8th February 2019

Book Thief – Setting

Molching is an imaginary location descriptively nestled between existing locations.

Reality: Concentration camps contributed to the death of some 6 million Jews inside and outside of Germany, over 50% of Europe’s Jews. The Nazi Party promoted German Pride and anti-Semitism (against Jewish people). It was formed and backed on the basis of Germany’s failure in World War 1 and the embarrassment, economic difficulties and political instability that came from this. Nazi leader Adolf Hitler’s charismatic public speaking also contributed to the popularity of the Nazi Party. When the Nazi Party came into power in 1933, all other political parties were banned and the opening of Dachau, their first concentration camp, occurred. Thousands of Jews, intellectuals, artists, disabled people, gypsies and homosexuals died in this soon to become death camp.

Quotes:

“pointing in the direction of Dachau, the concentration cam p.” An unnecessary comment really. A reminder of the times (setting) and perhaps significant to later in the book?

“began to rain, nice and hard. ” Setting – Rain symbolises/enhances the negative, rock bottom, everything is bad kind of feeling.