The Almost Human

Death isn’t such a bad guy. In The Book Thief he doesn’t go around looking like a hooded skeleton holding a scythe… he’s basically human

Death

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In The Book Thief, Death is the narrator, but don't go hiding under your blanket just yet. Almost everyone has wondered at one point or another what Death looks like. Luckily he give us a pretty good description, "You want to know what I truly look like? I'll help you out. Find yourself a mirror." (p. 307) Throughout this novel his emotions unfold, which shows us the sparks of humanity within him. He experiences emotions as strong as sadness, joy, hope and love. See, he isn't such a terrifying evil villain that people usually portray him to be, he's almost human.

Hopeful

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Hope is something both humans and Death are constantly looking for because it's the thing that keeps them going. What gives him hope are the stories he gathers from humans like Liesel, "to prove to myself that you, and your human existence, are worth it." (p. 15) After spending millions of years of collecting the souls of the dead he's tired of the world's bullsh*t. But the courage, bravery, and love he gathers from the stories of humans is what gives him hope in humanity. With a job so depressing, like capturing the souls of the dead, even Death would need something to keep him going.

Philosophical

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Another way humans and Death are the same is that he’s philosophical and thinks deeply about the sh*t going on around him. Towards the end of the novel when Death is looking upon humanity he says, “I wanted to explain that I am constantly overestimating and underestimating the human race- that rarely do I ever simply estimate it. I wanted to ask her how the same thing could be so ugly and so glorious, and its words and stories so damning and brilliant.” (p. 550) He is captivated by humans and throughout his journey he tries to understand how humans are capable of so much beauty and horror. Death also finds beauty in even the simplest of things like the colors of the sky.

Empathetic

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In the novel Death shows one of the most human emotions which is empathy towards certain characters. While Death is looking upon Rudy’s death he thinks, “On many counts, taking a boy like Rudy was robbery—so much life, so much to live for—yet somehow, I’m certain he would have loved to see the frightening rubble and the swelling of the sky on the night he passed away. He’d have cried and turned and smiled if only he could have seen the book thief on her hands and knees, next to his decimated body. He’d have been glad to witness her kissing his dusty, bomb-hit lips.” (p.242) Death cares about all the characters in the novel like Liesel and Rudy. He sees beauty, love, and hope in these characters and that’s why he grows so attach to them. See, “even death has a heart.”(p.242)

Humorous

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Like most people Death has a sense of humor because everyone needs to laugh and smile every now and then. When Han Hubermann is playing a card game with others, Death jokes, “It kills me sometimes, how people die.” (p. 464) Death is constantly down in the dumps but he’s still pretty funny in a dark sarcastic way. Even though he’s a very cynical character he is still able to find something to laugh about; because let’s be honest with his job anyone would need something to lighten the mood.

Caring

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Death and humans are both similar because they are capable of being sensitive and caring. As Death was gathering the dead souls in Cologne he says, “It was only the children I carried in my arms.” (p. 336) Death is exhausted and tired of collecting souls but he does his best to comfort the souls of the innocent he encounters. It must sound crazy that Death could be so kind but even with such a terrible job he’s still able to care for people because of their inner beauty and innocence. He is truly kind towards children and those he believes died an unfair death.

Love

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Throughout the novel Death falls in love with the characters which is what truly makes him human. The love Death has for Rudy makes him admit, "He does something to me, that boy. Every time. It's his only detriment. He steps on my heart. He makes me cry." (p. 531) As he grows attach to these characters it reveals that he does have a heart. His love for certain humans and their stories is what gives him hope for humanity. It is the only thing that keeps him doing such a miserable lonely job. Death's love for Rudy and Liesel is what makes him feel all these human emotions… It's what makes him basically human.

Bibliography

"All You Need to Know about Death from The Book Thief." CharacTour. CharacTour, n.d. Web. 30 May 2016. .

Osborne, Sarah. "Book Review: The Book Thief." Read Review. N.p., 29 Oct. 2015. Web. 30 May 2016. .

Shmoop Editorial Team. "Death in The Book Thief." Shmoop.com. Shmoop University, Inc., 11 Nov. 2008. Web. 30 May 2016. .

"The Book Thief." CliffNotes. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, n.d. Web. 20 May 2016. .

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