Striped Pyjamas Injustice

For the dead and living, we must bear witness of the empirical pandemonium for the victims of the Holocaust. The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is a haunting yet powerful fictional story written by John Boyne. The book offers a unique perspective on how prejudice hatred, anti-Semitism and injustice affected innocent people during WWII. The novel largely centres on a crucial theme of injustice faced by Jewish people. There is much evidence to prove this statement as it is represented in countless ways in the novel through the mistreatment of Jewish people such as Pavel, he experienced clear injustice from a German soldier. It is also evident for Shmuel’s austere way of living compared to Bruno’s German privileges, and also to the rest of the Jews’ …show more content…
Not only did Pavel get mistreated, Shmuel was also a victim, his life in comparison with a Bruno has much difference in their way of living and rights of freedom. Ever since Bruno met Shmuel, he always asked Shmuel to crawl under the fence so they could play, but Shmuel always anxiously refused. This is due to the deep segregation between the Jews and Germans, the forbidden communication that Shmuel has to face every day. This suggests that Shmuel is living under the fear of strict rules and does not have the freedom to go anywhere he wishes, whereas Bruno, who is German, is allowed to walk freely without fear or consequences. For example when Bruno suggested showing his room to Shmuel, Shmuel said: ‘he told me not to move from this seat or there’d be trouble.’ (P.168). Shmuel also did not have the luxury of healthy, nutritious food as Bruno did, this was described through his physical appearance – “his veins were visible, his fingers were like dying twigs, whereas Bruno’s fingers seemed to be filled with life.” (P.167). Shmuel was also afraid that he may get caught by Kotler when Bruno offered chicken “…with grateful but terrified eyes.” (P.170). Which he unfortunately did, the result of his punishment was gruesome as Shmuel had a black eye. It is apparent that anti-Semitism is shown in Shmuel’s story between the two different boys, both with same age and same gender but treated differently due to their …show more content…
This was a huge effect on their physical and mental state. However, the Germans did not consider this as an issue as they do not refer Jews as ‘humans’. Hitler had a belief of a superior society called the ‘Aryan race’ which led to the genocide of Jews. The camps were cramped and the people were malnourished. “There were crowds of people sitting together in groups, staring at the ground, looking horribly sad…” (P.207). It was obvious that the lifestyle they were forced into has affected their mental state. Not only was that, the Jews was also affected physically. “They were all terribly skinny and their eyes were sunken and they all had shaved heads…” (p.208). This was due to their living conditions and the little freedom they had which is outright torturous. Altogether, Pavel, Shmuel and the Jews have all faced extreme anti-Semitism throughout the novel whom Germany was persuaded by Hitler’s excellent orality skills.
Overall, it is apparent that injustice towards Jewish people is a significant theme throughout the fiction, The Boy in Striped Pyjamas, written by John Boyne. It is shown through the eyes of Pavel’s torture from Lieutenant Kotler, Shmuel’s racial inequality between Bruno and his life and the misery of the Jewish people. Although the racist mistreatment occurred in a fictional story, it is based on real-life events from World War ll, the