Thursday, September 22, 2011

The Book Theif: Endless Moral Questions.

   In Markus Susak's The Book Thief. there are several different morality questions that are put t to the test. Do you help others, or try to keep yourself safe? Loyalty to your country or loyalty to your morals? Do you always do what you are told or act on your own emotions? Each of these questions has an example in the text.

   Hans Hubermann’s decision to hide a Jew in his house shows that he is willing to risk his own life to help out Max. He could have easily turned him over to the Nazi's, which would have probably been safer for his family but instead he chose to defy the social norm and do it anyways. Many people would like to think that they would make the same decision if they were in his situation, but it is impossible to say unless you actually are put in it. It certainly isn't any easy one to make, and it requires a certain level of bravery to be able to follow threw on such actions.

 A lot of people in this country would like to think themselves as Patriotic. Many would actually say they would die for their country, but is this always true? Can you put your countries needs and wants before your own morality? To Hans Hubermann, his country was Nazi Germany and his leader was Hitler. But instead of doing what he was expected and turning over Max, a Jew, he instead decided to take him in. He wasn't defying the 'enemy', he was defying his own country, his own heritage when he did this. But does that make him a bad person? Most would say not, but again it isn't an easy decision to make.


   And finally the moral question of whether or not to conform when society tells you to. In the Book Thief, the general consensus is to not do what you are told when the thing you are told is bad. When the Nazi Party wishes to send Rudy away to a special camp, his parents refuse to go along with the Party. Despite growing up in Nazi Germany, Lisel declares she hates Hitler.

  So in summery, The Book Thief offers us multiple morality questions. It allows up to think of what we would do if we were in the characters situations, to step into their shoes and their world. And some would say that it is indeed our situations ans experiences that form our morals in the first place.

9 comments:

  1. Dr. Justice, I like the point you made about Hans Hubermann not turning over Max even though his country called for it. He has different morals than the rest of his country. However, even though the country called for it, isn't it still morally wrong of those people who became Nazi's or hated Jewish people? Maybe that would have been an interesting question to bring up.

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  2. Judge Justice,
    This was a good post and I liked the points you adressed in your introdution paragraph. However, I wish you had picked seperate examples from the book to back up each point. Your first and secon paragraph use the same person for the example, was there anyone else who could have fit one ofthose points? And also at the very end of your post I wish you had elaborated on Rudy and Liesel. Overall though, this was good =]

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  3. Mr. Dr. Professor Justice, I like how you opened up this paper with three key questions that are seen laden throughout the book. It is these questions that challenge the characters and it's these three questions that set up our characters morals. One thing I would have liked to see however is quotes to back up your main points but still a very good analysis. One thing you didnt touch on is Death's narration, so I have this to ask. How do you think Death, the narrator, would answer the three questions you present?

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  4. Dr. J, i loved your viewpoint on Hubermann and his thought to remain different. One thing i will point out is that your opening paragraph is very much as if you were talking to someone one on one. It's very normal and straight to the point. Try to stay away from this because it is a little informal. good job though Dr.J!

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  5. I am always confused when I think of the concept of loyalty to your morals or loyalty towards your country. Hiding Jews in your house doesn’t just threaten yourself but is disrespectful to your country. However, who said that you have to agree with your country? However, that would not make you an individual with your own opinions. If we have to follow the rules and regulation of our country, how do we form our own morals? The German people need to set aside loyalty towards their country and think about simple right and wrong.

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  6. Dr.Justice, you bring up a very good point about how hard it must have beens for Hans to hide Max since it put himself, his family, and even questioned his own patriotism. I can only imagine how terrifying it must have been for anyone during Hitler's regime to hide Jews and have the Gustapo knocking on their door. Overall, not a bad blog, but it just seems like it could have been better expressed with quotes from the book itself.

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  7. I liked the questions that you raised at the beginning, you could easily relate them to things that occurred in the novel. I also like what you said about being willing to die for your country. I think that a lot of people say they would die for their country, but sometimes I wonder if they really would when put in the situation. I like to think that I would, but if the situation presented itself I think I might not have the courage. You raised good points and provided evidence to support it. Good post

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  8. Honorable justice justice, your post was really good. you definitively pointed out the moral dilemma's facing liesel the weasel and all of nazi germany, but i think you could have reinforced those points with evidence from the book, the prosecution rests your honor

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  9. I like the way you brought in loyalty to your country into the discussion. Most people would do anything for their country which is why we have so many soldiers and wars because everyone believes they are right and want to defend their countries beliefs. Although sometimes, our own moral compasses can lead us to defy our countries believes, for example when Hitler came to power.

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