The Struggler, Concluded Analysis
World War II was a dark stain on the world’s history; full of paranoia, guilt and struggles. Max Vandenburg’s journey as the Struggler has ended but opened a dark door, a hidden Jew, for the Hubermanns and Liesel. Rather “the juggling comes to an end now, but the struggling does not” (168). As this chapter explains, life does not just end, it will continue and leave lasting effects on everyone that is connected.
The chapter starts with Death’s thoughts on Max’s situation, a great quote of “If they killed him tonight, at least he would die alive” (168). Death clearly shows his human quality; a quality of believing freedom is the key of living. It is ironic because it is impossible to be dead and alive at the same time. Instead, Death meant by saying that even if Max were killed, at least he would die having lived because he finally escaped the compounds of his art hiding spot and was now traveling out of seclusion. To Death if Max dies, he would die with dignity of being a human unlike in concentration camps or in hiding. A sentence that is bright yet foreboding foreshadows the rest of the chapter.
The way Zusak wrote Vandenburg’s walk leaving safety further explains a Jew’s need to survive and escape dangerous situation. Using short sentences, a feel of immediate suspense is given towards the readers. By continuing with his stilted, poetic style and staccato narration, the tension keeps on rising. Zusak draws a subtle connection between the descriptions of the town hall to Vandenburg, a young man full of fight that carries a burden, “too big for his age”. The terror was overwhelming when Max reached Munich Street, when at any given moment he might be captured. As Death says, “(German children were on the lookout for stray coins. German Jews kept watch for possible capture)” (169). A constant threat of danger keeps both the readers and Max pessimistic as he travels through the town.
The use of the number “13” was often mentioned. Perhaps it implies an ironic
The chapter starts with Death’s thoughts on Max’s situation, a great quote of “If they killed him tonight, at least he would die alive” (168). Death clearly shows his human quality; a quality of believing freedom is the key of living. It is ironic because it is impossible to be dead and alive at the same time. Instead, Death meant by saying that even if Max were killed, at least he would die having lived because he finally escaped the compounds of his art hiding spot and was now traveling out of seclusion. To Death if Max dies, he would die with dignity of being a human unlike in concentration camps or in hiding. A sentence that is bright yet foreboding foreshadows the rest of the chapter.
The way Zusak wrote Vandenburg’s walk leaving safety further explains a Jew’s need to survive and escape dangerous situation. Using short sentences, a feel of immediate suspense is given towards the readers. By continuing with his stilted, poetic style and staccato narration, the tension keeps on rising. Zusak draws a subtle connection between the descriptions of the town hall to Vandenburg, a young man full of fight that carries a burden, “too big for his age”. The terror was overwhelming when Max reached Munich Street, when at any given moment he might be captured. As Death says, “(German children were on the lookout for stray coins. German Jews kept watch for possible capture)” (169). A constant threat of danger keeps both the readers and Max pessimistic as he travels through the town.
The use of the number “13” was often mentioned. Perhaps it implies an ironic