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Hans Hubermann In The Book Thief By Markus Zusak

443 Words2 Pages

Hans Hubermann from The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak, is paralleled to Jesus because they both share the need to help and treat everyone, not discriminating against race or religious ideology. Through his actions, Hans proves himself as the epitome of kindness. Despite the daunting penalty of death, he continues to provide food and services for Jews. Society, controlled by Aryan Nazis, prohibits many acts of hospitality towards Jews. Herr Hubermann demonstrates kindness and humanity while the elitist Germans persecute and murder Jews. Harboring a Jew in Hitler’s era is the most dangerous decision a family can make. Hans, however, invites a tall, worn-down Jewish man into his home without question, and immediately begins to feed him. He extends his generosity by proposing that “he’ll sleep …show more content…

Hans, ascertaining the line of hopeful starving Jews walking, impulsively decides to “[hold] his hand out and present a piece of bread [to an old Jew]” (394). This instinctual act exhibits Hans’ willingness to sacrifice his body and reputation for someone he does not know. He only realizes the crucial mistake of his deed after he was “whipped on the street,” having the satisfaction beat out of him (394). While Hitler’s philosophy becomes prevalent in German society, Hans remains faithful to Jews because “A Jew had once saved his life” and “most of his customers were Jewish” (180). One of the only Jewish shopkeepers left in Molching, Joel Kleinmann, has his store vandalized. Hubermann decides to rise early the next morning and thickly coat Kleinmann’s door with a fresh coat of paint, in order to shroud the imprinted racist slangs. However, he is noticed by Rolf Fischer, a Nazi extremist. By subjecting himself to potential physical and social punishments for people classified as ‘less than human,’ Hans brings light into the worlds of many experiencing an eternal

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