Addition to "The Word Shaker"

I realize that people have already translated the meaning of Max's book "The Word Shaker," but I would like to comment on some of the interesting strategies that Zusak used for this book within the book. First of all, I don't really understand why Zusak introduces the scene with the mother and her son walking and the mother scolding him. If the focus of this section of the book is about Hitler, I feel like Max (or...Zusak) should have stopped at "The one day, out of nowhere, it struck him-the perfect plan." (pg. 445) I can make one connection from this seemingly unnecessary scene. Often when Hans needs Liesel to understand something, he admonishes her. Although she doesn't always cry during these situations, Hans, like the mother in the book, soothes his child with his soft voice.

Next to the paragraph with the mother and her child is a picture. There is a man (Hitler, I believe) in a store with products like The Fuhrer's Handbook, small mustaches, a Nazi Party symbol, a comb, a jar of Hatred, and a jar of Fear. I mainly like the incorporation of the two jars because it indirectly says that Hitler is "selling" hatred and fear, which is absolutely true.

Max then writes about how the Fuhrer planned not fire a gun, and we all know why thats so ironic. Hitler tries to win the world over with words, and "plant the seeds" (Max's whole story has extended metaphors with references to plants, seeds, trees, forests, etc.) of his words into as many people as he can, and it is obvious that this is a reference to Mein Kampf.

The part with the people on the conveyor belt symbolizes how people were brainwashed to think that Jews and other non-Aryan races were bad even though they had not done anything wrong. One thing I cannot figure out is who were the ones who were "employed to climb the trees and throw the words down to those below?"

As the story progresses, Max talks about a girl (clearly Liesel) who is an excellent "Word Shaker" because she understands the true power of words and had a hunger and desire for them. Max then introduces "a man who was despised by her [Liesel's] homeland, even though he was born in it." This new man is Max, and he joins Liesel in her Word Shaker tree. The two are bonded so strongly by words, the Fuhrer's ax cannot break the bond that they have.