Accordion: More Than Just a Beautiful Sound

What is an accordion? An accordion is a box shaped musical instrument that originated in Russia in the early 1800’s. It is played by compressing or expanding bellows while pressing keys which allow air to flow across reeds. To you or me, the accordion represents a musical instrument with an unusual, but charming sound. In the book, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, the accordion represents so much more than just a beautiful sounding instrument. Throughout the book, the accordion represents a symbol of comfort, hope, and survival in difficult times.

Many times throughout the book, the accordion represents a symbol of comfort. For example, after Liesel Memenger is brought to the Hubermanns, her new foster parents, she is very sad due to her brother’s death and being separated from her mother. She screams at night from nightmares, and Hans Hubermann (Papa) stays with her and often plays the accordion to her the next morning. Papa also plays the accordion to get her to come out from under the table she has hidden under after being hit by Mama with a wooden spoon. During the first real air raid in a neighbor’s basement, Liesel gives comfort to the other children by reading The Whistler. This is used as a comparison to Papa’s playing the accordion to comfort Liesel as the writer states “A voice played the notes inside her. This, it said, is your accordion.”

The accordion is also used as a symbol of hope. Max, Erik’s son, is sent to Papa in hope that he will take Max in to protect him during the Holocaust since Max is Jewish. As Max’s mom holds him for the last time, she states “This could be your last hope.” When Max asks Papa if he still plays the accordion, this reminds the reader of the connection the accordion plays between Max’s father and Papa. Also, the accordion is used as a symbol of hope while Papa is away at war. Liesel she sees Mama many nights holding the accordion close to her. She realizes that Mama is holding the accordion because it is cherished so much by Papa and give Mama a feeling of hope that he will return from the war.

Finally, the accordion is used as a symbol of survival in difficult times. While serving in World War I his friend, Erik Vandenburg, volunteers Papa to write letters for the captain while the others go out to battle one day. While he is writing, Erik and the other soldiers are killed. Papa takes Erik’s accordion to his wife after the war ends, tells her Erik taught him to play,