What measures one’s actions? For many years, psychologists have been studying the potential of humans and their drive and motivation behind their actions. Abraham Maslow’s famous concept, The Hierarchy of Needs comes to mind. According to Maslow, humans need to go through a series of stages of needs before reaching one’s potential. They include Physiological Needs, Security Needs, the need for love and belonging, and self esteem. Maslow believes that humans by nature strive to be a better person. They naturally intend to find themselves, which is why Self Actualization is at the top of the pyramid, which states an individual fulfilling their potential. In Markus Z’s novel, The Book Thief, Self Actualization plays a significant role in Liesel Meminger’s upbringing (Zusak). In a world where individualism is snatched out of people, Liesel continues to pursue her curiosities as an individual without allowing her own mind be poisoned by the conditioning of her environment. However, despite Liesel’s individualistic nature, one can’t deny the unfair, if not brutal environment of Liesel. How did she survive? What does she learn about herself? From a psychological standpoint, I will be discussing how Liesel coped with the Nazis, and the knowledge she found about herself along the journey.

Liesel is one character whose need for self actualization is evident. In the beginning of the novel, Liesel is illiterate meaning she cannot read nor write. Nevertheless, she is aware that there is great power in words and shows great hunger for them. In fact, the novel tells us that the first book she learns to read is a manual about grave digging (Zusak). The need increase her literacy levels is evident when she reads with her Papa as well as the visits to Frau Hermann in her library. In fact, we are told that she considers the library as the greatest places she has ever seen. Liesel is also seen reading everything around her in the basement and it is clear that the books become her source of comfort. It is evident that Liesel is determined to have the power present in words and the only route to this power was through continuous reading.

After increasing her literacy, Liesel understand the ugly side of words. After gaining the ability to read, Liesel understands that Hitler’s propaganda is the root of his power and also the reason why her family members (father, mother and brother) are dead. She seems to understand that Hitler used words to incite the Germans to carry out acts of violence and cause suffering to the society.  She however, hopes that she can write words of love and compassion. Liesel seems to enjoy the work of Max which seems to bring great joy to her.

Throughout the novel, Liesel is determined to distinguish between good words and bad words. “I have hated the words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right.” From these lines, it is evident that Liesel is determined to master the art of writing and ensure that whatever she writes brings positives to the audience (Zusak). She intends to use the right words as opposed to the words of Hitler that were responsible for great destruction and loss of lives. Liesel is determined to distinguish between the manipulative power of words and word full of compassion and love.

The issue of thievery is also an indication of defiance and self-actualization. Throughout the novel, Liesel is described as a young girl who values word power and interested in improving her literacy levels. By stealing a book from a book burning, she defies Nazi censorship and takes her education into her own hands. She decides to break into Isla’s home and steal the same book that she previously refused after being given by Isla herself. Isla is helpful to the young girl as she places in visible locations to help her steal and continue with her urge of reading. While Rudy and others steal food, Liesel steal books as a form of self actualization (Zusak). Despite trauma from the death of her family members, Liesel is determined to survive and make sure that she has her tale written with words full of love and compassion.

Work cited

Zusak, Markus. The Book Thief. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2006. Print.

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