The Ugly and the Beautiful Inside The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is a story full of many emotions that help bring the characters to life, many of whom go through hardships and feelings of great loss. Death says: “I always find the best and the worst in human beings. I see their ugliness and their beauty, and I wonder how they can be both” (Zusak 491). Characters in The Book Thief like Liesel, Hans, Rosa, Rudy, and Max find themselves in situations where they have to behave in a certain way in order not to put their lives in danger. Even if they don't believe in the same things or have the same values ​​as the Nazi Party, they have to pretend to keep themselves out of danger. Sometimes, to protect themselves and others, they have to do things that would be considered bad or good actions. Liesel Meminger is a character that is difficult to distinguish from ugliness because from the beginning of the book she seems like a quiet and shy person. young girl who is not sure what is happening in the world. She is afraid of the new house she has to live in and at first doesn't talk much to her new parents, Rosa and Hans, but Hans is the one who manages to convince Liesel to open up. Liesel is not very kind to Rudy, always denying him the kiss he always asks for from Liesel. Although Liesel's actions towards Rudy may seem a little nasty and unkind, she truly cares for him and doesn't even realize that she loved him the whole time until his death at the end of the book. Liesel is still at an age where she doesn't know the full effects her actions have on herself and her family. She remains fascinated by books and perhaps even more so by the thrill that comes from stealing them. Liesel is told many times that he is dangerous... middle of paper......and this family who was kind enough to treat him as an equal and is grateful to finally have had the chance to know what they are l love and family. Nazi Germany was a place filled with so much hatred and so much depression that it seemed like you couldn't find beauty in just one person. The Book Thief shows so much death and pain that it seems like there can't be beauty in any of the characters, but there is. Liesel, Rosa, Hans, Rudy, and Max are all proof that while there may be ugliness living deep within a person, inner beauty is what matters most and is what gets them through such difficult times. Beauty can defeat the ugliness inside people if they focus on the right things and don't allow ugliness to take over. Works Cited Zusak, Markus. (2005). The book thief. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. Press.