Summary and Analysis
Part 3: Mein Kampf:
Tricksters
Summary
Liesel and Rudy continue to steal from farmers with their gang of friends. In addition to apples, they begin stealing onions and potatoes, too. They also devise a plan to steal from Otto Sturm, a boy from school who delivers food to the priests every Friday. They share these goods with the rest of the gang, and Arthur also tells them that they should take the basket back to Otto. They steal once more from a potato farmer, who chases the gang with an ax. Rudy gets rescued from the fence by Arthur and Liesel. Arthur moves away, but leaves them with a gift of chestnuts. Liesel and Rudy eat one chestnut each and then sell the rest. They go back to Frau Diller's and buy a pile of mixed candy.
Analysis
This chapter illustrates how Liesel and Rudy, and even Arthur, understand what it means to be a moral thief. Their recognition of a moral versus an immoral thief serves in stark contrast to the new leader of the gang who comes later in the novel. It also reflects upon the way in which Liesel steals books from Frau Hermann's library. Liesel understands that there is a right and a wrong way to go about stealing, as does Arthur. Their return to Frau Diller's shop also represents their victory over her, a character who represents Hitler's ideals.