The Commendable Coterie discussion

Mark Zusak's choice to personify death and make it the narrator proved to be successful, as it made The Book Thief a memorable book for it's unique way of storytelling. Many people remember this book for Death's distinctive storytelling, so I challenge you guys to find specific evidence for why this might be so. Death's word choice and sentence structure is a limitless topic, so there will be no scarcity of evidence to use. When referring to certain sentences, always connect it to the greater scheme of things. Question every detail in the sentence you chose, then build upon it with more questions. As I said, the levels of this topic are limitless.

How does it make you feel? Why does it make you feel that way? Did Zusak mean to make you feel that way? Why would Zusak want to make you feel that way? What tone or theme does this enhance? What other purposes did Zusak have for making Death write in this way?

Two sentences that really stood out to me was that on page 470, "The sky was white but deteriorating fast...Blood was bleeding through and in patches, the clouds were dirty, like footprints in melting snow." Death exclaimed this as he lifted Robert Holtzapfel's lifeless body into the sky. I loved the simile as well as the symbolism behind the white sky. I think the symbol for white is the "coldness" of Death but what do you guys think?

Always answer the questions people before you have asked before posting a separate idea! Questions always nurture an insightful conversation.

I think one of the most important lines would be the last sentence of the book on page 550. "I am haunted by humans." Death said this after he had finally completed sharing the story of the "Book Thief." Zusak personifies Death to make him sympathetic and carrying the deceased away is a job that he doesn't want to do because he does have a heart and is fascinated by some beautiful humans such as Liesel. This sentence develops that more clearly, and I think Zusak included this so that the reader would perceive Death in a different way, not just evil. Maybe Death isn't the evil one but we are, because people take the lives of other people everyday with no remorse.

All throughout the book Death adds a quick side note which, through diction, engages with the reader and shows voice of the narrator. Of the handful of side notes, one that profoundly interested me was on page 138. This is when the narrator first gave us a glance at Max Vandenburg. After setting the scene Death adds an expert, that gives visualization and draws the reader in with the word choice used. "To your left, perhaps your right, perhaps even straight ahead, you find a small black room. In it sits a Jew. He is scum. He is starving. He is afriad. Please-- try not to look away" (138). This sets the scene for the connect between Max and Hans, foreshadowing many events to come in the novel.

^ sorry I made an error in the above comment. I meant connection*

Commenting on what Erica said, throughout the book I cant decide how to characterize Death. I want to ask you guys, the readers, what your thoughts are. Would you perceive Death as an evil watcher, or perhaps the opposite?

In response to Anna's question, I think Death in itself is a paradox; it/he sees both the evil and the beauty in humans. The opening lines of the book are "First the colors. Then the humans. That's usually how I see things. Or at least, how I try". On page 5, Death continues about his thoughts on colors, and mentions that he sometimes uses the colors as a distraction/vacation-a distraction from the survivors left to deal with the effects of his actions towards his victims. Death says "They're the ones I can't stand to look at," which reveals his raw emotion and genuine guilt for the job he must do on a daily basis. If Death finds it difficult to witness sorrow, grief, and broken heartedness, doesn't that show that despite his "evil" work, and the evil he sees humans commit on a daily basis, Death can be characterized as someone/something with an apologetic and sincere nature.

Like Death controls our own reality, he controls the storyline as well. This is seen repeatedly at the end of every chapter, when he closes with 3-5 short sentences that build suspense regarding what's going to happen next. By doing so, Death reminds you that he knows everything that has happened, is happening, and is going to happen, without seeming malicious doing so. I think Zusak portrayed Death this way to remind us that Death is always looking for meaning in the lives of his victims. Do you agree? What are your thoughts on the way Death includes short sentences that have a way of hitting hard when you read them?

In response to Juliannas comment, I think Death uses the short responses to connect with the reader. We, as humans have emotions and as we read Death evokes certain feelings by the way he explains a story. This further shows his personality, as one who feels for victims and is not necessarily the "evil" most would associate Death with. I agree with how Julianna compared Death to a paradox in her last post, it was a very well written response!

