In The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, Pavel’s character might be symbolic of Holocaust victims in a variety of ways. You could say Pavel’s previous profession symbolizes how many victims of the Holocaust once had relatively prestigious or highly regarded jobs. Before the Nazis took over, it was not uncommon for Jews to be professors, lawyers, musicians, business owners, or, in the case of Pavel, doctors. You could argue that Pavel symbolizes the terrible transformation that many Jews experienced under Nazi rule. He represents the drastic and deadly change of socioeconomic class. He goes from being a doctor to, more or less, a domestic slave.

The way in which Pavel is treated in Bruno’s home is also symbolic of Holocaust victims. The deadly brutality that Lieutenant Kotler applies to Pavel represents the lethal savagery that Jews were subjected to. Like Pavel, Holocaust victims weren’t treated as human beings. They were regarded as disposable, subhuman objects.

You might also want to note the problematic nature of using Pavel as a symbol of all Holocaust victims. Many victims of the Holocaust were not given any opportunity to live. They were either gassed immediately or murdered in ruthless mass shootings. Additionally, not all Holocaust victims were as sympathetic and compassionate as Pavel. Some Holocaust victims resisted and tried to fight the Nazis.