Sunday, March 8, 2009
Post #2 Setting
The part of Germany Leisel lives in is poor and feels empty now that almost all the Jews are gone. It is eerie seeing the empty shops that once belonged to Jewish people. The poor area has less enthusiasm for Hitler than wealthier Germans would. Businesses are failing, as even though the Jewish competition is gone, the Jewish costumers are gone, too. There is rationing, so the Liesel and Rudy steal apples with other kids. Max lives in different environments, though they similarly are compact and his meals are meager. Max and the Hubermanns live in constant fear. Max appreciates what little he has, though. When Max was young, he and Walter were almost equals. Walter is now a Nazi, but he helped Max escape, although Max's family was left behind. Max is able to disguise himself simply by shaving and holding Mein Kampf. This showed how Jews were thought to be completely different from other Germans, and if someone didn't look Jewish, it was assumed that they weren't. Hans is lucky to not have been punished for his lack of enthusiasm for Hitler. He too gets a copy of Hitler's book, and the Nazis don't seem to care much about him as long as he pretends to be a Nazi. As soon as Max arrives, though, Hans has to talk to Liesel about keeping quiet. Fear is really a constant companion for those who aren't Nazis. Even when people like Hans haven't been punished yet, they have to watch each move so they aren't suddenly shipped off to a concentration camp.
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I agree that fear is a major part of the setting. I think that the fear that Jews have during this time is a large reason that the setting is portrayed as dark as it is. Without the detailed descriptions that Zusak gives that are pretty depressing, I think the mood of the book would be completely glossed over.
ReplyDeleteHmm, now that you point it out, it is very interesting- By not pretending to be a Nazi, if you were Jewish, you would be sent to a setting that was so much less than desirable; aka concentration camp. Pretending to be a Nazi meant you would be rewarded for your efforts by staying in your ideal setting however, which was with your family.
ReplyDeleteAlso, last time I checked, the people in poorer parts of town were less supportive of Hitler than wealthier Germans, because one of Hitler's main campaigning points was that he would turn the economy around. I can't remember if the book really talks about that or not, but... Yeah. :)
I like what you said about feelings being integrated into the setting. There are some feelings that are associated with places so much that they seep into everything about that place. The setting seems to be more about people and not so much the place. Since everything changes during war, the setting will have to be able to move and keep up with the times.
ReplyDeleteI like your comment about fear alot. You are right fear is always constant and in high supply in the book, it permeates almost every action. Liesel playing with Rudy after the Jesse Owens incident, Liesel stealing books, and hiding Max in the house.
ReplyDeleteI think the comment about the people in the poorer parts of town being less supportive of Hitler than the people in the wealthier parts of town is very interesting. Though clearly the Hubermann's are much less supportive of Hitler than the mayor's wife (who had little swastikas on her slippers), for example, I don't think this argument is completely justified. The mayor's wife still had an enormous room of books and didn't turn Liesel in for stealing the book after the book burning. Also, the Hubermann's son is very supportive of the Nazi party, even though his family is extremely poor.
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