Student Question
What text clues indicate Bruno's admiration for his father?
Quick answer:
Bruno's admiration for his father is evident during a conversation with Shmuel in chapter 13, where Bruno expresses a desire to become a soldier like his father. He praises his father's impressive uniform and the respect he commands as a Commandant, appointed by "The Fury" (Adolf Hitler). Bruno's admiration is based on his father's appearance and authority, contrasting with Shmuel's understanding of soldiers based on moral considerations.
The conversation Bruno has with Shmuel in chapter 13 is very telling of Bruno’s admiration for his father, Ralf. Bruno tells Shmuel that he wants to be a soldier when he grows up, just like his father. Shmuel tells him there are no good soldiers, and Bruno defends Ralf:
That’s why he has such an impressive uniform and why everyone calls him Commandant and does whatever he says. The Fury has big things in mind for him because he’s such a good soldier.
Bruno is proud of his father's promotion to Commandant by Adolf Hitler. His words indicate the great respect he has for his father, who is a leader and has the power to command. Note that Bruno’s notion of his father being a good soldier is connected to appearance (“an impressive uniform”) and effectiveness at his job. Shmuel has first-hand experience of the atrocities conducted by concentration camp soldiers, and his conception of a “good soldier” is in reference to morality.
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