Personally, my favorite sentences told by Death is right in the very beginning of the book where he states "People observe the colors of a day only at its beginnings and ends, but to me it's quite clear that a day merges through a multitude of shades and intonations... In my line of work, i make it a point to notice them" (pg. 4). This shows how although death is foreseen as dark and frightening, it has emotions of its own. People pass day after day, but the one who souly touches upon all of them is death themselves

^^(posted without finishing by mistake) *continued* I enjoy how this connects to the bigger scheme of things throughout the book how death watches closely upon lives and using diction when carrying them away. the last sentence of the book states "i am haunted by humans" (pg. 550). this makes me wonder, if you were death, would you be able to live with yourself knowing your occupation? if so how would it make you feel?

In response to Emma question, If I was death, I would not be able to live with myself knowing that my job is to carry away the souls of thousands of people a day all over the world. The part I find most disturbing though is how I would have to watch people mourn over their loved ones and there's nothing I could do to comfort them. Death states "I witness the ones who are left behind, crumbling among the jigsaw puzzle of realization, despair, and surprise. They have punctured hearts. They have beaten lungs" (page 5). He then explains that because of this, his one "saving grace is distraction" (page 4). As mentioned previously, Death's major distraction is focusing on colors.

Erica wrote: "I think one of the most important lines would be the last sentence of the book on page 550. "I am haunted by humans." Death said this after he had finally completed sharing the story of the "Book T..."

Wow, that was nice!

Julianna C wrote: "Like Death controls our own reality, he controls the storyline as well. This is seen repeatedly at the end of every chapter, when he closes with 3-5 short sentences that build suspense regarding wh..."

But is death in control... often he seems to be the victim of circumstances we create. Thoughts???

Julianna C wrote: "Like Death controls our own reality, he controls the storyline as well. This is seen repeatedly at the end of every chapter, when he closes with 3-5 short sentences that build suspense regarding wh..."

Or is Death a book thief as well - telling us another's story.

By the way, I have no answers, just curiosity/questions.

AnnaClaire wrote: "In response to Juliannas comment, I think Death uses the short responses to connect with the reader. We, as humans have emotions and as we read Death evokes certain feelings by the way he explains ..."

Perhaps, the short simple sentences mirror the finality of death (not the narrator but the action).

Erica wrote: "In response to Emma question, If I was death, I would not be able to live with myself knowing that my job is to carry away the souls of thousands of people a day all over the world. The part I find..."

What do these colors represent (not specific colors but this idea of colors)?

Also, Death does not appear to be the cause of death but rather an instrument of death.

In response to Erica's question, I also believe that the white was the symbol for the coldness of death. But in the next paragraph, Death says, "Footprints you ask? Well, I wonder whose those could be." I thought these were the footprints of Death, but I wanted someone else's opinion on it??

In response to Luke, Death's answer to his question is very sarcastic and he assumes the reader knows where the footprints came from, but its kind of unclear. I thought maybe he was being literal because Robert no longer has feet, but i could also see it as Death referring to his own footsteps to gather the soul. (pg.470)

Brigid wrote: "Julianna C wrote: "Like Death controls our own reality, he controls the storyline as well. This is seen repeatedly at the end of every chapter, when he closes with 3-5 short sentences that build su..."
As a character, I agree that Death can be viewed as a victim. He sometimes even seems persecuted by the lives of the humans he 'watches over'. As a concept however, I feel like since Death is an unavoidable fact of life, it is in control. Is Death a victim of human war? Yes. Is Death the taker of human lives plagued by circumstances such as sickness? Yes. I think Death is a victim and an aggressor in itself. I think the question is should we perceive Death as a concept or a being like Zusak portrays? It's interesting to think that after reading The Book Thief, Death could be perceived as having an almost "alter-ego" of a watchful entity with a conscience which people, in reality, would most likely associate with heaven.

