Janine R. answered • 02/21/25
Brown University | Specializing in Classics & Japanese Literature
In The Book Thief, books symbolize knowledge, resistance, and the power of words to shape both personal identity and the world around us. For Liesel, books start as something she doesn’t fully understand—when she steals The Grave Digger’s Handbook at her brother’s funeral, it’s less about reading and more about holding onto something in a moment of loss. But as Hans teaches her to read, books become a source of comfort, a way to make sense of a world that feels unstable and out of her control.
As the story unfolds, books take on a deeper meaning as a form of quiet rebellion. Under Nazi rule, where books are burned to erase ideas, the act of reading—especially books the regime wants destroyed—becomes its own kind of defiance. Liesel stealing books from the mayor’s library, reading to Max in hiding, and sharing stories with others in the bomb shelter isn’t just about knowledge; it’s about survival, connection, and finding light in the darkness. Her stolen books give her a sense of control in a world that constantly takes things away from her.
At the same time, the novel doesn’t ignore the destructive power of words. Hitler’s entire rise to power is built on language—his words fuel hatred, war, and genocide. That contrast is what makes Liesel’s journey so powerful. The same thing that can be used to manipulate and destroy can also be used to comfort, resist, and remember. By the end of the novel, Liesel doesn’t just read—she writes. She tells her own story, proving that words aren’t just something to consume; they’re something to wield. In the end, books symbolize survival—not just of individuals, but of the truths that need to be told.
