Discussion Topic
Character Relationships and Comparisons in The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
Summary:
In The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, Bruno and Shmuel's friendship transcends their vastly different circumstances. Both boys are lonely and seek companionship, forming a bond that overlooks their cultural and social distinctions. They share the same age and birthday, though Bruno is the son of a Nazi commandant living comfortably, while Shmuel is a Jewish prisoner in Auschwitz. Despite Bruno's initial naivety and cultural ignorance, their friendship remains strong, culminating in their tragic death together in a gas chamber. In contrast, Bruno's relationship with his sister Gretel highlights their differences; Gretel is domineering and insensitive, while Bruno is curious and sympathetic.
Describe the friendship between Bruno and Shmuel in chapter 16 of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.
The friendship that is shared between Bruno and Shmuel is one in which their differences are not relevant, as their common finding of their association is all that matters. Their pasts are irrelevant. The only element that matters is that they have found one another. This friendship is one that lives in the eternal present. It is one in which there is complete forgetting of the conditions in which they live, and a complete submersion in their own friendship. I think that this is the reason why Bruno feels that it is "the best thing." It is a statement on how friendship's transcendent qualities can cause people to lose the frustration they experience in their lives and immerse themselves in a shared association with another. For Bruno, it is an opportunity to forget the tension with his sister and his missing his friends in Berlin. For Shmuel, it is a...
Unlock
This Answer NowStart your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in here.
reminder of normalcy in a condition that is devoid of it. I think that this is where Bruno and Shmuel consider their friendship "the best thing." When Bruno's head has to be shaved for lice, he sees it as another way in which he can forge his relationship with Shmuel, reflective of how their friendship is "the best thing" in that they both even resemble one another.
What are the differences and similarities between Bruno and Shmuel in The Boy in the Striped Pajamas?
One similarity that should jump out at readers is that both boys are exactly the same age. They share the same birthday, so that gives them immediate common ground. They also are both males living in essentially the same location, but that is all very surface level stuff. One similarity that probes a little deeper is that both Bruno and Shmuel are both lonely characters that are seeking friendship wherever they can find it. This actually can be used to point out some stark contrasts between the two characters. Shmuel is lonely because his family and friends are being systematically separated from each other and either worked to death or killed in one gruesome fashion or another. Bruno on the other hand is lonely and isolated due to his father's position in the Nazi hierarchy; however, Bruno's life can hardly be described as bad or even wanting. Perhaps this is why he is so quick to try and distance himself from Shmuel when they are caught together. Another striking difference exists between the ignorance level of each character. Shmuel has a decent handle on his current life situation. He's been forced to witness all kinds of atrocities, and he understands fairly well where he is. Bruno, on the other hand, is so unbelievably ignorant that he's practically an unrealistic character. He doesn't understand what is happening at the concentration camp that his own father is a major part of. This is amazing since the Hitler youth programs were designed to condition children like Bruno to adhere to Nazi beliefs and practices.
Describe the friendship between Bruno and Shmuel in The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.
The friendship between Bruno and Shmuel in The Boy in the Striped Pajamas demonstrates that the basic human need for companionship and understanding is even more fundamental than loyalty to individual culture. Until they find each other, both boys are extremely lonely in their current circumstance; Bruno in his isolated home, and Shmuel in the camp. Each setting is filled with adults, with adult reasoning and perspectives on war, culture, and loss. Bruno and Shmuel are each without a peer until they find one another. The boys fulfil the other’s need for companionship, and brave trouble to overcome their loneliness. Each boy finds understanding in the other that only a true peer can provide; they both view the world through the innocent eyes of an 8-year old. The two boys share so many personality traits [the boys are almost interchangeable, besides their heritage] that the unfairness of Shmuel’s captivity is highlighted.
I think that the friendship between both boys can be described as real. Their friendship is one that cuts through social distinctions, religious distinctions, and historical conditions. Both boys fill a need for companionship in the other. It is for this reason that their friendship is real and valid. In displaying a friendship that transcends existing conditions, one is reminded of what can be. This is where the ultimately real quality of the boys' friendship exists.
