Boy in the Striped Pyjamas incident essay
An important incident in John Boyne’s novel, the Boy in the Striped pyjamas, that changes the reader’s perspective, is the beating of Pavel at the dinner table. This horrific event displays the Nazi determination to rid Germany of the Jews.
During dinner, Kotler is being put under pressure with leading questions about his Father and it is an easy option to punish Pavel ( a Jew) to get him out of this situation. Kotler was taking out his rage on Pavel, just because he was a Jew. Pavel was nervous and ill looking because there were important people for dinner, that could possibly kill him. Kotler used this opportunity to get out of his tricky situation, by turning the attention off himself. “What happened then was both unexpected and extremely unpleasant. Lieutenant Kotler grew very angry with Pavel and no one-not Bruno …show more content…
It cleverly sums up three important threads throughout the book: unfairness, prejudice and fear. These three things were commonplace with Hitler, and in many ways they formed the basis of his rule and treatment of the Jews.It shows us how unfairness can be overlooked and acceptable when people are brainwashed and live with prejudice and fear. It shows us that prejudice, can make people behave in an inhumane way, and live their lives by a warped set of rules. When trying to understand why the German Nazis would come to accept unfairness and prejudice, this incident is a good example of how fear makes them accept rules and demands that they would normally question. Hitler would put them to death if they didn’t tow the line, and this they feared greatly. The reader is left feeling very sad and mortified after reading this scene, and develops strong feelings for both characters. Pity for Pavel who represents the Jewish people, and hate for Kotler, who represents the
An important incident in John Boyne’s novel, the Boy in the Striped pyjamas, that changes the reader’s perspective, is the beating of Pavel at the dinner table. This horrific event displays the Nazi determination to rid Germany of the Jews.
During dinner, Kotler is being put under pressure with leading questions about his Father and it is an easy option to punish Pavel ( a Jew) to get him out of this situation. Kotler was taking out his rage on Pavel, just because he was a Jew. Pavel was nervous and ill looking because there were important people for dinner, that could possibly kill him. Kotler used this opportunity to get out of his tricky situation, by turning the attention off himself. “What happened then was both unexpected and extremely unpleasant. Lieutenant Kotler grew very angry with Pavel and no one-not Bruno …show more content…
It cleverly sums up three important threads throughout the book: unfairness, prejudice and fear. These three things were commonplace with Hitler, and in many ways they formed the basis of his rule and treatment of the Jews.It shows us how unfairness can be overlooked and acceptable when people are brainwashed and live with prejudice and fear. It shows us that prejudice, can make people behave in an inhumane way, and live their lives by a warped set of rules. When trying to understand why the German Nazis would come to accept unfairness and prejudice, this incident is a good example of how fear makes them accept rules and demands that they would normally question. Hitler would put them to death if they didn’t tow the line, and this they feared greatly. The reader is left feeling very sad and mortified after reading this scene, and develops strong feelings for both characters. Pity for Pavel who represents the Jewish people, and hate for Kotler, who represents the