The Point of View Used for Narration

[melanie]

The author chooses to tell the story through the character, Death. However, I was wondering why in particular did Zusak choose Death to be the narrator? Why didn't he choose to tell the story through Liesel's point of view? If the author did tell the story through Liesel's eyes, what do you think the difference would be between the two stories? 

[grace]

I believe that Zusak, the author, chose to tell the story from Death's point of view because during this era in history a lot of people were dying from being murdered for their beliefs. Also in the book Liesel is significantly impacted by the deaths of loved ones for example her brother so it is fitting to be told from Deaths perspective. By telling the story from Death's point of view the reader better understands the destruction of World War II. If the story was told through Liesel's perspective then I believe the story wouldn't be complete because Liesel was only able to see certain parts of this time while Death was there for it all. Also by Death telling the story it set the mood for that era and the book.

[Carolyn]

I agree with Grace that Zusak chose to use Death as the narrator because he sees everything. If it was from Liesel's point of view the story would definitely not be the same. Liesel would not know everything that was happening in other parts of Germany during whereas Death takes us to different places throughout the novel. Death also foreshadows about the death's of other characters whereas Liesel wouldn't know what was coming. I also agree with Grace about the mood, by having Death as the narrator the mood is quite obvious.

[Cole Powers]

On the idea of death foreshadowing:
I agree that the narrator Death allows for foreshadowing because Death seems like an omniscient character. I think that the way zusak foreshadows is very interesting. At one point he even explains his foreshadowing. He says that mystery is boring. The interesting part is not the end but how we get there. Because of this Death feels like foreshadowing in a way where he straight up tells you what is going to happen is just fine. One possibility is that Death views things this way because he can see everything, but I think the author may be hinting more at something else. Maybe he is saying that we all know the end: To quote the book, "You are going to die"(Zusak). The interesting part is not this inevitable death, but the life that leads up to it.

[stefanie]

The author chose to have the Death be the narrator of the novel so that the reader would better understand what humanity looks like not from the point of view of someone like Liesel, a human, but from the point of view of someone who has to deal with humanity during their most raw and vulnerable times. Death's final line in the novel is "I am haunted by humans" which shows the significant impact humans have on Death when he finds us at our most weakest times when we are about to die, especially the people he had to pick up during World War II. Zusak chose to have Death narrate the story to illustrate the beauty and worth that he found in humans through the story of Liesel Meminger.

[emilybachman]

The author uses Death as the narrator to serve many purposes. For example, Stefanie brings up the point of adding another view of humanity to the story and Carolyn adds how he's able to share with readers his perspective from all over the world, and from different countries during the war. However, Death also adds to the mood of the story because it shows the seriousness of the war and its aftermath. The death toll and stories of bodies on bodies and the way Death carries the wandered souls, shows to readers the brutality and beauty of the world Liesel lived in.

[emilybachman]

The author uses Death as the narrator to serve many purposes. For example, Stefanie brings up the point of adding another view of humanity to the story and Carolyn adds how he's able to share with readers his perspective from all over the world, and from different countries during the war. However, Death also adds to the mood of the story because it shows the seriousness of the war and its aftermath. The death toll and stories of bodies on bodies and the way Death carries the wandered souls, shows to readers the brutality and beauty of the world Liesel lived in.

[Luke W]

Making Death the narrator was a brilliant idea on Zusak's point. It adds a whole new level to the already complex and interesting story. Because World War Two was such a major time and so many people died, Death has such a more impactful role.

[keelylipp]

Telling the story through Liesel's eyes would have changed the story in many ways. Liesel didn't fully experience the brutality of war until the bombing of Himmel street. Having her as the narrator would have made the story much more based off of feelings and experiences that she lived. While Death was the narrator, the reader experienced first hand how much death happened in the world war and how battlefields looked and felt like, both before and after death.

[Mete Bakircioglu]

I believe that Zusak chose to incorporate the unique point of view of Death to narrate the story as a symbol more than anything. Though Death can be perceived only as what he is on the surface, a being who collects the souls of the dead from the bodies of dead humans, Zusak may have intended Death be portrayed as the monotony of life. As the end. Death suggests that life is just a cycle where you are born and will eventually die. Death even describes itself as an everyday worker. "To me, war is
like the new boss who expects the impossible. He stands over your shoulder repeating one thing, incessantly:
'Get it done, get it done.'" From Liesel's point of view, the story would lack the extra dimension and depth behind the narration.

[emilia]

I thought that Zusak intended that Death, being the narrator, would provide the reader with a unique perspective of the war. The author was able to provide a story that gave an outlook on humans through the eyes of an outsider; death. Death tells the story of World War 2 from a different perspective than Leisel would've seen because Death was portrayed as an omniscient character in the shadows. By Death telling the story, the reader is able to have a better understanding of the war as whole. If Leisel were to narrate the story, the reader would have an individual perception of the war.