In one respect, their friendship is real because both boys mirror one another. This is seen in the most literal of senses when Bruno has to have his head shaven because of lice. This can also be seen when he accompanies Shmuel on their "adventure" as Bruno crosses the fence. Symbolically, their friendship is real as they both confess to the other that neither of them "like" Auschwitz. Bruno and Shmuel recognize at that moment that their friendship is the only thing sustaining them through the horror of Auschwitz. When they are herded into the gas chamber together, the midst of terror is where their friendship achieves their greatest significance. When Bruno tells Shmuel that he is his "best friend for life," when fear and terror grip both of them, it is a reminder as to how real their friendship actually is. In the end, this becomes the word to describe their friendship. Both boys actually die in one another's arms, with only the comfort of the other to offset the terror of death in the gas chamber. Their friendship carries both boys beyond the fear of a lonely death in the Holocaust. This indicates how real their friendship was.
Bruno's family has moved to a new place (which we find out is the Auschwitz concentration camp, where his father is Nazi official who oversees the running of the place). Bruno is lonely and bored in his new home. One day he comes across a small, skinny boy wearing pajamas (which are actually the uniform for all the Jews who are imprisoned in the camp). Bruno and the boy, Shmuel, talk and discover that they share a birthday. Then they part ways, agreeing to meet again. The friends continue to meet and become closer. One day Bruno enters the kitchen at his house. He finds Shmuel in the kitchen, working. Bruno has noticed that his friend is skinnier than when they first met, so he offers him food. Lieutenant Kotler, a man who works with Bruno's father, catches Shmuel with the food and becomes angry. Cowardice takes over Bruno, and he denies knowing Shmuel. Bruno does feel conviction and later apologizes.
Bruno finds out that his mother is taking him and his sister to Berlin soon. He decides to cross the fence and dress in the same uniform that Shmuel wears. They spend time together and look for Shmuel's father, who is missing. Soon they are rounded up by soldiers and led into a room. The door is closed and the boys hold hands. It is a gas chamber and the two boys are killed.
At first, Bruno wants Shmuel to be his friend because he is bored. He does not value their friendship much, as we see when Bruno denies him in front of Kotler. Later, Bruno comes to care more deeply for his friend. In the end, they comfort each other before they die.
Compare and contrast Bruno and Gretel in The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.
Bruno and his sister Gretel are complete opposites throughout the novel. Gretel is portrayed as a relatively insensitive older sister, who is mean-spirited and domineering. She is three years older than Bruno and stays indoors while Bruno prefers to explore outside. Bruno refers to his sister as the "Hopeless Case," and she becomes enamored with the young, malevolent German soldier named Lieutenant Kotler. Gretel also has no friends at Out-With and spends much of her time learning about the history of Germany from Herr Liszt.
In contrast, Bruno is a curious, amiable boy, who is sensitive and courageous. Bruno ends up becoming friends with a Jewish prisoner named Shmuel, and the two boys develop a meaningful relationship. Unlike his sister, Bruno is a naturally adventurous risk-taker. He is also sympathetic to other people's difficult situations. Bruno sympathizes with Pavel and Shmuel's circumstances and even risks his life attempting to find Shmuel's father.
Despite their numerous differences, Bruno and Gretel share some similarities
throughout the novel. Both siblings are confused about Out-With when they first
arrive and are forced to start new lives in an unfamiliar location. They also
do not understand the importance of their father's position and do not enjoy
witnessing violence. They have both been exposed to Nazi propaganda and have
been taught that Germany is the greatest country in the world.
Compare and contrast Bruno and Shmuel in The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.
Bruno and Shmuel are both similar in age. In fact, they share a birthday. Despite being on completely different sides of the fence, the two boys get along quite nicely because they both share a natural ability to be empathetic. Shmuel is especially a good listener, and that is one of the main reasons Bruno enjoys the friendship so much. The other similarity is that both characters crave companionship with somebody their own age. What is important to note is that the two characters are friends with each other, but they are foils to each other too. This means that the two characters are opposite in many ways for the purpose of highlighting traits that the other character has. For example, Bruno has lived an incredibly blessed life. His father is well respected, rich, and powerful. Bruno has never really had a need that hasn't been or couldn't be met. On the other hand, Shmuel's life is one hardship after another. His home has been taken away, he has lost family members, and he's living at Auschwitz concentration camp. On top of all of that, Shmuel is quite aware of what is going on. That contrasts sharply with Bruno who seems to be completely naive about everything.
