Bread as a symbol

[Hibah]

"More Jews were Bending down and taking the bread from the road, and from the edge of trees"( Zusak 576) One of Rudy's and Liesel's tricks were to put pieces of bread on the road right before the soldiers pass through with the Jews. The Jews greet the bread as if think it was an old friend. I think the bread is symbolized as a friend you have not seen in a while because when seeing that friend you get all exited and you don't think of anything else. The Jews were doing the same thing; not thinking if the soldiers would hurt them and exit net running through their veins. What other things can bread symbolize.

[briannaanderson]

The bread is a symbol of hope. When the Jews saw it, it told them that there are people out there who do want to help. It showed them that in this horrible place there are people trying to make a difference, no matter how small, even it is just a piece of bread.
I also noticed that the giving of the bread showed tremendous character in Liesel and Rudy. Both of them were thieves, but when it came to a matter of who needed it most both of them were to willing to give. They turned from thieves to givers.

[isabelleansberry]

I agree with Brianna that the bread served as a symbol of hope, but I also think it signifies the humanity that was still left in some people living in Germany during the war. Although many people agreed with the false information they were being fed by Hitler, there were still some who had pure hearts, and who wanted to help those in need. Liesel and Rudy were some of those people, and the bread they gave to the Jewish prisoners displayed those qualities.

[Luke W]

I also agree with Brianna that the bread symbolizes hope. I do also agree with Hibah and Isabelle that the bread symbolizes a friend or humanity left in the people of Germany. I just think everyones ideas are better than mine. So, good job!

[anthonywang]

I found that giving bread is an act of selflessness in the novel, and it represents the kindness that people are capable of. When Max is hiding in the storeroom, his friend brings him bread to help keep him alive. The fact that it’s a challenge for them to do so, because as we know if they were caught it would mean severe punishment and likely death, indicates that giving Max the bread puts his needs above their own. That same logic applies when Hans gives the Jewish prisoner the bread as the Jews are marched through town to Dachau. Hans and his family have little to eat, so giving bread to the man is a sacrifice in that regard. It’s a much bigger sacrifice in the sense that Hans knows he will be severely punished for it, and in fact he’s badly whipped as a result. He did it despite knowing he would be punished in an act of extraordinary kindness and selflessness. Later, Liesel and Rudy also give bread to the Jewish prisoners being marched through town. Rudy’s family already doesn’t have enough to eat, so giving away bread is a significant sacrifice on his part. As Death tells us, it marks Rudy’s transition from one who steals bread to one who gives it to others, symbolizing his maturation from selfishness to empathy.