Responding to Julianna's post, I do not believe that Death is the victim, but rather war is the victim (in this scenario). Yes, death is unavoidable, and it is inevitable for all people. However, Death is not at fault or to blame, it is merely the taker of those lives. The human is the victim of war, and war is the killer, placing this in an investigative analogy. Death, however, can be seen as almost an allegorical entity in the book, serving as a symbol for sadness and rebirth.

Luke wrote: "Responding to Julianna's post, I do not believe that Death is the victim, but rather war is the victim (in this scenario). Yes, death is unavoidable, and it is inevitable for all people. However, D..."
When you say war is the killer, isn't that exactly Death's point? He suffers over the evil caused by humankind, and war is the prime example of how his job is made even heavier by actions done by humans unto humans. Doesn't that make him a victim of human evils that literally lure him to take more lives? I agree with you on Death having an allegorical entity, though!!

The narrator is Death, however death is given the characteristics of something living. Death can be a beautiful orator, while having sarcasm at periods. On page four Death writes, "It suffices to say that at some point I will be standing over you, as genially as possible. Your soul will be in my arms. A colour will be perched on my shoulder. I will carry you gently away.” This is a touching description of Death, using imagery to attract the reader.“I do not carry a sickle or a scythe. I only wear a hooded black robe when it’s cold. And I don’t have those skull-like facial features you seem to enjoy pinning on me from a distance” ( pg 307). Here Death uses sarcasm to change the readers perspective of Death as some evil being, into a more positive figure. Do you guys think the author made Death this way on purpose?

In response to Annaclaire, i think Zusak definitely intends for Death to take on a role with a more complex personality than typically perceived. Death in the novel is far from the stereotypical view of Death as a skeleton in a rob. Death as the narrator provides a unique perspective for the story to be told and the way he tells it with sarcastic remarks and how he almost nonchalantly mentions taking souls has a certain effect on the reader rather than if it was told traditionally in first person from a character.

Anna, I think your comment is a really great thought in response to my previous comment where I said Zusak portrays Death as more 'heavenly' than our stereotypical idea of death.

In response to Anna, the author likely made Death this way on purpose. In the very beginning of the book, he is portrayed as a dark and dreary character, saying negative things such as "Just don't ask me to be nice. Nice has nothing to do with me" (3). These gruesome comments delineate Death to be evil, like a potential antagonist in some ways. However, Zusak does make an effort to convince the reader the opposite, that Death is actually the "good guy" of the story. "He started melting in my arms. Then warming up completely. Healing" (21). In reference to Liesel's brother's passing, this shows the good in Death, as he holds the boy's spirit and warms it in his arms. From here and throughout the story, Death is not seen as villainous, but as humane and decent. Do any of you wonder why Zusak might have tried to convince you Death was evil in the beginning?

In response to Brianna I think Zusak made death seem negative in the beginning to try and help us get a better understanding of who is narrator is without outright stating it. An example of distinctive storytelling by Zusak is when death is talking about the start of World War 2 he says "when the war started my work load increased" (73). This proves to a very unique way of stating that many were dying in this world war, the "work load" is the increased influx of dead people death has to "take". For me the word choice he uses is what makes me view this as distinctive storytelling. Anyone else find examples?

In response to Julianna and Luke, my opinion is that death is a true victim. In the beginning of the novel, death makes a point of saying "that's the sort of thing i'll never know, or comprehend- what humans are capable of."(p25) This book in particular focuses on death being the victim of Nazi Germany and how war and human concepts like prejudice and hatred are the main causes of the work he has to do, which he often expresses guilt over.

I don't think of Death as a victim or evil - he just is, as death is a fate we all must succumb to (sorry). He is fulfilling his role/purpose and is entity that brings us to our next realm (w/e that may be).

Zusak personifies Death as an emotional character that appears to be frustrated with humanity and it's propensity for killing. However, Leisel (sp?), is what saves us (in Death's eyes). She reminds him of all that we could be.