How do Bruno and Shmuel maintain their friendship in The Boy in the Striped Pajamas despite their circumstances?
Bruno and Shmuel are both naïve, innocent young boys who do not grasp the gravity of their situations or truly understand the nature of the Auschwitz environment. Instead of viewing each other's differences as negative aspects that divide and separate them, Bruno and Shmuel embrace their friendship and continue to meet up on opposite sides of the fence simply because they enjoy each other's company. Without Shmuel, Bruno's life would be extremely boring and lonely. Similarly, the time Shmuel spends engaging in pleasant conversations with Bruno offers him a much-needed respite from the horrific conditions inside Auschwitz.
Neither boy despises the other for their ethnicity or religion, which allows their friendship to flourish. Even though the boys desperately wish to play together without the dividing fence separating them, their conversation and company mean everything to the boys. Bruno even begins sneaking food to Shmuel and looks forward to their meetings throughout the week. Both boys are able to meet up at a distant part of the camp away from the prisoners and guards, which allows them the necessary privacy to develop a friendship. In the end, Bruno finally crawls underneath the fence to the other side, where they tragically die in a gas chamber looking for Shmuel's father.
Compare Bruno's and Gretel's treatment of Maria in "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas".
Judging by their treatment of Maria, Bruno and Gretel are certainly different: Gretel seems to feed off her father's new superiority and harshness, while Bruno is more sensitive like his mother. Unlike Gretel, Bruno strives to understand more deeply his surroundings and new situation, and as he talks with Maria, he learns of her past.
In Chapter 6, Bruno lies on his bed, looking at the ceiling, bemoaning the poor condition of the house in comparison to his Berlin home. Maria enters with folded laundry and he says,
"I expect you're as unhappy about the new arrangement as I am...Everything here. It's awful, isn't it? Don't you hate it, too?"
As a servant, Maria knows not to offer her opinion. Instead, she asks, "Don't you like it here?" Bruno replies that it is "awful"; there is no one with whom he can play, and there is nothing to do. Wistfully, Maria remarks on the lovely garden and other amenities back in Berlin. Bruno realizes that she would like to say more, but she does not. Continuing with his complaining, he says, "Stupid Father." Maria is horrified by this comment, and tells Bruno he must never say such a thing. "Your father's a good man," she tells Bruno, explaining that her mother was a dressmaker for Bruno's grandmother, who was a performer. Later on, when her mother was ill, Bruno's father paid for her care and took Maria into his household as a servant so that she would not be destitute. Maria tells Bruno not to disparage his father around her, yet she does remark, "He has a lot of kindness in his soul, truly he does, which makes me wonder...." Suddenly, though, she stops herself.
Maria and Bruno are then startled by a door slamming shut, followed by thundering steps down the stairs. Gretel barges in and says, "What's going on?" "Narrowing her eyes suspiciously," she orders Maria to run her bath. When Bruno tells her she can do this herself, Gretel tells her brother Maria is the maid and she is there to wait on them. Bruno disagrees, but Gretel orders Maria to "not be long" because
...unlike Bruno she never stopped to think about the fact that Maria was a person with feelings, just like her.
Gretel derives an attitude of power from her father's new position. Unlike Bruno, she is self-centered and not concerned with the feelings of others. Gretel exhibits the innate feelings of superiority that her father and other Nazis felt, but Bruno does not exhibit such traits; instead, he is compassionate.
Do you agree that Bruno and Shmuel are more alike than different in The Boy in the Striped Pajamas?
There are several notable similarities and differences between Bruno and Shmuel.
Bruno and Shmuel both live at Auschwitz, and they're both the exact same age—in fact, they were born on the same day: April 15, 1934. They're both lonely and in desperate need of friendship and companionship, which is essentially why and how they become friends and how fate intertwines their paths.
