The Boy in The Striped Pajamas Assignment: Group 5
In John Boyne’s novel The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, the living conditions for Auschwitz prisoners are miserable. The limited omniscient point of view through Bruno’s perspective describes the conditions of the concentration camp in an ignorant, childlike manner. Firstly, on page 150, Bruno notices that Shmuel has a very painful looking black eye when they meet. This is an example of abuse within the camp, where brutal executions, arbitrary torture, and retribution are common- even for Shmuel, a nine-year-old child. When Bruno asks about Shmuel’s injury, Shmuel simply shakes his head saying he does not want to talk about it. Additionally, on page 175, Shmuel admits to Bruno about his injuries, …show more content…
Next, the book denotes the camp’s sinister method of mass murder. On page 158, Bruno reveals to Gretel that Shmuel’s grandfather has gone missing but Shmuel’s father will not tell him where he has gone. In reality, over one million Jews at Auschwitz deemed unfit for work were massacred in gas chambers. Moreover, Shmuel’s rapidly declining health suggests that prisoners do not receive enough nutrition to subsist. On page 161, Bruno observes that his friend’s face “seemed to be getting even thinner by the day and his face was growing more and more grey.” On page 167, Bruno also notices that Shmuel’s veiny hands “weren’t little more than dying twigs” as he polishes glasses at Bruno’s house. The Nazis’ luxurious way of life is a stark contrast to Shmuel’s appalling living conditions. Bruno casually eats three slices of stuffed chicken in front of Shmuel, taking for granted that he always has food to eat. On the other hand, Shmuel sees food as scarce and precious. When asked if he is hungry too, he eagerly replies, “That’s a question you never have to ask me.” Although he is constantly ravenous, Shmuel has been in this state for so long that …show more content…
To begin, on page 179, Bruno considers asking his parents about Shmuel but worries that they will “tell him something unpleasant about Shmuel and his family” instead. Bruno’s subconscious thought demonstrates that Nazis indoctrinate their racist beliefs in their children. As a result, they repeat the same nationalistic and anti-Semitic beliefs to others without understanding their meaning. This is further established on page 182, when Bruno asks if they are Jews and Gretel “opens her mouth wide as if she had been slapped in the face”. The Nazi attitude towards the Jewish is that it they are a lowly sect to belong to. They do not see Jews as humans deserving respect, but as animals that should be locked up and exterminated. Although Gretel finds no logic behind Nazi principles, she is horrified when compared to a Jew because of the shallow propaganda and fantasies she has been fed by her parents and teachers. Moreover, the Nazis are always looking for a reason to criticize and inflict pain upon prisoners. On page 171, Lieutenant Kotler scolds Shmuel, saying, “Who told you that you were allowed to talk in this house?” The Nazis believe that the Jews are inferior to the Germans and should obey their every command. Lieutenant Kotler also enjoys verbally abusing those he believes are below him- whether they are his seniors, like Pavel, or innocent children. Finally, when the children
In John Boyne’s novel The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, the living conditions for Auschwitz prisoners are miserable. The limited omniscient point of view through Bruno’s perspective describes the conditions of the concentration camp in an ignorant, childlike manner. Firstly, on page 150, Bruno notices that Shmuel has a very painful looking black eye when they meet. This is an example of abuse within the camp, where brutal executions, arbitrary torture, and retribution are common- even for Shmuel, a nine-year-old child. When Bruno asks about Shmuel’s injury, Shmuel simply shakes his head saying he does not want to talk about it. Additionally, on page 175, Shmuel admits to Bruno about his injuries, …show more content…
Next, the book denotes the camp’s sinister method of mass murder. On page 158, Bruno reveals to Gretel that Shmuel’s grandfather has gone missing but Shmuel’s father will not tell him where he has gone. In reality, over one million Jews at Auschwitz deemed unfit for work were massacred in gas chambers. Moreover, Shmuel’s rapidly declining health suggests that prisoners do not receive enough nutrition to subsist. On page 161, Bruno observes that his friend’s face “seemed to be getting even thinner by the day and his face was growing more and more grey.” On page 167, Bruno also notices that Shmuel’s veiny hands “weren’t little more than dying twigs” as he polishes glasses at Bruno’s house. The Nazis’ luxurious way of life is a stark contrast to Shmuel’s appalling living conditions. Bruno casually eats three slices of stuffed chicken in front of Shmuel, taking for granted that he always has food to eat. On the other hand, Shmuel sees food as scarce and precious. When asked if he is hungry too, he eagerly replies, “That’s a question you never have to ask me.” Although he is constantly ravenous, Shmuel has been in this state for so long that …show more content…
To begin, on page 179, Bruno considers asking his parents about Shmuel but worries that they will “tell him something unpleasant about Shmuel and his family” instead. Bruno’s subconscious thought demonstrates that Nazis indoctrinate their racist beliefs in their children. As a result, they repeat the same nationalistic and anti-Semitic beliefs to others without understanding their meaning. This is further established on page 182, when Bruno asks if they are Jews and Gretel “opens her mouth wide as if she had been slapped in the face”. The Nazi attitude towards the Jewish is that it they are a lowly sect to belong to. They do not see Jews as humans deserving respect, but as animals that should be locked up and exterminated. Although Gretel finds no logic behind Nazi principles, she is horrified when compared to a Jew because of the shallow propaganda and fantasies she has been fed by her parents and teachers. Moreover, the Nazis are always looking for a reason to criticize and inflict pain upon prisoners. On page 171, Lieutenant Kotler scolds Shmuel, saying, “Who told you that you were allowed to talk in this house?” The Nazis believe that the Jews are inferior to the Germans and should obey their every command. Lieutenant Kotler also enjoys verbally abusing those he believes are below him- whether they are his seniors, like Pavel, or innocent children. Finally, when the children