Liesel and Rudy's friendship has continued to grow. They still walk to school together everyday, and he sometimes comes with her when he does the washing. Liesel knows that Rudy wishes that there could be more to thier friendship, but Liesel claims she does not want anything more than friendship. The narrator describes a scene where it seems as if there could be more to it then just friendship "'Saukerl' she laughed, and as she held up her hand, she knew completely that he was simultaneously calling her a Saumensch. I think that's as close to love as eleven-year-olds can get" (145). Liesel and Rudy know each other so well, that they know what they each other is saying, even if they're miles apart. Their minds seem to think in the same way, which is probably why they became such close friends.
On one of her many trips to the mayor's wife's house, Liesel finds out that they had a son who died in WW1. The mayors wife (Isla) feels as if she should punish herself for what happened "...Isla Hermann had decided to make suffering her triumph. When it refused to let go of her, she succumbed to it. She embraced it" (146). Isla does thinks like leave the window open on a winter day, and have to endure the cold. She wants to be uncomfortable, and this makes Liesel pity the mayor's wife. The mayor's wife has so much more money and power than Liesel, and yet Liesel still feels sorry for her. That's just the type of person Liesel is.
4 comments:
Your story seems to outline the theme that some people are just naturally good natured at heart no matter how many selfish people throw themselves at them. I'm kindof drawing this idea from the end part about the mayor's wife. Good job explaining your quotes!
Good post! I always like books that have little child romances they can be so cute. But I think that if I was Liesel, I would also feel sorry for the mayor's wife, because she blamed her son's death on herself, even though it was nothing she could control.
I also saw the growth of Liesel and Rudy's friendship. I think it is interesting that Liesel really doesn't want to be more than friends but Rudy does. I guess that is pretty typical for the age they are. I wonder if by the end of the book they will end up together as they get older. I like your last sentence in your second paragraph. I think it really shows that Liesel is a very caring person who puts others before herself. Also, good quotes!
I don't think that the mayor's wife wants to punish herself for what happened to her son, but rather remind herself. By doing things like that everyday, she is just ensuring that his memory will never be forgotten...
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