Theme 1: The Truth doesn't Always set you free
"Lisel and Rudy consumed six apples apiece within half an hour. At first, they entertained thoughts of sharing the fruit at their respective homes, but there was considerable danger in that." (Zusak 153)
"The apples, she thought happily. The apples, and she she vomited one more time, for luck." (Zusak 153)
When Lisel stole the apples with Rudy she knew she wouldn't be able to tell her parents. This is because of how they still think she is borderline criminal because of stealing the book from the other burning books. Since she is going through a rough time right now if she were to tell her parents it would put more of a stress of them and her. However the truth will always eventually catch up to you. But for now the truth is better tucked away for later because it wouldn't have set Lisel or anyone else free and there are other priorities right now.
This article "The truth will not set you free", discusses how in some situations there could not even be a correct "truth". There is sometimes just a version which you believe to be the truth. Everyone sees things differently therefore there can be many versions of the truth
.
Theme 2: Knowledge is loss of innocence
"Don't get caught on the fence. You get caught on the fence, you get left behind. Understood?" (Zusak 152)
When Lisel and Rudy agree to steal those apple and they are taught how to steal them, it is an example of how knowledge can be a loss of innocence. In many other events in this book this theme can also be shown. Since Lisel and Rudy gained the knowledge of how to steal the apples and also the knowledge that if they get left behind they know that bad things would happen to them. Since they know this it takes away their innocence of what they would think about it before.
The article "Loss of Innocence" discusses how the more knowledge acquired seems equal to the innocence lost. When someone has apparently loss some innocence, it is most likely because of an event or something they learned. Knowledge changes what you think about things and how you see things. This is why when you grasp new knowledge, you are also letting go of some innocence.
Theme 3: You can only count on yourself
"Certainly, her brother practically died in her arms. Her mother abandoned her." (Zusak 161)
When times are rough, sad or even happy, only one person is going to 100% be there for you, that is you. When Lisel's brother died and mom disappeared, she had to keep living her life and she did. However if she was stuck on the fact that two very important people aren't there for her she wouldn't be able to be there for herself. She is getting through this time of her life, just like everyone else is, because she is there for herself.
The article states "one of the dumbest things that we actually do in our lives is depend on other people. We don’t realize we can only depend on, or trust in, ourselves". We do this everyday and get constantly let down. For example depending on people to make us happy. We need to be happy with our own lives, not because someone else makes it happy because that person may not be there next time, but because we are happy with it.
Credits:
Created with images by pwjamro - "Shadows" • Desertrose7 - "apples fruit red" • dierk schaefer - "Brain" • Unsplash - "alone lake shore"