The answer to this question most definitely involves inference because the reader is never told directly that Bruno's father does not like Maria. Father's treatment of Maria is simply a symptom of his beliefs about hired help. However, we can assume that the reason (at least for the appearance of dislike) has to do with what Bruno's father has been taught (and consequentially believes) about Jewish people: they are less than human. The best direct evidence is a quotation from Maria herself. When Maria admits that her thought process is unimportant, Bruno replies, “Of course it’s important ... you’re part of the family, aren’t you?” Maria then says, “I’m not sure whether your father would agree with that.” In regards to indirect evidence, we can point to Maria's continued fear of Father. This fear is found almost every time the reader sees Maria within the novel. Maria shows fear in...
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revealing why they are moving. Maria shows fear that Bruno is inquisitive about the other men who work with Father. Maria shows fear in not revealing her displeasure in her new living arrangement. Maria shows fear that Bruno would show outright defiance to Father. Maria shows fear that Bruno would reprimand Gretel for her treatment of servants. Maria shows fear when she lies about Pavel's past. In each case, Maria's fear is connected with revealing her thoughts and feelings to Bruno.
In The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, why does Bruno dislike his mother?
In The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, Bruno is very confused when he comes home one day to find Maria, the family's maid, packing his things. Bruno cannot imagine what he may have done wrong that would make his parents send him away and he wastes no time discussing it with is mother. In chapter 2, Bruno's mother explains that the family is moving away but this is small consolation for Bruno, who reveals his displeasure, almost raising his voice which he knows is not allowed, and he is sad when Mother suggests that he can make new friends when they move "as if the making of a boy's three best friends for life was an easy thing."
Bruno knows immediately that moving was a bad idea and tries to suggest that the family must return to Berlin and "chalk it up to experience," never returning to this "desolate" place. Mother gets agitated and Bruno is offended that Mother gets to interrupt him but he could never dare to interrupt her without fear of punishment. Mother's "unfriendly" voice makes it quite clear that their stay in the new house is non-negotiable and Bruno marches away.
In chapter 6, Bruno expresses himself, thinking no-one can hear him and he says that he hates "absolutely everything." He tries to talk to Maria while trying to understand his feelings. He even goes as far as calling his father "stupid" and is cautioned by Maria not to speak of his father like that. In chapter 7, he suggests that his mother is selfish because she intends to take credit for bandaging his injured knee although Pavel has done it and he is conflicted about his feelings for his parents . However, Bruno is always respectful and never suggests that he actually hates his mother, even though she makes him mad.
In The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, why does Bruno become angry with Maria?
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne is set during World War II when Bruno, a young German boy from Berlin, travels to "Out-With" with his family as his father is to take a position there (at Auschwitz), the notorious concentration camp, the correct name of which Bruno cannot pronounce. Bruno is content with his life in Berlin; in the house with the perfect banister for "whoosing" and sliding down; with "friends for life," Karl and Daniel and Martin and with his grandparents living close by.
He comes home from school to find Maria, the family's domestic help, packing his things together and he is incensed that she is going through the things in his room, especially because he has no idea why she would be doing so. He desperately tries to think of reasons why his mother may be sending him away; maybe for being naughty or for "using those words out loud that he wasn't allowed to use," and he tries, in as polite a tone as he can, to ask Maria to leave his things alone. He is clearly angry as he goes "marching" to his mother to establish the reasons why Maria is packing his things, especially as he really can't remember giving his mother a reason to send him away.
Despite his protests and the fact that he and his friends "have plans,", Bruno has no choice but to accompany the family to the new place and he goes to pack his own belongings for fear that Maria will not take as much as care as he might or may find things that are"nobody else's business."