Unfortunately, however, this is where the obvious similarities stop. While Bruno is able to live an easy and comfortable life, Shmuel is forcefully subjected to pain and suffering, because the Nazis were convinced that all humans cannot and should not be equal and that only certain individuals deserved to have the "privilege" of humanity, dignity and respect. Bruno's father perfectly sums up the Nazi mentality:
"The people I see from my window. In the huts, in the distance. They're all dressed the same."
"Ah, those people," said Father, nodding his head and smiling slightly. "Those people ... well, they're not people at all, Bruno."
Bruno frowned. "They're not?" he asked, unsure what Father meant by that.
"Well, at least not as we understand the term," Father continued. "But you shouldn't be worrying about them now. They're nothing to do with you. You have nothing whatsoever in common with them."
Growing up as a child of a Nazi general in Nazi Germany, Bruno is taught that what is currently happening to the world is for the greater good and the overall betterment of the nation; thus, he is both ignorant and unaware of the horrors that Shmuel's people go through and even thinks that Shmuel lives a more interesting life than him.
It's so unfair. I don't see why I have to be stuck over here on this side of the fence where there's no one to talk to and no one to play with and you get to have dozens of friends and are probably playing for hours every day. I'll have to speak to Father about it.
Bruno and Shmuel both move to Auschwitz, yes; however, Bruno moves because his father got promoted, and he continues to live a life of luxury, despite not liking the idea that he has to leave his old home in Berlin behind. Shmuel, on the other hand, "moves" to Auschwitz from Poland, in order to be imprisoned, degraded, mistreated, and ultimately killed for being born into a culture which was not deemed desirable by those who believed that some people are superior to others. Both boys are of the same age, yes, but Bruno gets to experience the joys and carefreeness of childhood, while Shmuel has to grow up mentally and emotionally much too soon to cope with his reality.
They're both lonely; however, Bruno is lonely because his parents, specifically his father, are too busy to pay him enough attention, while Shmuel is lonely because he is separated from his family and friends, who are either moved to different concentration camps or dead. They both wish to explore their surroundings, but Bruno is able to do that as much as he wants and go as far as he wants, while Shmuel's space is limited and he can only go to the border of the wire fences.
Interestingly enough, it is the differences between them that paradoxically showcase how these two are actually similar to one another. Driven by their loneliness, their mutual childish curiosity, and their tendency to explore their environment, Bruno and Shmuel start an unlikely friendship. Blissfully unaware of why everything is happening that way that it's happening and why the world is so angry and violent, they both find solace in each other and feel happiest and safest when they're together. In the end, it is their naivety and their innocence that ultimately brings them to their death; both Bruno and Shmuel are essentially victims of hatred, prejudice, and tyranny.
And then the room went very dark and somehow, despite the chaos that followed, Bruno found that he was still holding Shmuel's hand in his own and nothing in the world would have persuaded him to let it go.
In The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, how is the friendship between Bruno and Shmuel portrayed?
In The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, Bruno and Shmuel are two unlikely friends. They are separated by a fence and Bruno's father has told Bruno that "those" people are "not people at all" (chapter 5). Bruno finds Shmuel whilst exploring along the fence where he has been forbidden to go. Shmuel is "just waiting to be discovered" (much like America, Bruno concludes) (chapter 10).
Bruno introduces himself and the two boys are equally fascinated by each others' most unusual names. Ironically, the boys form a bond over those things that make them the same, such as their birthdays. The are exactly the same age, "twins," and this cements their friendship. Bruno is anxious to retain his new friend and, rather than disagree with him over details regarding where they are both from, he "agrees to disagree." This is further proof of their friendship as Bruno is compromising to safeguard their friendship.
