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What changed in Shmuel's life after arriving at Auschwitz in The Boy in the Striped Pajamas?
Quick answer:
After arriving at Auschwitz, Shmuel's life drastically changes. Contrary to promises of a joyful life, he finds himself in a grim concentration camp. He is forced to wear "striped pajamas," lives in inadequate shelters, suffers from insufficient food, is separated from his family, witnesses deaths, lacks personal hygiene, and cannot wear shoes. These harsh realities shock his German friend, Bruno, who initially tries to help from outside the camp and eventually joins him inside.
The answer to this question is quite a sad one. Shmuel's life completely changes when he enters the Auschwitz concentration camp. Shmuel is promised a life of family, friends and fun. Shmuel thinks he is going to be able to play many games of soccer and other feats of athletics with his own Jewish friends. Instead, what Shmuel finds is a grim concentration camp where he is forced to wear "striped pajamas," is given shelter in inadequate huts, is not given enough food to survive, is separated from his family, observes people disappearing due to their deaths in the gas chambers, is not given the opportunity for personal hygiene, and is even prevented from wearing shoes. Shmuel's German friend, Bruno, is disgusted by these conditions and tries to combat them first from the "other side of the fence," and later by entering the fence himself.
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