PART TWO
Quotations
- “I guess humans like to watch a little destruction. Sand castles, houses of cards, that’s where they begin. Their great skill is their capacity to escalate.”-- Death (109)
Death makes this observation near the end of Part Two, right before the bonfire of banned books is lit as part of the celebration of Hitler’s birthday. The quote shows Death's attempt to understand the crowd’s frenzied desire for destruction and also suggests that it is human nature to destroy things.
- "Is my mother a communist?" Staring. Straight ahead. "They were always asking her things, before I came here." Hans edged forward a little, forming the beginnings of a lie. "I have no idea — I never met her."
"Did the Führer take her away?" ..... He said, "I think he might have, yes."—Death (115)
Liesel finally realizes what happened to her mom. Even as a 10 year old, she was able to put the pieces together and figure out what Hitler did with her mom and why she had to leave.
-"I hate the Führer," she said. "I hate him." ...He clenched his eyes. Then opened them. He slapped Liesel Meminger squarely on the face. "Don't ever say that!" His voice was quiet, but sharp. ..."You can say that in our house," he said, looking gravely at Liesel's cheek. "But you never say it on the streets, at school, at the BDM, never!"--Death (116)
Hans slapped Liesel, not because he wanted to, but because he had to. If someone had heard her say that and not been punished, they may have come for her and her foster family. Hans doesn't disapprove that she hates Hitler, he just doesn't want to lose her.
Death makes this observation near the end of Part Two, right before the bonfire of banned books is lit as part of the celebration of Hitler’s birthday. The quote shows Death's attempt to understand the crowd’s frenzied desire for destruction and also suggests that it is human nature to destroy things.
- "Is my mother a communist?" Staring. Straight ahead. "They were always asking her things, before I came here." Hans edged forward a little, forming the beginnings of a lie. "I have no idea — I never met her."
"Did the Führer take her away?" ..... He said, "I think he might have, yes."—Death (115)
Liesel finally realizes what happened to her mom. Even as a 10 year old, she was able to put the pieces together and figure out what Hitler did with her mom and why she had to leave.
-"I hate the Führer," she said. "I hate him." ...He clenched his eyes. Then opened them. He slapped Liesel Meminger squarely on the face. "Don't ever say that!" His voice was quiet, but sharp. ..."You can say that in our house," he said, looking gravely at Liesel's cheek. "But you never say it on the streets, at school, at the BDM, never!"--Death (116)
Hans slapped Liesel, not because he wanted to, but because he had to. If someone had heard her say that and not been punished, they may have come for her and her foster family. Hans doesn't disapprove that she hates Hitler, he just doesn't want to lose her.
Images
This picture helped me visualize the sunset that Hans Hubermann and Liesel are looking at through their window after they've stayed up most of the night reading. This part in the book proves that Liesel is starting to trust Hans more as we go on throughout the novel. It also shows that Hans thinks of Liesel as his daughter and Liesel thinks of Hans as the father she never really knew. |
Connections and Historical Context
"And what trash is this girl reading? She should be reading Mein Kampf."—Hans Junior (105)
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Mein Kampf was a autobiography written by Hitler to help encourage people to his cause.
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"Molching, like the rest of Germany, was in the grip of preparing for Hitler's birthday. This particular year, with the development off the war and Hitler's current victorious position, the Nazi partisans of Molching wanted the celebration to be especially befitting." -- Death (101)
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Hitler's 50th birthday was considered a holiday in 1939.
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Questions
- Why are her tears yellow?
- What does Death mean when he says that Hans Jr.'s eyes had been Fiihrered?
- Is Liesel's mother dead? If so, who killed her or what happened?
- How did Liesel's adoration of Hitler turn to hatred?
- What does Death mean when he says that Hans Jr.'s eyes had been Fiihrered?
- Is Liesel's mother dead? If so, who killed her or what happened?
- How did Liesel's adoration of Hitler turn to hatred?
My Thoughts and Response
Since the readers were first introduced to Liesel, she has changed into what Death describes as "a girl made of darkness". She let the pain of her brother's death, the disappointment of not hearing back from her mother, the abuse from Rosa, and everyone else's unkind treatment build up inside her to the point where she will do whatever is needed to get what she wants to bring her happiness. I feel sorry for Liesel because she is only ten years old and has already suffered so much to be so young. I admire the strength she has at such a young age.
In part one, Death says that Liesel is in the BDM, but it's never stated that she agrees with what they believe. It seems as though she just goes along with it because it would be against the law if she didn't. Near the end of Part Two, Liesel figures out that Hitler took her mother away and that's why she had to get rid of her and her brother. Once Liesel understands just what happens to the people that don't look or agree with the Nazis, she no longer has the same adoration for Hitler as everyone else. She hates him. I'm happy that she decides to think for herself and doesn't go with the crowd. It makes me wonder though, if she was so easily turned against Hitler, does the rest of the Hitler Youth feel the same as she does? Or do they truly love Hitler like they have been raised to know?
In part one, Death says that Liesel is in the BDM, but it's never stated that she agrees with what they believe. It seems as though she just goes along with it because it would be against the law if she didn't. Near the end of Part Two, Liesel figures out that Hitler took her mother away and that's why she had to get rid of her and her brother. Once Liesel understands just what happens to the people that don't look or agree with the Nazis, she no longer has the same adoration for Hitler as everyone else. She hates him. I'm happy that she decides to think for herself and doesn't go with the crowd. It makes me wonder though, if she was so easily turned against Hitler, does the rest of the Hitler Youth feel the same as she does? Or do they truly love Hitler like they have been raised to know?