Written by G. Susnik
At the end of the novel, The Book Thief, Death states that he is “haunted by humans” (Zusak 550), which is sourly ironic. At first glance, it even seems ridiculous. What exactly is it about humans that haunts him or confuses him?
In The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak, Death states that he is “haunted by humans” because he has seen both sides to human behavior, “beauty and brutality” (Zusak 550). Zusak uses situational irony repeatedly to reflect Death’s confusion about human behavior, or how humans can be both ‘good’ and ‘bad’. Hans’s kind act of giving bread to a starving Jew in public had contradicted Death’s unpleasant (but not only) perspective on humans. To elaborate, when Hans was expected to sit tight and obediently watch those poor, suffering Jews from the sidelines, he breaks social rules with his big heart, and steps forward. This of course, would be just one of the many examples of situational irony that illustrates the ‘good’ side of human behavior.
However, the ‘bad’ side of human behavior is bolded with situational irony as well, adding to Death’s uncertainty. Hitler would most definitely assist in Death’s confusion, as he makes Death conclude, “I guess humans just like to watch a little destruction” just as Hitler’s birthday bonfire was burning hundreds of books and posters and articles… basically anything that had the slightest relation to a Jew (Zusak 109). This quote shows Death’s struggle in understanding human nature, for the enjoyment of destruction is uncalled for… or rather, unexpected. However, while Death finds humans puzzling, he also finds their stories intriguing, and can’t help his curiosity towards them. This curiosity is shown when Death picks Liesel’s diary from the aftermath of the bombing of Himmel Street. “I climbed aboard and took it in my hand… I would keep it and view it several thousand times over the years” (Zusak 14).
It seems that humans are just something Death will never quite understand; despite his curiosity, the concept of humans being both ‘good’ and ‘bad’ may leave Death stumped for eternity.
G. Susnik lives in Hanover, Germany. As a 15-year-old long jumper and track runner, he spends most of his time thinking up new ideas for poems. He hopes to one day write a book of all his poems and share his creativity with the world.
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