Humanity is still engaged in an eternal power struggle between good and evil, and the well-being of Society is often at stake when such forces collide. This presence of the good and evil of humanity is a central theme in Markus Zusak's The Book Thief. Liesel Meminger is a young girl in Nazi Germany during World War II; she lives with a host family in a poor district of Munich. Throughout the novel, Liesel sees the great horrors of life in Germany during World War II, but she also finds herself among very empathetic and kind people, as demonstrated in three incidents in the book that illustrate the perseverance of good in the face of evil. wrong. First, the bond that unites Liesel and Max following the trauma they experienced illustrates the good in the face of the enormous evil they experienced. Second, Han's unrelenting goodwill toward Germany's Jews speaks to his kindness despite the misdeeds of Nazi Germany. Finally, Rudy's extraordinary efforts to help and comfort those in need further exemplify good versus evil. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay Liesel and Max's relationship demonstrates true friendship while struggling. Additionally, Liesel and Max bond in an incredible way while being extremely different personalities and under a lot of stress. Max gave Liesel a handmade book as a late birthday present, which Liesel was very happy with as she loves books. Liesel read the book then went to the basement to thank Max. “The first part of him she saw was his shoulder, and through the thin space she slowly and painfully pushed her hand in until it stayed there. His clothes were cool. He didn't wake up. She could feel his breathing and his shoulder rising and falling ever so slightly. For a moment she observed him. Then she sat down and leaned back. The sleepy air seemed to have followed her. The scribbled practice words hung beautifully on the wall near the stairs, jagged and childishly sweet. They watched the hidden Jew and the girl sleeping side by side. They were breathing. German and Jewish lungs. Next to the wall, The Standover Man sat, numb and content, like a nice itch on Liesel Meminger’s feet” (Zusak 238). Liesel shows her growing connection with this gesture towards Max. Although they are polar opposites within their shared society, their bond through literature circumvents the oppression imposed on them by Nazism. The Standover Man, the book Max wrote for Liesel, is a metaphor for what is happening in Germany during World War II. The book was made from pages of Mein Kampf painted with white paint, then filled with the story of Max's struggle. The creation of this book symbolizes the transformation of something bad into something good. Additionally, Max and Liesel also bond over the trauma inflicted on them by the society they inhabit. Liesel witnessed her brother's death on a cold winter night in a rail yard and constantly has nightmares because of it. Likewise, Max has nightmares about his fight against Adolf Hitler. One night shortly after Max's arrival at Liesel's house, this dialogue takes place: “The girl: 'Tell me. What do you see when you dream like this? The Jew: "...I see myself turning around and saying goodbye.: The young girl: "I have nightmares too. » The Jew: “What do you see? » The girl: “A train and my dead brother. » The Jew: Your brother? The girl: “He died when I moved here along the way. » The young girl and the Jew, together: “Ja -- yes. » » (Zusak 220). Both Liesel and Max have suffered immense emotional trauma inflicted on them by others. The trauma that was inflicted on Max and Liesel hangs over them throughout the book and has a very negative effect on their lives. Through Max and Liesel discussing what haunts them at night, Liesel has become able to work through nightmares without the help of her adoptive father. At this point, the nightmares begin to have less of an effect on Liesel and she begins to sleep longer. Liesel's bond with Max through their trauma transforms a horrific experience into a deep personal connection. Although many unfortunate events befall Liesel and Max, together they are able to use the evil around them to create a lasting friendship. Second, on several occasions, Hans Hubermann showed great empathy and kindness towards the Jewish people in a difficult societal climate. of Nazi Germany. One such occasion took place when Jews marched in the Hans district of Munich. Although he would be severely punished if caught, Hans gave bread to a weakly Jewish old man as they passed by. “The Jew stood before him, expecting another handful of derision, but he watched with everyone as Hans Hubermann reached out and presented him with a piece of bread, as if by magic.” (Zusak 394). This simple act of Hans shows great empathy for his fellow man, even though he later faced intense punishment and scrutiny for this act. Hans takes the evil of the Holocaust and sets an example of how other humans should be treated. Hans also shows empathy and kindness towards the Jews by taking Max Vandenburg into his home. Max is the son of a Jew who sacrificed himself to save Hans during the First World War. Because of this story, Hans takes it upon himself to hide Max in his home for the duration of the war. “He was not a well-educated or political man, but at least he was a man who valued fairness. A Jew had once saved his life and he could not forget it. He couldn't join a party that upset people that much. Plus, like Alex Steiner, some of his most loyal customers were Jewish. As many Jews believed, he did not think the hatred could last, and it was a conscious decision not to follow Hitler. On many levels it was a disaster” (Zusak 180). Hans felt indebted to Max because his father had saved his life. Hans is able to see beyond people's religion and judge them on their strength of character and morality rather than labeling them. Because of this, Hans takes it upon himself to help Max in his time of need despite the difficulty of hiding it, and the great punishment if Hans is found to be helping Max in any way. The actions of Han, who risked his life to save Max, illustrate the rise of good over evil in Nazi Germany. Likewise, Rudy Steiner also treats the people below him with the utmost respect and dignity they deserve in the face of the horrors of war and human cruelty. After a bombing of Munich, Rudy and Liesel discover a crashed plane with an English-speaking pilot still inside. Rudy rushed to comfort the dying man and placed his teddy bear on the pilot's shoulder. “Carefully, he climbed towards the dying man. He carefully placed the smiling teddy bear on the pilot's shoulder. The tip of his ear touched his throat. The dying man breathed it. He spoke. In English, he said, “Thank you”” (Zusak 490-491). Although the pilot is part of the enemy forces and is terrorizing Munich, Rudy treats the dying pilot with respect in his final moments facing the,.