PART FOUR
Quotations
- "Somehow, between the sadness and loss, Max Vandenburg, who was now a teenager with hard hands, blackened eyes, and a sore tooth, was also a little disappointed. Even disgruntled. As he watched his uncle sink slowly into the bed, he decided that he would never allow himself to die like that. The man's face was so accepting...Where's the fight? he wondered. Where's the will to hold on?...'When death captures me,' the boy vowed, 'he will feel my fist on his face.' Personally, I quite like that. Such stupid gallantry. Yes. I like that a lot."—Death, Part 4 (188-189)
Max looked up to his uncle all his life and even inherited some of his hotheadedness. So, when his uncle died so easily he took it harshly. Death takes so many people easily, so when Max vows to fight back, Death looks forward to it. I think it's a great thing that Max wants to go out with a fight instead of letting something or someone kill him and still be okay with it.
- " * * * A SMALL BUT NOTEWORTHY NOTE * * *
I've seen so many young men
over the years who think they're
running at other young men.
They are not.
They are running at me."—Death, Part 4 (174-175)
In battle, or war, people fight each other thinking that if they kill the enemy in front of them that they have done their part, but really all they are doing to taking Death head on and hoping he doesn't collect their soul first. I never looked at it this way and it makes since now that it was blatantly stated.
- "Also, in the space of just over half a year, the Hubermanns had lost a son and gained a replacement of epically dangerous proportions."—Death, Part 4 (211)
During Christmas, the Hubermanns lost their Nazi son because of an argument, but not long afterwards they receive a new guest that is exactly the opposite of what they lost. It is ironic that this happens because if their son knew that Max was his "replacement" I feel as though he would report it to the Nazi Party as soon as possible.
Max looked up to his uncle all his life and even inherited some of his hotheadedness. So, when his uncle died so easily he took it harshly. Death takes so many people easily, so when Max vows to fight back, Death looks forward to it. I think it's a great thing that Max wants to go out with a fight instead of letting something or someone kill him and still be okay with it.
- " * * * A SMALL BUT NOTEWORTHY NOTE * * *
I've seen so many young men
over the years who think they're
running at other young men.
They are not.
They are running at me."—Death, Part 4 (174-175)
In battle, or war, people fight each other thinking that if they kill the enemy in front of them that they have done their part, but really all they are doing to taking Death head on and hoping he doesn't collect their soul first. I never looked at it this way and it makes since now that it was blatantly stated.
- "Also, in the space of just over half a year, the Hubermanns had lost a son and gained a replacement of epically dangerous proportions."—Death, Part 4 (211)
During Christmas, the Hubermanns lost their Nazi son because of an argument, but not long afterwards they receive a new guest that is exactly the opposite of what they lost. It is ironic that this happens because if their son knew that Max was his "replacement" I feel as though he would report it to the Nazi Party as soon as possible.
Images
Connections and Historical Context
"That was the first time Hans Hubermann escaped me. The Great War."—Death, Part 4 (178)
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a.k.a. World War I — Global war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918
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"Perhaps it did, for the devastated woman asked if he could play it for her, and she silently wept as he pressed the buttons and keys of a clumsy 'Blue Danube Waltz.' It was her husband's favorite."—Death, Part 4 (179)
Watch the video below to hear the 'Blue Danube Waltz'.
Watch the video below to hear the 'Blue Danube Waltz'.
Questions
- If Eric Vandenburg hadn't saved Hans' life that day, do you think that Max would still be alive?
- If Hans knew what Eric's family would ask of him, do you think he would have made his promise?
- Do you think Trudy could've been trusted if she found out about Max?
- Why did Liesel's hug mean so much to Max?
My Thoughts and Response
I think that in this part, Liesel really starts to grow up. She is trusted with possibly the most important secret of her life and she realizes that. When Liesel finds out about Max's nightmares and past, she connects with him in a way that she doesn't have anyone else to understand her as he does. Between trains and death and nightmares, they have more understanding of one another than anyone else possibly could.
I really feel bad for Max. He is safe, but at the same time, he is lonely and cold. When he finally gets invited upstairs at night and begins to open up to Liesel and her foster family, the guilt of what he is doing to them starts eating at him. At the moment it just doesn't seem like he can be happy there yet he has no where else to go. He is stuck at a crossroads.
I really feel bad for Max. He is safe, but at the same time, he is lonely and cold. When he finally gets invited upstairs at night and begins to open up to Liesel and her foster family, the guilt of what he is doing to them starts eating at him. At the moment it just doesn't seem like he can be happy there yet he has no where else to go. He is stuck at a crossroads.