The boys also bond because they have both been forced to move from their homes. In chapter 12, when Shmuel tells Bruno how "everything changed" Bruno recognizes yet another similarity between them; neither of them is enjoying life at "Out-With." Bruno is fiercely protective of his new friendship even realizing that he should keep Shmuel a secret because his family may not understand and may try to keep them apart. Bruno even risks being ridiculed by Gretel when he accidentally mentions Shmuel that he tells her (in chapter 14) that he is his "imaginary friend." Furthermore, when Lieutenant Kotler finds the boys talking in Bruno's home when Shmuel has been brought there co-incidentally to clean the glasses for the upcoming party (chapter 15), Bruno denies knowing him. This may seem like a betrayal but it is the only way to keep their secret and is further proof of their friendship as is Bruno's dogged persistence in returning to the boys' meeting place until finally, after a week, Shmuel comes back. Shmuel forgives Bruno and the two boys "shook hands and smiled at each other," as Shmuel reaches under the fence.
In chapter 16 the boys discuss their friendship, "the strangest friendship I've ever had," according to Bruno and, in chapter 17, when it is decided that Bruno, his mother and sister should return to Berlin, Bruno is not happy and "dreaded having to tell Shmuel the news." Finally, when Bruno does go across to Shmuel's side of the fence, he realizes that he and Shmuel are "best friends for life" (chapter 19). The two friends die, presumably and thankfully, without any concept of what is about to happen.
Why does Bruno enter Shmuel's camp in The Boy in the Striped Pajamas?
Bruno agrees to enter the concentration camp in order to help Shmuel find his father, who has recently disappeared. Bruno takes pride in his exploration abilities and has become extremely close friends with Shmuel.
On the day before Bruno leaves for Berlin, he offers his help finding Shmuel's father by climbing underneath the fence and wearing a prison uniform to blend in and avoid detection. Since Bruno has recently contracted lice and shaved his head, he looks similar to the Jewish prisoner wearing the same "striped pajamas."
Inside the concentration camp, Bruno and Shmuel look for evidence of his missing father but cannot find him. Tragically, Bruno and Shmuel are herded towards the gas chambers by several Nazi soldiers. Inside the gas chambers, Bruno and Shmuel hold onto each other as they are poisoned to death.
How are Bruno and Shmuel similar in "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas"?
The short and simple answer is that both Bruno and Shmuel are, in the end, just two little boys. The entire Nazi doctrine was built around the belief that they were somehow inherently different, but the friendship they build during the novel symbolizes, through a tragedy, that when it came down to it, they were quite interchangeable. The Nazi guards had absolutely no way of determining that Bruno didn't belong in the camp; the novel's bleak ending serves to show the absurdity of the Nazi worldview.
The truth of the matter is that, while Bruno and Shmuel became friends partly thanks to some external similarities, like their shared birthday, they both just needed a playmate, like any other child in the history of the world. Separated by an artificial fence—both literally and figuratively—and brought together by chance, Bruno and Shmuel are alike in many ways. They are both homesick, lonely, and bored, and they're quite confused by this strange place they can't entirely figure out (although Shmuel knows and guesses significantly more). Most of this sounds terrible to the reader, who probably knows more about Auschwitz than the boys combined, but Bruno and Shmuel are only children. They both understand that Bruno is privileged and enjoys more freedom, but despite Bruno's teacher's best attempts, neither boy really grasps the magnitude of the camp and what takes place there. So they do what every child would: they try to make sense of things as best they can and play games, happy and thankful to have company. Although there is a world of differences separating them, Bruno and Shmuel don't let this distract them from being as alike as any friends are.
How did Bruno's friendship benefit Shmuel in The Boy in the Striped Pajamas?
Shmuel benefited greatly from his friendship with Bruno throughout the novel. Shmuel mentions to Bruno that the majority of the children in the concentration camp are unhappy, and not friendly. Bruno's friendship provides Shmuel emotional relief which allows Shmuel an opportunity to engage in friendly conversation and vent his frustrations while imprisoned at Auschwitz. Shmuel suffers from malnutrition and is constantly hungry. Bruno, who has access to plenty of food, brings Shmuel bread and cheese to eat when he visits him. The food that Bruno brings has a nutritional value which benefits Shmuel. Also, towards the end of the novel Shmuel asks Bruno if he can help him find his father. Bruno offers to help Shmuel search for his father, which is a risky task on Bruno's part. Bruno provides support for his friend by sneaking under the fence and helping Shmuel look for his father. Although the boys do not find Shmuel's father, their close friendship provides both boys with a sense of belonging and gratification to an otherwise bleak situation.
