The tumultuous events of the Second World War in Germany reveal the human desire for strength. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak explores the human need to feel powerful and the efforts people go to to achieve it. When Liesel first arrives at the Hubermanns she feels powerless, she gains power by stealing books and learning to read. Rudy Steiner, eager for power, also tries to obtain it by standing out and impressing people. Max Vandenburg, a Jewish boxer hiding in the Hubermann's basement, feels weak as he has little control over his life. He gains strength by fighting for his survival through imagination and words. Zusak allows readers to relate to the novel by using the characters' power struggle to describe aspects of human nature in society. At the beginning of the novel Liesel is speechless and cannot read, she seeks power by stealing books and learning diction. At school she has difficulty reading and is teased by other students. “Towards the end of the break, the total comments were nineteen. On the twentieth, he sprinted. It was Schmeikl, back for more: “Come on, Liesel.” He hit the book under her nose. “Would you help me, would you?” " (Zusak 78) This shows how helpless Liesel felt without his words. With Hans' help, he patiently teaches her to read The Gravedigger's Manual, the first book he had stolen. Liesel was able to learn to read during these sessions night in the basement and her knowledge of words has strengthened. For Hitler's birthday, a book burning was prepared in Molching. Liesel bravely steals her second book and commits her first act of defiance against the Nazis by stealing a in public banned book.Leisel's love of books evolves from mourning over... middle of paper...... and simply surviving was an act of resistance against Nazi Germany events of the Holocaust impacted the lives of many across Germany. The Book Thief demonstrates the human need to feel powerful and the lengths people are willing to go to achieve it. Liesel unable to read or write is fragile. With Hans' help he reveals the true power of words, bringing hope to the inhabitants of Himmelstrasse during chaotic times. Rudy gains power by standing out and proving himself to others by impressing them. Max feels helpless due to the little control he has over his life. He gains power by fighting for his freedom by imagining battles against Nazi Germany and writing about Hitler's Mein Kampf. In conclusion, Zusak uses Liesel's struggle for strength as an element to reinforce aspects of human nature throughout the novel.