Hans vs. Rosa

            While reading the beginning chapters of The Book Thief, I noticed that there were some very definite differences between Liesel’s foster parents Rosa and Hans Hubermann. In my opinion, I believe that they are so different that they act as foil characters to each other.

            For example, Rosa Hubermann is described as being a woman who “looked like a small wardrobe with a coat thrown over it. There was a distinct waddle to her walk  Almost cute if it wasn’t for her face, which was like creased-up cardboard and annoyed, as if she was merely tolerating [the situation]” (Page 27). She is also aggressive and has a much brusquer manner in the way she acts. This is shown when Rosa forces a screaming and crying Liesel to bathe, roughly pushing her into the tub and fiercly scrubbing her from head to toe. It is in this fashion that I was extremely taken aback by surprise by the irony in her role since mothers usually play the patient and caring guardians. However, this is not the case with Rosa. She rules the house with an “iron fist” and is known on Himmel Street as the lady with the nastiest mouth, constantly uttering profanities and offensive phrases at anyone that dares to get in her way. She also never hesitates to beat Liesel with whatever object lies nearest to her person whenever her foster daughter exhibits behavior which she deems inappropriate. Finally, in the Hubermann household, Rosa is in charge of the more domestic tasks such as washing, ironing, cooking and watching Liesel. I think that Rosa’s character represents the hard-working side of a person.

Hans Hubermann’s character, on the other hand, has a much more gentler disposition. When Liesel first sees him from inside a car, she sees “a very tall man [come] out…. [He] walked straight, with a cigarette smoldering in between his fingers” (page 27). He also has eyes described as being silvery and filled with kindness and is much calmer and quieter. In fact it is he who manages to coax Liesel to release her grip on their iron gate and car door when she refuses to enter her new home. He is patient and caring and is the one who teaches Liesel how to read and write and comforts his foster daughter when she awakes crying from frequent nightmares. Hans contributes to the family’s income by completing more of the manual labor tasks such as painting houses and moving boxes. I think that Hans’ character represents the pleasant or carefree side of a person as he is gentle and kind and likes to enjoy himself by playing the accordion and rolling his own cigarettes to smoke.

            However, despite their differences, Hans and Rosa do have some similarities. For example, although both parents show their affection in different ways, both love Liesel with all their hearts and go out of their way to make her happy. Evidence of this is when Rosa sacrifices what little money she makes from her washing and ironing job to buy Liesel two books for her birthday, despite the family having to deal with money troubles. Hans also shows his love for Liesel by teaching her the art of literacy even though he is tired everyday from his job. Together, they are also compassionate to those of Jewish descent and both Hans, and surprisingly Rosa who dislikes change and is never known to have a kind side, agree to hide Max in their basement. Although both of them have dropped out of school at a young age, Hans in grade four and Rosa in grade three, both appear to be very knowledgeable and educated.       

This quote is significant to me because it demonstrates that although two people can be very different, they are still capable of feeling intense love for one another and can share some similarities although they might not be too obvious. This quote is significant to the novel because it shows that Rosa and Hans are foil characters for one another early on in the story and adds a sense of humorous irony to the plot.

            I can connect this situation to the world through the fact that Hans and Rosa are able to put aside their differences in order to save Max from Jewish persecutors. If everyone would be able to put aside their differences, like the Hubermann’s, for a common cause, the world would be a much better place.