Was helping Max stupidity or bravery?

Discuss the December 2013 book of the month, "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak
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ArriettyClock
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Was helping Max stupidity or bravery?

Post by ArriettyClock »

Liesel's grandfather risked his family's safety by allowing Max to stay with them. Not only for one night, but for month, before Max eventually left to attempt to find freedom.

Later in the story, Liesel find's Max in a procession and attempts to assist him publicly, putting herself, her family, and Rudy. The publicity of this act meant that everyone in her village saw her helping a Jewish person.

Were these acts ones of stupidity or bravery?
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meramoP
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Post by meramoP »

I think its an act of bravery since she was helping Max explore and have freedom so its helping...the question would be why does Max need freedom from who or what
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Post by ArriettyClock »

Freedom from persecution.
Granted... at the time that he arrives at Liesel's house, the freedom is from fear of death rather than the actual reality of it. However, when he leaves their home to attempt to escape, that fear is then a reality, as Jewish people were being rounded up for the camps.
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Post by Taekwondoqueen »

I think that it was bravery, but that is only my opinion. I also believe that Liesel’s grandfather felt like he had a debt to owe and this was the only way that he could do that. I think that Liesel went in to see Max because she had been missing him for so very long and she thought that this was the last time that she got to see him.
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Post by Rafaella Michailidou »

It was really really brave and a little stupid haha. Ideally, they should've done it more secretive but I guess you can't think clearly in moments like these. Nevertheless, I think I would do the same.
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Post by evan1995muniz »

I think helping someone find their freedom is very brave. Max was my absolute favorite because of his wisdon. I am happy of all the people that he was one that lived.
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Post by Nisha Ward »

It's been years since I've read this book, but I think it was, ultimately, an act of bravery. It shows that no matter what atrocities humans are capable of, we're also capable of good, and given the subject matter, Liesel and her family helping Max was an example of that.
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Post by Prisallen »

I think it was an act of bravery, since they were trying to do what they felt was right.
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Post by firstlook »

I think Liesel grows up to be strong and brave, but I don't think she truly understands the implication of helping Max in the beginning. She only knows that she'll lose her family, and most importantly she'll lose her Papa if she doesn't keep it a secret.
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Post by dorebri2020 »

I believe that the actions were at heart brave, as it showed the compassion and care of the German citizens for the suffering at the time. While there may have been consequences, it showed how brave Leisel was to still stand for Max.
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Post by rumik »

Definitely an act of bravery. Of course it would have been safer for them to not help him, but they still helped because it was the right thing to do. That's definitely brave in my opinion.
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Post by Nimisha_91 »

It was bravery. And it was the right thing to do. It was also a little stupid. :wink:
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Post by kelso9326 »

I think it was bravery in the beginning; letting him stay he could figure out another plan or place to go. Eventually it just became stupid in my opinion. Yes, he needed refuge, and they kept him well hidden but they were risking so much. I honestly don't know if I could help someone like that out of fear.

When Liesel helped him on the road, I think it was bravery more than stupidity. She was trying to be nice. Maybe there was a little bit of stupidity but I don't blame her. I probably would do the same thing.
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Post by Palfree »

I felt it was brave of the family to take in Max. Later when Lissel tried to help him on the road, I don't think she thought of the danger. She was tryibg to help a friend that she cared about.
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Post by Mrunal Tikekar »

Sometime people are more concerned about being morally right. So from that angle, I think it was an act of bravery.
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