2019 Year 12 IB Extended Essays

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Extended Essay

English A: Literature

Whilst the emotions of compassion, kindness and empathy that Death exhibits throughout The Book Thief have not been explored in historical personifications, it is their inclusion in this novel that humanises the character. There are various instances whereby Death’s duality in this regard is present. At the beginning of the novel, he implores the reader to understand that he can be “cheerful… [he] can be amiable. Agreeable. Affable. And that's only the A's” (p.3). This claim is evident in his description of how, ‘in [his] line of work, [he] pick[s] up each soul as if it were newly born. [He] even kiss[es] a few weary, poisoned cheeks [and] frees them from their fear’ (p.350). The care and consideration that Death embodies throughout The Book Thief is indicative of his distinction from the stereotypical Grim Reaper persona. Abigayl Fincel infers that this quote demonstrates a ‘compassionate and quasi-parental image’ of Death (Fincel, 2018). This description of Death exemplifies Zusak’s ability to remove the elements of fear and anguish that have historically been associated with the character. Although Zusak’s Death is unable to prevent the deaths of humans – as he references in the quote, “Just don't ask me to be nice. Nice has nothing to do with me.” (p.4) – he approaches them with compassion, rather than sadism. This is something that Death wishes to impart to the reader, and is exemplified in his plea for them to understand that ‘even Death has a heart’ (p.262). The concept that Death is an escort rather than an end acts to humanise the character of Death, and establishes the ability to empathise with him as a character, rather than as an inevitable fear. A significant technique that is utilised by Zusak in order to humanise his Death is the perception that the character has of his own role. It becomes evident as the narrative progresses that Death feels a level of emotional distress about what the world observes his role to be – that he ends the lives of humans, or steals their souls from their bodies. This is another reference to Death's past characterisations, and is also reflective of the negative emotions that humanity associates with death. The way in which Zusak approaches Death’s role is vastly different to any previous approach. Rather than being a reason why people die, Death in The Book Thief simply exists because people die. Zusak represents Death as a presence that has been given the task of retrieving human souls and ‘carry[ing] them gently away’ (p.4). He plays no part in the actual process that leads people to their final moments. Death’s Perception of His Own Role

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