Historically, people have used literacy to obtain political power. In the novel The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, it is evident that books, reading, and words themselves represent power for different characters in different ways. Close analysis of Liesel Meminger and Max Vandenburg reveals that power can be achieved through literacy in a context where literacy is severely limited. Literacy plays a major role in Liesel’s adolescence. Liesel obtains power through literacy as it gives her a sense of comfort and control. The act of reading and writing gives Liesel the strength to cope with and heal from her emotional trauma. Reading and finishing the book The Gravedigger’s Handbook helps Liesel find the courage to move on from the loss of her brother. Although Liesel does not yet know how to read when she arrives at the Hubermann’s on Himmel Street, she keeps the book to comfort her, as it is the last object she has relating to her brother. When papa and Liesel finish reading the book, Liesel “trot[s] out, involuntarily” (Zusak 87) by explaining to Hans that her brother’s name “‘was Werner’” (87). The act of Liesel’s words being spoken involuntarily suggests that “she is finding some freedom in the effects of her disturbing experiences” (Lee 14). Liesel does not have to force herself to speak to Hans about her brother as she has gained emotional stability. Additionally, literacy helps Liesel recover from her distress as Hans reads to her nightly. Hans reads to Liesel “to soothe her, to love her” (Zusak 36). Hans’ spoken words from the books and his mollifying voice provide Liesel a sense of safety. Liesel eventually develops independence as one day, “Liesel [tells] her papa that she should be old enough…to cope on her own with the dreams” (220). The act of reading eases her once traumatizing and disturbing nightmares. Furthermore, Liesel copes with her pain by writing about her past. When Liesel creeps down to the basement late at night to write about her life experiences, “she [makes] herself remember” (525). Although Liesel does not like to reflect on her previous struggles, she proceeds to do so anyways. The “process of writing [is] helpful for her” (Lee 21) and is a coping strategy as it helps Liesel express her emotions and lets out her inner anger and sadness through the act of writing. Moreover, literacy provides Liesel a sense of control. Literacy empowers Liesel by giving her a voice when she is powerless. Liesel becomes an autonomous individual and begins to see the world in its reality. While at the book burning, Liesel learns the reality that parents are communists and that it is Hitler who had them taken away from her. Liesel yells to Hans that she “‘hate[s] the Führer’” (Zusak 115) which suggests that she is developing her individuality and that she is beginning to see the reality of society. Also, Liesel breaks the rules by reading a book that is specifically meant to be burned as a voice “against the culture of Nazi Germany” (Lee 9). It is Liesel’s passion for reading that pushes her to steal a book from the book burning. Liesel’s act of rebellion demonstrates her taking control over herself, rather than the Nazis having control over her. Book burnings are a symbol of power and authority and are made for “destroying ideas” (American Experience para. 2). Book burnings are to remind German citizens who is in power and are meant to burn any knowledge that does not relate to Hitler’s way of thinking. Liesel gains individual power by breaking strict rules when she steals The Shoulder Shrug in which the protagonist is a Jew. This gives Liesel the power to be educated and knowledgeable on the realities Hitler is trying to hide from Germans and to better understand what Hitler is doing to the country and to the citizens: “Language, written, read, and stolen, becomes central to Liesel’s life – it is how she reconciles the dangers in both in and outside of her home” (Smith para. 3). In addition, literacy empowers Liesel when she reads to others to comfort them, and to feel in control of herself. During a bomb raid, Liesel reads to her frightened neighbours to help calm them down: “everyone was silent but Liesel…for at least twenty minutes, she handed out the story. The youngest kids were soothed by her voice, and everyone else saw visions of the whistler running from the crime scene” (Zusak 381). Liesel also begins to read to Frau Holtzapfel which helps console her during her time of grieving over her lost son. Frau Holtzapfel even offers to “‘stop spitting on [Rosa’s] door’” in exchange for Liesel to read to her. Being literarily educated, which is restricted during World War II, results in great power for many people. For Liesel, the power of words, writing, and reading help comfort her during her emotional trauma. Literacy “ultimately save[s] [Liesel]” (Smith para. 3) in the sense that books give her a strong purpose to her life. As Grace Lee has said, “not only does Liesel steal books, but she also steals her life back from death itself” (Lee 21). During a time where she is distraught and mentally torn, it is books that save her and give her purpose. Liesel is a young adolescent living in a time of strong discrimination, and she is growing up by “discovering the power of words” (Zusak 147). Similar to Liesel, literacy empowers Max by giving him hope during a time where he is considered subhuman. Reading, writing and painting support Max in his survival. Parallel to Liesel, literacy helps Max through his emotional trauma. Max feels guilty for leaving his family and forever holds a regret in his heart for doing so. Also, the general discrimination against Jews plays a major role on Max’s wellbeing. Like Liesel, Max has nightmares about his disturbances. Expressing his emotions through literacy helps Max cope with his nightmares and his emotional distress: “Literacy