Meaning of the accordian

[isabelleansberry]

In the book, Hans Hubermann's accordion appears many times, for example, when Liesel arrives on Himmel Street, its history with Max and his family, and at the end when Liesel found it in the rubble. It has a different meaning each time it is present. What are some of the accordion's meanings, and what does it symbolize in different parts of the book?

[Hibah]

The accordion is a memory and a sign of hope. When Hans Hubberman left for the war, he left his accordion for Liesel. Rosa never used it because she was afraid that Hans would never come back, but since Hans used the accordion so often in front of Liesel, she took the first step in playing it as if the accordion was a sign that Hans would come home. Another place the accordion was a sign of hope was when Liesel had her nightly nightmares, Hans soothed her with his accordion. This always helped Liesel, more then the accordion being symbolized, I think Hans was being symbolized like something comforting you and staying at your side.

[Eric]

I think that Hans's accordion is an extension of his personality. For example, he often tried to calm Liesel by playing his accordion when she had nightmares. In this way, Hans and his accordion provided comfort to Liesel. Hans also tried to help the people in his town. For instance, he gave bread to a Jewish man being marched through town. Hans helped the man even though it might put him in danger with the Nazi party. Hans and the music from his accordion both helped people through tough times.

[sophielowy]

Han's accordion is a symbol of optimism and diversion. In the novel it says, " 'I played an accordion, Liesel. Someone else's..... It brought the house down'" (Zusak 420). For the people who hear the gentle yet bold music emerging from the accordion the fears and sorrow of the war and surrounding world disappear. All that fills the heads of the listener is the music and the music drowns out all other negative thoughts. Han's uses the accordion as a diversion from the crumbling world around them. The accordion is also used as a symbol of hope. When Han's is sent to war the accordion is all of him that Rosa and Liesel have left. In the novel it says, "It took longer than she expected for her eyes to adjust, and when they did, there was no denying the fact that Rosa Hubermann was sitting on the edge of the bed with her husband's accordion tied to her chest. Her fingers hovered above the keys. She did not move. She didn't even appear to be breathing" (Zusak 428). Rosa and Liesel hold on to that accordion as if it was the life source of Hans. The accordion serves as a physical source of hope for the return of their beloved Hans. Throughout the novel the accordion helps Han's and the people around him deal with the tragedies ingulfing them.

[elizabeth miller]

The accordion is a symbol of hope and of comfort. When Hans leaves for the war he leaves all but the essentials behind like every other man but this was the one that both Rosa and Liesel went to when thinking of him. That is because it was so treasured by him. He would bring it out over the course of the book for many different reasons and those are the times that the two think about when they hold the instrument. The comfort that it brought Liesel after she had faced a nightmare. The hope and joy it brought the family on those nights it played by the fire.

[anthonywang]

I agree with Elizabeth. In the novel, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, symbolism is shown constantly through an accordion. The accordion is introduced into the novel when Liesel, the main focus of this segment, is brought home to her foster parents. Being dismayed in depression due to her brother’s death, Liesel stays quiet and does not open up to the Hubermanns. Until Hans Hubermanns, the husband of the couple, brings out an accordion to try to put Liesel at ease from her past. In the bleak picture that the story has described thus far, the accordion, or the music being played, gives off a colourful feel lightening up the bleak and dark imagery.
Being an art student, I find that music can do many wonders in a time of need; It can bring the light out of a dark night, the happiness in depression, and the soul of a lost mind. In the Book Thief, the music being played brought distraction, comfort, and hope to Liesel’s mind. Being distracted from her past, comforting her for the moment, and giving her hope for the future. The accordion itself is a symbol of life. Since for Hans, the accordion is a symbol of the man who gave the accordion to Hans. The man who saved his life, Erik Vandenburg. Not only does the accordion symbolize life for Hans, it symbolizes survival for Max Vandenburg, allowing him to believe he’ll survive the holocaust. But as soon as Hans leaves for Essen, he leaves his accordion behind, specifically for Rosa, Hans wife. Allowing Liesel to see how much Hans meant to Rosa, with Rosa holding onto the accordion every night not playing a single note, but just sitting in the silence. Causing the accordion to symbolize Hans himself. However, when Liesel finds the accordion among the wreckage of Himmel Street after Hans has died, the accordion goes off to symbolize a great loss, of a great man. A loss of her hopes, comfort, and distraction.