In The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, how does Bruno demonstrate caring for others?
Yes. Throughout the novel, Bruno is a compassionate, sympathetic character who selflessly demonstrates kindness towards others. Despite Bruno's father being a Commandant in Hitler's Third Reich, he displays manners and kindness towards his family's servants. Maria, the maid, is treated with indignance by Gretel and is looked down upon by the rest of his family. Bruno demonstrates kindness towards Maria by speaking to her politely and even referring to her as part of their family. Rather than bossing her around like the rest of his family, Bruno treats her with respect. Another example of Bruno demonstrating his selfless nature is depicted when he begins to bring food with him to his rendezvous with Shmuel. He can tell that Shmuel is hungry and suffers from malnutrition, and Bruno gives him cheese, bread, and meat. Also, Bruno agrees to help Shmuel find his father. Despite the terrible weather and the possibility of...
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getting caught, Bruno selflessly climbs under the fence to look for Shmuel's father. When Bruno comes face to face with the harsh conditions of the concentration camp and wants to go home, he loyally decides to stay with Shmuel and continue looking.Bruno demonstrates his kindness towards Shmuel by disregarding his own feelings and choosing to continue searching throughout the camp.
What are three instances where Bruno exhibits kindness and patience in The Boy in the Striped Pajamas?
I think that one of the best examples of Bruno being kind and patient would be when he is open to listening to Pavel. At first, Bruno dismisses Pavel as one who has no real medical value. However, Bruno's patience and kindness reveal themselves as he understands that Pavel once used to be a doctor and thus has something meaningful to say when Bruno is in pain. Another similar example is seen when Bruno understands Maria to be more than a "servant." His kindness and patience are on display when he rebukes his sister for not seeing Maria as more than just someone who cooks and cleans up after the children. Bruno's kindness and patience are evident in how he sees people as more than their status and external conditions might dictate. One of the best examples of his kindness and patience would be when he remains loyal to Shmuel. In the midst of their looking for Shmuel's father, Bruno is scared. However, he does not let his fear dictate his actions. Rather, Bruno shows kindness in how he supports his friend. He shows patience in how he does not abandon his friend in a time of need. He shows care when he takes Shmuel's little hand in his, even when they are marched into the gas chambers. In telling him that they will be best friends forever, Bruno displays the care and patience so evidently absent and simultaneously present in so many during the Holocaust.
Is Bruno in "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas" kind and patient? Why?
Kind AND patient? Maybe not.
I'm not sure about the patient part. I would say that as the novel progresses, Bruno does become more patient than he was at the beginning. This is evidenced by his willingness to spend time talking to a boy who lives on the opposite side of a prison camp fence time and time again. At the beginning of the book though, I'm not sold on him being patient. Bruno does not want to move to the new house (which is expected), and after arriving in "Out-With" he complains a lot about being bored and not having any kids his age around. While this is something expected from a nine-year-old, it doesn't exactly scream patient.
He is kind for sure. He is willing to spend time simply talking to a boy that he can't actually play any real games with—definitely no sports. Also Bruno has a heart for helping Shmuel find his dad. However naive Bruno may be about what is actually happening inside that fence, he has to have some apprehension about crossing over a fence. What nine-year-old wouldn't? But despite that, Bruno decides that helping his friend find his father is important. So he goes, and pays for it with his life.