In The Boy In The Striped Pajamas, how would you define Bruno and Shmuel's friendship?
The relationship between the two boys is the heart and soul of Boyne's novel, set in Nazi Germany.
Bruno is nine-years-old. He has just moved from is home in Berlin to a new, unfamiliar place called "Out-With" (Auschwitz). Although he longs to explore his new environment, Bruno has been warned, sternly and repeatedly, that certain areas around his home are forbidden. Despite these admonitions, however, one day Bruno's curiosity gets the best of him and he sets off to investigate.
As he wanders, Bruno comes upon a fence. On the other side of the fence is a boy who seems to be about Bruno's age. This boy, of course, is Shmuel. Shmuel wears what appear to be striped pajamas. He sports a cloth cap. Bruno notices that the boy is barefoot. The boys strike up a conversation. They discover they share the same birthday, April 15th, 1934. Bruno observes that there are many other people on Shmuel's side of the fence but he does not know what they are doing there.
Bruno continues to sneak out and meet Shmuel at the fence. Bruno has learned, although he is mystified why, that he and Shmuel are supposed to be enemies. He tells Shmuel as much:
"We're not supposed to be friends, you and me. We're meant to be enemies. Did you know that? ”
The boys, innocent of the political machinations of their elders, do not care about "not supposed to be." They are friends. As they continue to meet and talk, their bond becomes stronger and stronger. Shmuel expresses his fear about his missing father; Bruno promises to see if he can find anything out.
Shmuel is happy to accept Bruno's offer of help. He tells his friend that he will acquire another set of striped pajamas so that Bruno can blend in and look for Shmuel's father with less risk of being stopped and questioned.
The ruse works too well. The prisoners are unexpectedly herded into a gas chamber, Bruno among them. The friends die, holding hands. Bruno's earlier words were completely true: "You're my best friend, Shmuel," he said. "My best friend for life.” Sadly, both of their lives are horrifically short.
How is the relationship between Bruno and Shmuel depicted in The Boy in The Striped Pajamas?
The Boy in The Striped Pajamas tells the tragic story of two boys, one German and the other Jewish, caught up in the Holocaust, and the effects of their lives in, or close to "Out-With" as Bruno calls it. The boys meet in chapter 10 when Bruno decides to explore, despite having been forbidden from doing so, with "No Exceptions!" The boys connect immediately, despite being separated by "the fence" and Bruno is excited because "We're like twins," discovering that they share a birthday. Shmuel is less convinced- "a little bit." Shmuel is far more aware of their differences.
Bruno does most of the talking and asking questions and it is obvious to the reader that he has been indoctrinated when he talks about how "Germany is the greatest of all countries." Ironically, Bruno thinks that Shmuel is lucky in so many ways, never realizing the extent of the abuse. He is disappointed when he eventually goes under the fence and he does not see the happy families picnicking and enjoying themselves such as he expected but still his expectations remain positive. On the other hand, Shmuel has long since accepted his situation and does try to tell Bruno, warning him and wondering "why you're so anxious to come across here anyway... It's not very nice." Shmuel seems to realise that Bruno will not really understand and "blinked and opened his mouth to say something but then thought better of it."
John Boyne retains this distinction between the boys to intensify the tragedy of the historical reality but Bruno does notice "Our hands... 'They're so different." Shmuel's hands are almost skeleton-like. The boy's relationship begins to change as, under the fence, they "shook hands and smiled at each other." After Bruno has his hair shaved, when Gretel, his sister, finds lice in her hair, the irony of the situation intensifies as now Bruno looks even more like his friend "only fatter."Ultimately, the boys differences will become immaterial, their allegiances will be unnoticed and their innocence absolute. Their relationship will also change at this point as Bruno, forever questioning, just reassures Shmuel by squeezing his hand, recognizing his fear and comforting him in his own way - "My best friend for life."
How do Bruno and Shmuel perceive the soldiers differently in The Boy in the Striped Pajamas?
In chapter 13, Bruno and Shmuel have a rare disagreement. The subject of soldiers is a sensitive one, and neither boy can find common ground with the other. In other words, Bruno and Shmuel disagree without reservation on the subject of soldiers.