is significant to the Jews because it gives them a way to define the places they [are] in, who they are and cope with their traumas” (Lee 8). Max’s literary pieces in the basement “serve as his deepest form of self-expression and a means of surviving his ordeal” (Koprince para. 2). By relieving his emotions through language, literacy revives Max’s hope for a virtuous life. Furthermore, literacy gives Max a purpose for continuing to live in such a harsh environment. Max’s biggest motivation for continuing to live in the Hubermann’s frigid basement is the friendship he develops with Liesel. It is literacy that bonds Liesel and Max so closely. When Liesel observes Max while he is sleeping, she notices he is holding a book which happens to be Mein Kampf. Liesel becomes interested in the book Max is holding and becomes further interested in Max as she notices that they share similar characteristics—they both like to read and they both have nightmares. Reading, writing and painting is what helps Max survive during his lonesome time in the basement. Max fills out the crosswords Liesel brings him to “‘pass the time’” (Zusak 221). “In his loneliest moments in the basement, the words [start] to pil[e] up around him. The visions beg[in] to pour and fall and occasionally limp out of his hands. He ha[s] what he call[s] just a small ration of tools: A painted book. A handful of pencils. A mindful of thoughts. Like a simple puzzle, he put[s] them together.” (277). When Max first arrives at the Hubermann’s, he “regards the basement as a rat hole that somehow benefits a wretched man like himself. But he changes his mind about his underground habitation, largely because of his blossoming friendship with Liesel” (Koprince para. 1). The development of friendship and the use of literacy changes Max’s view on life. Additionally, through the comfort of words, Max’s shelter becomes his home: “literacy changes his perspective on the basement and transforms it into a sanctuary” (Lee 10). Rather than the basement remaining a ‘rat hole’ to Max, his shelter becomes “a home, and a setting in which words can provide salvation” (Koprince para. 1) as he “paints words and pictures on the cement walls, until the basement itself resembles a large, illustrated book” (Koprince para. 2). Once the basement becomes a dictionary with words and drawings all over the walls, Max “like[s] to call [it] home” (Zusak 222). The words and paintings comfort Max and provide him a sense of safety. Also, it is through literacy that Max gains the power to resist Nazi culture. Max tears out the pages of Mein Kampf and paints them white to resemble a fresh new page: “there [are] the erased pages of Mein Kampf, gagging, suffocating under the paint as they [turn]” (237). Max ‘suffocates’ the pages of Mein Kampf with paint as an act of anger to treat Hitler how he is treating Jews. Max begins to strongly resist Nazi culture as he inaugurates to fight Hitler in his dreams. As Max’s imagination develops through literacy, he dreams of fighting the Führer as a way to cope with his anger. Without knowing how to read or write, Max would not have such a wide and creative imagination to help him through his struggles. Furthermore, Max becomes his own author in a time where literacy for Germans, especially Jews, is forbidden. Max writes his first book, The Standover Man, where he expresses his emotions of being scared his whole entire life of the “men standing over [him]” (Zusak 224). Max writes this book as a strategy to cope with his emotional distress from his past, and to keep himself busy by performing his hobby. Max later writes his final book, The Word Shaker, where Max expresses how Hitler “rule[s] the world with words” (445) and is simply only so successful in doing so due to the power of his words. Hitler brainwashes German citizens into his way of thinking. In Max’s book, he states how Hitler will “‘never fire a gun’” (445), as he will not have to due to his strength coming from his powerful words. Max is well educated and sees the true reality behind Hitler’s success. Max knows that “the BEST word shakers [are] the ones who underst[and] the true power of words. They [are] the ones who [can] climb the highest…she was renowned as the best word shaker of her region because she [knows] how powerless a person [can] be WITHOUT words” (446). Max’s narration in his book reveals how he is well aware of one’s success due to the power of being literarily educated and using words to one’s advantage. Although Max suffers through his past ordeal, it is literacy that helps him cope and overcome his despondency. Max gains a new insight on life due to his literary education. Literacy has given power to Liesel and Max in the sense that they gain control over themselves and learn to cope with their emotional traumas. Hitler uses his education in a politically destructive power, whereas Liesel and Max use their education to help them survive and to better understand the reality of the world. As the novel is set during World War II, it is evident that literacy is strictly restricted, however Liesel and Max both surreptitiously use their education to better themselves.

Bibliography

Koprince, Susan. “Words from the basement: Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief.” (2011). Print.

Lee, Grace. “Literacy in The Book Thief: Complicated Matters of People, Witnessing, Death.” (2015): 3-25. Print.

Mason Smith, Maggie. “The Book Thief” (2013). Publications. Paper 72.

“People and Events; Book Burnings in Germany, 1933.” Pbs.org. American Express, April 25th, 2006. Web. May 12th, 2016.

Zusak, Mark. The Book Thief. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2007. Print.

The Power of Literacy in a Context Where Education is Strictly Limited

Megan Theriault
Eng3Uab
Timmins High and Vocational School

Submitted to: Mrs. Timmins Due Date: May 31st, 2016