Marcus Tullius Cicero once said, “A room without books is like a body without a soul.” » This is the case of Liesel, the main character of The Book Thief by Markus Zuzak, because her body is as if it had no soul since she has not been able to read... for a long time. Liesel's character growth is noticeably different from the beginning to the end of the book, and many outside forces influence and shape her into who she becomes. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Because Liesel grew up in Nazi Germany, she was never fully educated. Books and literature are foreign to her and she does not understand their true value. It wasn't until she stole a textbook from her brother's funeral and was later taught to read by Hans, her adoptive father, after she was taken to live with him and his wife . Reading leads to writing, which gives him the power to change the world through his literature. When Liesel couldn't read, it separated her from the world in ways she never even imagined. Now that she has learned from Hans, she learns to appreciate her worth and be part of the world. Liesel knows that words can also be misused. She sees this in Hitler's book, Mein Kampf, and is troubled by the power Hitler's words have over his followers. Sometimes Liesel doesn't like words and wishes they never existed because they were the reason her parents died. Words become of great power for Liesel, who uses them as a verbal weapon. “Blood was dripping from his nose and licking his lips. His eyes had turned black. Cuts had opened and a series of wounds were rising to the surface of his skin. Everything comes from words. In Liesel's words. Liesel first grows from a vulnerable child to a confident and courageous adult. Her growing appreciation of literature and words is very significant because, without it, she would never have written The Book Thief, which also had an impact on others. Besides objects, such as books, certain characters have a strong impact on Liesel. Also. For example, Hans creates a dynamic for her in which she feels safe and comfortable around him. He teaches her to read and write, staying with her until very late at night. They enjoy each other's company and Hans offers her valuable knowledge she never knew before. “After three weeks, he held her back. Trust built quickly, mostly through the raw strength of the man's gentleness, his presence. The girl knew from the beginning that Hans Huberman would always appear in the middle of a scream and that he would not leave…. Every morning he was a few meters from her, slumped, almost half, in the chair. Hans demonstrates his fatherly love towards Liesel and acts as her father figure. Hans is caring, patient, kind, and gentle, and remains so throughout the book. He is even strict with her sometimes. Not out of irritation, but only because he wants to protect her and for her to learn from her mistakes. Hans is a great role model for Liesel because he allows Liesel to think for herself. Liesel admires Hans and sees his self-determination. She wants to be like him because he helps her think for herself. Unlike other leaders of the time, like Hitler for example, Hans never degrades Liesel's abilities, which transforms her into a strong, capable, and wise woman by the end of the book. The last thing that impacts Liesel's character is a library. Frau Ilsa Hermann, the mayor's wife, allows Liesel to use her library when.