While Bruno believes that there are some good soldiers, Shmuel believes otherwise. Because of his experiences, Shmuel is wary of soldiers. Unlike Bruno, he has never met a soldier who treated him kindly or with any consideration for his humanity.
On the other hand, Bruno has never experienced explicitly cruel treatment from a soldier. His only conception of a good soldier is his father. Although Bruno's father remains a detached figure in his life, he does share a bond with Bruno. As a consequence, Bruno thinks that his father is a shining example of a "good" soldier. Additionally, Bruno's father also dresses impressively, has the respect of his fellow soldiers, and the regard of "The Fury." Because of these factors, Bruno concludes that his father is a good soldier.
Of course, this is a very biased assumption on Bruno's part. However, Shmuel's assumptions are also biased: since he has only experienced cruelty from soldiers, he cannot conceive of there ever being such a thing as a "good" soldier.
How do you explain Bruno and Shmuel's innocent friendship in the story?
I think that the innocence that both boys share is representative of some significant elements in the story. On one hand, both of their innocence in the face of abject horror is testament to the power of their friendship. Both boys recognize the commonality between them. They both recognize the need for friendship in a setting where it is not present. Bruno finds a companion, something that makes living in "Out- With" more bearable. Shmuel finds a respite from the daily pain and horror in which he lives. Both of them are unable to articulate it, but their friendship becomes one of the few things that make living worth living. It is this friendship that underscores their innocence. At the same time, I think that Bruno and Shmuel possess innocence because their friendship is apart from the social order that both inhabit. Bruno's friendship with Shmuel is one in which loyalty is present. At the moment where Bruno betrays him out of convenience, he feels saddened at his actions, promising never to do it again and affirming the innocence shared between them. Both of them possess an innocence between one another because their friendship transcends the cynical and cruel world that envelops them.
Compare and contrast Bruno and Shmuel's circumstances and personalities in The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.
Despite their being from different countries and having entirely different cultures and religions, Bruno and Shmuel, who do share a birthday, are both young boys who miss their first homes, and, as friends, they wish they could play and be happy again because they are imprisoned, either in reality or figuratively.
When Bruno first meets Shmuel, he does not realize that the frail, quiet boy is imprisoned in the concentration camp of Auschwitz ("Out-With" as Bruno calls it) and longs to be home in Poland. He, too, is discouraged and writes to his grandmother about how unhappy he is there in "Out With," and not in Berlin. Nor does Bruno realize that Shmuel and the others there are not clothed in some type of pajama, but are, instead, wearing a ridiculous prison uniform. Ironically, Bruno believes that Shmuel has an advantage over him because he has many boys with whom he can play, while Bruno does not.
"It's so unfair. I don't see why I have to be stuck over here on this side of the fence where there's no one to talk to and no one to play with and you get to have dozens of friends and are probably playing for hours everyday. I'll have to speak to Father about it."
But, Shmuel, who understands the realities of where they are, cannot reveal the truth to Bruno, the son of the Commandant. Instead, because he is Bruno's friend, he pretends that they are not so different so he can have a friend to talk with and see. Regrettably, Bruno lacks the character of Shmuel because when Schmuel is caught chewing by Lieutenant Kotler, he denies having given the boy something to eat, and Shmuel is beaten later on. Nevertheless, Schmuel accepts Bruno's later apology. And, when Schmuel is worried about his father, whom he has not seen return from a "march," Bruno dons a pair of the striped pajamas and walks with Schmuel, hoping to find his father only to die with Schmuel and sacrifice his life for his friendship.
What are the characterization differences between Bruno and Gretel in The Boy in the Striped Pajamas?
In the most basic of senses, the explanation for the differences between Bruno and Gretel is that one is an example of how people conformed to Nazi thought and how people rebelled against it. While Bruno and Gretel are raised in the same house with the same guidance presumably from both parents, their fundamental choices about how to view the rise of the Nazi culture that is around them represents their differences in characterization. Gretel recognizes that a certain amount of power comes from capitulating to the Nazi social setting. She recognizes that "popularity" comes from being a part of this "clique." It is for this reason that she fully embraces the trappings of Nazism. This includes the worship of Hitler, the pictures of Nazi leadership, the flirting with Kotler, as well as the belief that her own prestige can result from being an accepted part of the Nazi social elements.
