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5 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Innocence of childhood
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Bruno and Shmuel - both boys have childhood innocence
Bruno is unaware that his father is a Nazi commandant and that his home is on ther periphery of Auschwitz. Thinks the camp is Out With, does not know Hitler when he meets him. Sneaks into camp and puts on pajamas to go look for his friend's father.. Shmuel, imprisoned in the camp, seems not to understand the severity of his situation. When his father goes missing, Shmuel does not understand that he has gone to the gas chamber. Neither boy understands they are in a gas chamber and about to die. Bruno crosses over |
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Friendship
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The major theme is the desire for friendship. Boyne explores the theme of friendship by having Bruno wander to the fence of the camp, and he meets another boy his age. The problem is that this little boy, Shmuel, is a prisoner. He is a Polish Jew who is interned at Auschwitz along with his family. The boys become friends from opposite sides of the fence and the war. The desire in these two boys for a friendship is so strong that they ignore the fence between them. They become very dependent upon one another. This friendship will eventually lead to tragedy.
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Humanity
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- Bruno tried to help Shmuel find his father despite being frightened and wanting to go home
The theme of human nature also proves to be central to the story. Readers will question how Bruno's father and sister, along with so many other Germans, can be such staunch believers in the Nazi propaganda while Bruno remains compassionate and even, some might argue, resistant to the same ideas. Bruno and Shmuel represent all that is kind and decent in humans as well as the potential that they have to do good. Conversely, Bruno's father and Lieutenant Kotler reveal man's capacity for evil. The novel points out the choice humans must make regarding how they treat others. On a similar note, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas also considers the dangers of conformity and people's reluctance to take a stand in the face of adversity. |
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Obedience and Conformity
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- Bruno's grandmother stands up for her beliefs
- propaganda is used to control how people behave and think ( an example is Bruno telling Shmuel that Germans are superior) - In a world and a time where people were being told what to think, who to hate and what relationships were acceptable, Bruno and Shmuel demonstrate how resistant and resilient children can be and how important kindness and compassion are. Gretel may represent those in German society who were aware of the horrors of the Holocaust but made a conscious choice to do nothing to help others. |
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Prejudice and Discrimination
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Many examples in the story of Germans believing they are superior to Jews
Bruno's father has a hatred of Jews, runs the death camp, carries out the horrors of extermination Prisoners are beaten Bruno and Shmuel -- become friends despite this --- share interests Through this, what is actually wanting to be said is that we should accept everyone for who they are. We shouldn't discriminate others for being different to us, but, instead, like children, forget the differences and befriend each other, in any case. We are all different, we are all unique, and solour and race shouldn't determine who we accept and befriend. Because, if we look deep down and away from the difference of colour, we'll all see one thing very common in each and every one of us, and that is that we are all humans. |
