Mark Zusaks novel The Book Thief is basically showing what life was like in war torn Nazi occupied territory being an anti-Hitler person.

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Alison Holland

Weil 4

10/22/09

Rosa; the Mother of Nazi, Germany

        Rosa’s loving character is truly comparable to that of Romeo and Juliet’s, especially to her family and for whom she truly cares about. Mark Zusak’s novel The Book Thief is basically showing what life was like in war torn Nazi occupied territory being an anti-Hitler person. Rosa, Liesel’s foster mother, had many occurrences with this situation, but still kept her head held high and set beautiful examples for Liesel. Rosas’s attributes were displayed when she was embracing Han’s accordion with all of her love, her determination for keeping her laundry business going to protect her family, and when she decided to give Max’s back to help her cope with Max’s departure. She has shown Liesel and Himmel Street the beauty and brutality in Nazi, Germany.

        Rosa’s attributes display her soft heart, as she shows the beauty of war to Liesel. She displays this when she was hugging Han’s accordion with all of her love. Liesel understands that her mother is in a deep depression about Han’s going into the war. Liesel knew her “Mama would be walking around with the imprint of an accordion on her body.” (429) Rosa’s traits were also able to show Liesel some wonderful experiences, as Liesel put it, “There was also an acknowledgement that there was great beauty in what she was currently witnessing and she chose not to disturb it.”(429) Liesel knows that her mother is not happy, but also realizes that she is strong with a kind soul. Rosa was so loving to Han’s that she eventually fell asleep with the accordion, when Liesel awoke from her regular dream she looked into her mother’s room and “Rosa was still there, as was the accordion.”(429) Rosa was truly grasping Han’s love.

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         Rosa shows her unique determination and protective traits by striving to obtain her laundry business as long as she could; this shows Liesel the brutal side of Nazi, Germany but also shows her the beauty than can come out of it. Rosa does this because, “the few scraps of money had still helped in various alleyways. An extra handful of flour. A piece of fat.”(260) Rosa is so protective of her family that she tells Liesel to pick up her laundry deliveries because she thought that “those rich people are less likely to fire us if you are the one ...

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