On the other side of this would be Bruno, who repels the Nazi constructed view of reality. He does this innocently enough, in terms of asking questions about "the other" in reference to who these people are, why they look the way they look, as well as his dislike of "Out- With" and "The Fury." Bruno also seeks to develop his own path to contentment, one that lies outside of what the established social path of the Nazis entails. An example of this would be the tire swing and the questioning of Pavel's identity. Another example would be the wandering to the end of the fence and his friendship with Shmuel. As the narrative develops, Bruno takes active steps against what the Nazis represent in terms of fulfilling his friendship to Shmuel. In the end, his commitment to his friend is not only what causes his death, but becomes the ultimate statement against Nazism. It is here where the differences between Gretel and Bruno are the most pronounced, as it shows how the paths taken in how one views an unjust society can result in massive differences between individuals. Gretel and Bruno demonstrate this.
How can I compare Bruno and Shmuel in The Boy in the Striped Pajamas?
If you are comparing two characters, then you are determining which aspects of those characters are the same, and which are different. In this case, I would create one paragraph about each of the following similarities: age, innocence, and loyalty. You should begin each of your paragraphs with a topic sentence that will reveal what your paragraph is about. Generally, there would not be enough information for a full paragraph about age, but there are some specifics about the two boys that make age significant. Both of the boys are nine years old. Further, both Bruno and Shmuel have the same birthday (a fact that immediately bonds the two together). This similarity leads directly to the next: innocence. Both of the boys are innocent. Bruno does not understand why he had to move from Berlin and why the people across the way are wearing "striped pajamas." Similarly, Shmuel does not understand why he is a prisoner and, later, why his father has "disappeared." Finally, the boys are similar through their loyalty and friendship to each other. Bruno offers to help Shmuel find his father, enters the camp, dons the "pajamas," and eventually dies while holding Shmuel's hand.
In The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, how is "friendship" presented?
Friendship is presented as being unexpected, gratifying, and helpful throughout the novel The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. Bruno and Shmuel first meet unexpectedly while Bruno is walking parallel to the concentration camp fence. The reader also does not expect German and Jewish boys living during WWII to become friends because of the deep seeded hatred amongst the two ethnicities. Both boys take pleasure in their friendship and Bruno soon forgets about how bad he hates his new house at Out-With. Shmuel is also delighted to talk with someone who listens and does not bully him. Bruno and Shmuel also mutually benefit from their friendship. Bruno is simply glad to have a friend, and Shmuel not only has someone to talk to, but Bruno also gives him food and helps Shmuel attempt to find his father.
Friendship is also presented as a positive force that can withstand and overcome social differences and traumatic environments. Despite Germany's nationalist views and their contempt for Jews, Bruno and Shmuel's friendship thrives. Their different ethnic backgrounds and situations do not impede their friendship. A friendship develops in a hopeless place and is depicted as an overwhelmingly positive force throughout the novel.
In Chapter 1 of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, compare the mother's and Bruno's reactions to moving.
In The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, Bruno is confused and upset when he arrives home from school to find Maria, the maid, packing up his belongings. Having not been prepared for such an event, he is overwhelmed by thoughts of the unknown. His mother's failure to prepare him leads him to assume the worst, thinking that he has perhaps caused "chaos" and is to be sent away.
Both Bruno and his mother are upset to be moving. She is resigned to the fact but has apparently been crying - her eyes are more "red than usual," like Bruno's after he has been crying, although he is not aware that she has actually cried. She tries to convince Bruno that it will be a big "adventure" but she does not believe it herself. She understands that she must play a supportive role and, like Bruno, will do what is expected of her. The main difference is that Bruno does as he is told because he is an obedient child whereas his mother fulfills her role as the dutiful wife.
Just as Bruno returns to the task of packing his things so too is his mother silenced when "Father spoke louder than Mother could and that put a stop to their conversation."