The Book Thief Soundtrack: "Dear Wormwood"

The Book Thief Blog Response: Category B, Prompt D



"When I was a child, I didn't hear a single word you said
The things I was afraid of, they were all confined beneath my bed
But the years have been long, and you have taught me well to hide away
The things that I believed in, you've taught me to call them all escapes

I know who you are now

There before the threshold, I saw a brighter world beyond myself
And in my hour of weakness, you were there to see my courage fail
For the years have been long, and you have taught me well to sit and wait
Planning without acting, steadily becoming what I hate


I know who you are now


I have always known you, you have always been there in my mind
But now I understand you, and I will not be part of your designs


I know who I am now
And all that you've made of me
I know who you are now
And I name you my enemy


I know who I am now
I know who I want to be
I want to be more than this devil inside of me"


*****

I chose the song "Dear Wormwood" by the Oh Hellos while reflecting on two important passages in the book. The first is near the beginning, when Death makes this observation: "When it came down to it, one of them called the shots. The other did what he was told. The question is, what if the other is a lot more than one?” First and foremost, this quote poses the question, if more people had stood up to Hitler and tried to stop the horrors he committed, would the Holocaust still have happened? It's a tough question to think about because it makes us uncomfortable, that we as a united human race did not stop the injustices occurring, first under our nose, and then blatantly to our face. I think that's a question Hans and Liesel and many other characters pondered themselves. They were faced with a choice: do what's best for themselves, or do what's best for the victims around them. Liesel the book thief did her best to choose the latter, even as she watched those she loved die around her. Liesel has a fire within her to fight the monstrosities Hitler is committing. The first book burning she experiences on Hitler's birthday fascinates her, horrifies her, and wakes her up to the world around her. Gone is the veil placed in front of her by childhood innocence, replaced by a strong distaste for injustice and a disposition for rebellion. I think this song reflects that transformation really well. Liesel goes from a small, scared child, haunted by the death of her brother and silently attending Hitler Youth, to a fiery, motivated young woman who steals books from burning heaps. The first stanza reflects her childhood ("When I was a child, I didn't hear a single word you said // The things I was afraid of, they were all confined beneath my bed"), the bridge represents her waking up to Hitler's wrongs, a sort of coming of age ("I know who you are now"), and the some of the last verses represent her refusal to comply with Hitler's "business as usual." Much like Hans, Liesel wanted no part of Hitler's evil deeds ("I have always known you, you have always been there in my mind // But now I understand you, and I will not be part of your designs... // I know who you are now // And I name you my enemy"). Although the song begins timidly, it builds strength and power throughout it, much like Liesel does in the novel. Although her revolts are small, Liesel's quiet convictions reflect her strong-willed personality, her resilience, and her refusal to accept injustice.