Theme Of Isolation In The Book Thief

For most individuals, a failure to connect to someone or something external to themselves, typically results in a feeling of isolation and/or alienation and compromises a sense of well-being. This is expressed within Tim Winton’s mini series Cloudstreet (2011) and Markus Zusak's novel The Book Thief (2005) through various characters. For the mini series Cloudstreet (2011) this expression is shown within the character of Dolly Pickles and Oriel Lamb. This is also shown through the character Max Vandenburg and Liesel Meminger from the text The Book Thief (2005). Each character has a feeling of isolation and alienation for their area of belonging or in certain periods of their lives. However, the way they handle this feeling of confinement differs as each learn to compromise and become accustomed in

For Dolly her confinements is based on her ability to feel a sense of belonging. This leads to her confusing sexual activities and promiscuity with affection. These feelings of misunderstanding drive a wedge between her family, resulting in more of an isolating feeling. For Max Vandenburg his isolation is caused due to his choice of religion. During the era and area of where Max lived is the reason behind him being alienated, and lose his sense of belonging. The reign of Adolf Hitler during Nazi Germany, discriminated and propaganda against Jews, which is Max’s choice of religion. For Max he escaped his feelings of isolation and alienation through his will to defy Hitler and the society of Nazi Germany. He achieved this by fighting Hitler in the basement of the Hubermanns. “In the basement of 33 Himmel street, Max Vandenburg could feel the fists of an entire nation” (The Book Thief, 2005, pg 112). Liesel Meminger and the Hubermann family also assisted Max is distracting himself from this feeling of isolation. He compromised his life to revolve around theirs and in writing stories for Liesel Max was able to have a distraction from his life as a Jew. These acts