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Hans Huberman. Contrast + Conflicts. Introduction. Explore multiple conflicts of Hans Huberman , a main character of “The Book Thief”. Contrast with his wife Rosa. Internal conflict with Nazism. Conflict with his son Hans Junior.
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Hans Huberman Contrast + Conflicts
Introduction • Explore multiple conflicts of Hans Huberman, a main character of “The Book Thief”. • Contrast with his wife Rosa. • Internal conflict with Nazism. • Conflict with his son Hans Junior. • How they help us understand the character Hans and aspects of the idea of Genocide.
Conflict with Rosa Huberman Characterisation
Contrast with Rosa Huberman • Very opposite and conflicting characters • Differ in 3 main ways: • Difference in appearance • Difference in nature • Difference in the way they appear to other people • All contribute to Hans’ characterisation.
Differences in Appearance Hans Huberman Rosa Huberman • “very tall” • Walks “straight” • “squat”, “five foot one inch” • Walks with a “distinct waddle” • Differences encourage comparison between the characters.
Conflicts of Nature Hans Huberman Rosa Huberman • Close characters (married) but are heavily conflicted in their differing natures • Quiet man • Eyes “made of kindness and silver” • An abrupt woman with a short temper • “a face constantly contorted with fury”
Conflicts of Nature • Their natures are shown the first time Liesel encounters them • Hans “coaxes” her out of the car, “quietly”, while Rosa yells at onlookers “what are you arseholes looking at?” • This obvious and surprising difference emphasises Hans’ quiet and kind nature.
Difference in “Appearance” • The way they appear to other people. • Rosa is short, angry, boisterous, flamboyant. • Hans comes across as “not noticeable. Not important or particularly valuable” • Only the people closest to him notice the “quiet air around him” and understand he is “worth a lot”.
Difference in “Appearance” • He is a “diamond in the rough” (“silver eyes”, “secretly valuable”) • The rough means the people in Nazi Germany. • Hans stands out as different from this hatred, explained more later. • Hans is a quiet, gentle man whose value is in his quiet manner and gentle nature.
Internal Conflict Shows characterisation and about the idea of Genocide
Internal Conflict • Hans opposes Nazism • Makes a “conscious decision not to follow Hitler” • Does this because he is “unable to antagonise people in such a way”
Internal Conflict • He is conflicted, because he opposes, but openly opposing is dangerous. • “wears a face with the shades pulled down.” Opposes in his mind. • Shows Hans’ integrity and kindness, he is unable to hate, but cannot oppose openly.
Internal Conflict • Hans represents all oppressed Germans in WWII • Gives us an insight into German people at this time. • Teaches us about an idea to do with the genocide: people can still make good decisions based on kindness.
Internal Conflict • Jew marching through Molchingincedent. • Hans gives a “stumbling” old Jew being marched a piece of bread, who buries “his face between them [Hans’ knees] and thanked him”.
Internal Conflict • This act of heroism gives hope to the hopeless, and to us, that there is still kindness in the world. • Hans shows courage. • Teaches us about courage and heroism: can be but a small act of kindness or the courage to do what is right.
Conflict with Hans Junior Characterisation and ideas of Genocide.
Conflict with Hans Junior • Hans is against Hitler, Hans Junior is for him. Breeds conflict between them. • Hans Junior has been brainwashed, poisoned. • His eyes don’t carry the warmth of his fathers – they have been “Führered.”
Conflict with Hans Junior • Hans Junior represents the Nazi movement, and the conflict represents the clash between the movement and people like Hans who can’t or won’t hate. • Conflict also represents how families are corrupted by Hitler’s will.
Conflict with Hans Junior • Shows us about Hans. • “you’re either for the Führer or against him” – and both choices carry dire consequences, death.
Conclusion • Conflicts help us understand the character Hans • Contrast with his wife Rosa helps characterisation through difference • Internal conflict with Nazism helps us establish some of Hans’ character and teaches us aspects of an idea to do with Genocide • Conflict with his son Hans Junior builds some more of Hans’ character and is used to show us another idea.