The Book Thief: Death’s Interest in Contradiction

Markus Susak, author of The Book Thief constantly played with light and dark imagery told from the perspective of Death himself. The supernatural narrator witnesses many contradictions. A Jew escapes the Nazi’s powerful clutches carrying only a copy of Mien Kampf, Hitler’s autobiography. A father and son look nearly identical, yet have political views that are exact opposites. Of all the juxtapositions in the novel, none were as black and white as the theme of morality. Although in the book this topic can be seen in many different examples, it is most prominent between good and evil, and right and wrong.

            In all great stories, there must be conflict. There must be some point at which one side must face opposition and struggle to overcome. This is what makes an interesting plot. In the case of The Book Thief, and often in many other novels, this conflict is between good and evil. The evil in this was possibly the most hateful force in recorded history, the Nazi Party. Under Hitler’s rule, the German people were brainwashed with fear and nationalism. This resulted in the Holocaust, one of the most evil acts in human history. So how did this happen?

            Death narrates the common practices of German culture at the time and shows in detail how the majority of the people convinced themselves to support such evil. One thing that led people to Nazism was fear. Propaganda created the widespread fear that the Jew was trying to take money, jobs, and ultimately rule Germany. This created a boogeyman that the people would soon try to eliminate. There was also the fear of consequences for non-conformity. Hans Hubermann is ostracized from the community for painting over hateful graffiti on the door of a Jewish shop. The vandalism reappears in less than a day, showing the omnipresent hatred in Germany. Even though some people, like the Hubermann family believed the Nazis were wrong, they were powerless to stop them. Another thing that united the people together was German nationalism. From a young age, children were taught to be proud of being German and that all other races were inferior. This extreme pride and racism made it the moral standard for the German people to defend their race at all costs. When something was announced a threat to the country, it was their moral duty to eliminate it.

            Sometimes morality may not be simply black and white, but Death definitely believes that there are boundaries. He knows the Germans have stepped over the line by systematically murdering millions of people. He does not enjoy taking souls, and describes the process of taking life with the use of only dark imagery. He is interested in contradictions, which is why he takes such an interest in the Hubermann family. They are a small beacon of hope in a seemingly hopeless nation.