My question is Why do you think the author wanted Death as the narrator, but not as a scary figure? I think Markus Zusak may have done this because he wanted to give a unique aspect to the book. Maybe it was because he thought it was the only way to accurately portray the story.
My question is also about death, but I agree with your answer to the question and also think that it could be to know that the narrator is death, but not make you think of it, every time you pick up the book. I think he chose death because death is a pretty significant part of the story, so it makes sense, but at the same time, he didn't want a depressing or scary figure as the narrator. Another reason he could have made death seem like a nice character, is that he wanted to make death seem not as bad as you may think.
ReplyDeleteConsidering the time period of Nazi, Germany, death was completely relevant and devistated most parts of the country. I think the author used Death to have a better connection with the time period as well as making Death become familiar to you so it would come across as not as scary. Just like killing Jewish people isn't scary for Nazi's, Death shouldn't be scary to us, right?
ReplyDeleteI believe that Zusak uses Death as the narrator to make the novel unique and to really depict the significance that death ad to the people in Nazi Germany. Although death is always present, even in the world today, its interesting to hear it tell a story of such a sad time and still be humorous.
ReplyDeleteI think Zusak makes Death a more approachable and less scary narrator than we would think because death in Nazi Germany was not at all uncommon. I think that most people around that time were so afraid to die that Zusak maybe thought that only a character of Death could portray that fear accurately. Also, maybe Zusak is trying to make a point about Death, such as it is nothing to be afraid of, and that we should approach death with our head held high, not cowering out of fear.
ReplyDeleteZusak says, in his interview in the back of the book, "Death is everpresent during war, so here was the perfect choice to narrate The Book Thief." I think, since death is pretty much synonymous with war, it seemed essential that death have a major role in the novel. And what role is more significant than the narrator?
ReplyDeleteI agree with thinking Zusak wanted to give the book a unique prspective. There isn't many boks out there that are told in the tone of death, It makes it a little more intersting because it's unique.
ReplyDeleteI agree that since death was so common during this time period, it was probably just included to portray this. I especially agree with Elizabeth's statement about the connection between death and war. These are probably the main reasons that death became the narrator.
ReplyDeleteI think that Death as a narrator makes death more of a reality. I think that this reflects the thoughts and feelings of people living during the time period of the novel as people were starving and war was a normal part of society.
ReplyDeleteI think the reason Markus Zusak made Death the narrator is because most books about this time period would have a character narrating, but Zusak made this book unique by having Death as the narrator. I also agree with Elizabeth's comment with the relation of death and war.
ReplyDeleteI think that Zusak made this unusual decision because it created a unique aspect to the book. Also, it created the harsh reality of war into a character, which is one of the most important characters in this book. It gave death a personality, instead of just being the end.
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