papa reached into his paint cart and pulled something out. He made his way through the people, onto the road. The Jew stood before him, expecting another handful of derision, but he watched with everyone else as Hans Hubermann held his hand out and presented a piece of bread, like magic” (Zusak 394). Rather than the bread being interrupted as a piece of food that could feed the growing monster that lurked in the person’s stomach, it was an act of kindness that showed that hope for the Jewish race wasn’t dead