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Description:

In Markus Zusak's The Book Thief , Death narrates the story of one girl who lived during the Holocaust. Not surprisingly, it's kind of a downer—but Death itself is surprisingly snarky. Why did Zusak use death as the narrator? And why would he make it sarcastic? Shmoop amongst yourselves; we'll just be over in the corner, sobbing into a box of Kleenex.

Language:
English Language

Transcript

00:04

The Book Thief, a la Shmoop. For fairly obvious reasons. . .

00:10

. . . Death isn't a real popular guy

00:12

In fact, most people avoid him like... well, like the plague.

00:19

So, if he's such an outcast. . .

00:22

. . .how did he end up narrating The Book Thief?

00:25

Well, one thing he's got going for him. . .

00:27

. . .is his ability to hang out aaaanywhere he wants to.

00:30

And that allows him to listen in on conversations. . .

00:33

. . .or observe multiple locations without a problem.

00:37

No way a mere mortal could do that. Since the book is about the darkest time in

00:43

human history. . .

00:44

. . .maybe letting Death tell the story. . .

00:45

. . .is a way of reminding us of all that suffering.

00:49

With his presence on every page. . .

00:50

. . .it's pretty tough to forget.

00:52

And even though he seems to have no control over the outcome. . .

00:55

. . .his constant presence is, at the very least, unnerving.

01:00

And while we're on the subject of unnerving. . .

01:03

Death is surprisingly humorous and sarcastic . .

01:05

. . .while observing the horror of the Holocaust. So, how does he get away with trying to be

01:10

funny? Could be that's the very reason he's doing

01:15

the talking.

01:16

He's good at injecting a little "black" humor. . .

01:18

. . . into an unrelentingly sad situation. . .

01:21

. . which gives readers a chance to come up for air.

01:24

Plus, even though he feels bad about the pain war inflicts on people. . .

01:28

. . .and his part in it. . .

01:30

. . .he's not human. He's simply an impartial bystander. . .

01:33

. . .watching and commentating on all the ugliness around him.

01:36

Since he doesn't have a horse in the race. . .

01:38

. . . he can afford to be less emotional about what's going down.

01:41

Human characters would have a tough time doing that.

01:45

So, why is Death narrating The Book Thief? Is it because he can be everywhere and see

01:51

every-thing? Is he on every page to remind us of all the

01:54

pain and suffering of the Holocaust? Is he there to inject dark humor and caustic

01:58

observations? Or is he just an impartial onlooker making

02:02

us take a hard look at ourselves? Shmoop amongst yourselves.

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