Liesel Meminger (LEE-zuhl MEH-muhn-jr)[1] is the protagonist of The Book Thief, having lost her father because of his Communist sympathies, her beloved mother, brother, adoptive parents, and her best friend/love interest died in her arms after the bombing, she understands the pain of loss, and these experiences inform her actions and attitudes towards the other characters. Through the books she steals, reads, and writes, she evolves from a powerless character to a powerful character who deeply empathizes with the voiceless.
Biography[]
Appearance[]
Liesel is described as having "Hair that was a close enough brand of German blonde, but she had dangerous dark eyes.”[2] Having dark eyes was dangerous because it was a stereotype of the physical characteristics of a Jewish person, who the Nazis’ hated. [3] Dark hair was also a stereotypical characteristic of a Jewish person, so Liesel’s blonde hair was good for her to be less suspected of being a Jewish person.
Personality and Traits[]
Bonds/Friendships[]
In The Book Thief, Liesel proves to be capable of creating meaningful bonds, much like the bond she has with Rudy Steiner, or her adoptive father, Hans Hubermann. In the story, she is deeply loyal towards Rudy- she stands by his side without fail. Their friendship becomes a cornerstone of Liesel's identity, providing her with strength and courage. Perhaps even enough to go against the Nazis’. Liesel's experiences as she matures in the midst of World War II shape her sense of justice and defiance. Despite living in a society plagued by hatred and prejudice, Liesel forms connections with people regardless of their background. She befriends Max Vandenburg, a Jewish man hiding in her basement, and defies societal norms to show compassion and empathy. This proves that Liesel does not care for standards, but rather wishes to form her own. She remained loyal to all these people, even until their last breath.
Resilience[]
Resilience is an integral part of Liesel's personality. The harsh conditions she faces during the war force her to adapt and become resourceful. Her strength and determination to endure and survive become evident as she navigates loss, grief, and fear. As the story progresses, Liesel's character is also marked by a sense of guilt and burden. The death of loved ones, the destruction of her home, and the struggles of war leave emotional scars on her. These experiences shape her worldview and further strengthen her empathy towards others. Throughout these challenges, Liesel never gave up. She never wavered, even when things got difficult.
History[]
When she first comes to live with her adoptive family, the Hubermanns, Liesel has a hard time trusting or allowing herself to be vulnerable and is characterized more by defensiveness than compassion. But as her adoptive family and new friends treat her with kindness and gentleness, she opens herself to the pain of others, while learning to express and transform her own pain. Liesel not only cares about specific people in her life such as Hans, Rosa, Rudy, and Max, she cares about justice in general, and feels frustrated and angry at the injustices perpetuated by Hitler and war.
Liesel’s early experiences with watching Max trying to stand up motivate her, and she is able to channel her strength to help others, as when she rails a classmate for making fun of her, then later protects him when he is hurt at the bonfire. She revaluates people she initially considered weak, such as Ilsa Hermann, with this new understanding. Even though she is a child, Liesel questions the status quo, and creates a moral system for herself rather than blindly following what society dictatorship. She is motived both by a strong sense of guilt and a strong ideal of justice.
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Liesel and Rudy
At the end of the book, Rudy dies, as well her parents. She mourns her parents first, crying near their bodies. Then she finds Rudy, being brought over by soldiers, walks over to find him nearly dead. Rudy wants to tell her something but is quickly told to shush by Liesel, Rudy tells Liesel that he needs to tell her and slowly gets up to a 45 degree angle, he is about to say, “I love you," but before he could say the word love, he passes away in Liesel's arms. She refuses to let him go and try's to wake him up before yelling, "Rudy kiss me!” And proceeds to kiss him.
Relationships[]
Rudy Steiner[]
Liesel met Rudy when they were both 9 years old, at the beginning of The Book Thief. They meet when Liesel plays with the other children, who are also 9 year olds. They first interact when Liesel is the first to successfully block Rudy’s penalty kick. From there on out, Rudy and Liesel form a strong, unwavering bond. Liesel and Rudy had a friendly rivalry throughout the book- competing in soccer, and such. It was hinted that Rudy liked Liesel when Rudy challenged Liesel to a race, and if he won, he would get to kiss Liesel. In the end, they tie.[4] Liesel never admits her feelings for Rudy until it’s too late. She survives the bombings, but he doesn’t. In the end, Liesel kisses Rudy shortly after he dies in her arms.
Hans Hubermann[]
Hans Hubermann was Liesel’s adoptive father, whom Liesel had a very close bond with. Hans did many things for Liesel besides adopt her- Hans helped Liesel read and write, as well as read to Liesel when she was going to bed. The first book Hans read to her, The Grave Digger’s Handbook, was the first book that Liesel ever stole. This caused her to steal even more books- whether it was for a thirst of knowledge and to connect with her adoptive father more. They do connect, and she even learns of the Jewish man in Hans’s basement. At the end of The Book Thief, he dies in the bombings with Rosa Hubermann.
Max Vandenburg[]
Max Vandenburg is the Jewish man that Hans hid in the basement. Liesel soon gets to know him, and she doesn’t expose the Hubermann’s that they have a Jewish person hidden in their basement. He is hidden because Hans owed the Vandenburg’s after Erik Vandenburg saved his life. Liesel grows closer to him, and he is one of the only people (along with herself) to survive the bombings.
Rosa Hubermann[]
Rosa Hubermann is Liesel’s blunt adoptive mother. Their relationship is strange- terms of affection are cuss words to them. But their strange relationship is still a strong one, and Rosa and Liesel are good adoptive mother and adopted daughter to each other. Liesel is just as saddened by Rosa’s death as she is by Hans’.
Ilsa Hermann[]
Ilsa Hermann is the person Liesel stole books from. She owned a library, and Liesel stole three books from it, A Song in the Dark, The Dream Carrier, and The Whistler. Surprisingly, when the mayor's wife, Ilsa Hermann, finds out about Liesel's book stealing, she does not punish Liesel. Instead, she shows Liesel her own private library. Ilsa lets Liesel browse through her books and read anything Liesel likes while there.[5]
- ↑ lee·suhl meh·muhn·jr
- ↑ The Book Thief, pg. 31
- ↑ https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1559-1816.2002.tb01867.x#:~:text=In%20spite%20of%20many%20false,promulgated%20along%20with%20psychosocial%20ones.
- ↑ https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/b/the-book-thief/summary-and-analysis/part-1-the-grave-diggers-handbook-the-kiss-a-childhood-decision-maker#:~:text=Rudy%20races%20Liesel%20at%20Hubert,kiss%20her%2C%20but%20they%20tie.
- ↑ https://study.com/academy/lesson/the-book-thief-part-3-summary.html#:~:text=Surprisingly%2C%20when%20the%20mayor's%20wife,anything%20Liesel%20likes%20while%20there.