The_Boy_in_the_Stripped_Pyjamas

Distinctive ideas are at the heart of every novel. Discuss the above statement with reference to the novel studied in class. Distinctive ideas are at the heart of every novel. This statement refers to the themes or ideas behind the novel this can be seen in the boy in The Stripped Pyjamas by John Boyne. The novel depicts a friendship with a German and Jewish Boy during WWII and although they are unlikely pair of friends because of their differences in religion and nationality they maintain their friendship even with a monumental barrier keeping them apart. Even though the novel is written through a child’s point of view it was intended for a more educated and aware audience. The novel includes many strong themes such as exploring an innocent perspective, the essence of friendship, Acts of humanity, understanding obedience and conformity and exploring prejudice. An innocent perspective is seen in the novel as we see Characters such as Gretel’s and Bruno’s tutor take advantage of their innocence and force views upon them that he believes in without reason and convinces Bruno and Gretel that they should think that they as well. We see discriminatory and prejudice views being forced on the children, the belief that Germany is great and that the German people are a superior race and that Jews are obstructing Germany and the German peoples greatness, and therefore are the enemy. Through propaganda German people viewed the Jews as a disease that needed to be destroyed before it spread too far as the Fuhrer or Hitler which in the novel is referred to as the Fury conveniences the German people or the superior Arian race through an excessive amount of propaganda that Jews are unworthy of existence. One of my favourite quotes by Laurence Overmire describes this “War, hatred and violence all spring from one internal idea: that one person, race, creed, or culture is better than another”. With this it made it possible for normally good a person like Bruno’s farther who was in charge at the concentration camps to do unimaginable and horrible things. Gretel is a few years older than Bruno but she was quick to conform and not question these views, But Bruno on the other hand questions their views as he meets Shmuel while walking alongside the gate that separated the concentration camp and Bruno’s house. Jews were described as horrible people but Bruno did not see this in his friend. The innocent perspective that Bruno had before her came to Outwith began to slowly diminish as a result of experiences that Bruno did not quite understand, such as when Bruno’s farther just sat back and watched as Lieutenant Kotler lashed out at Pavel. This was a wakeup call for Bruno as he did not believe that his farther could just watch his innocence decreased as he realise that it was better not to question it, but Neither Bruno nor Shmuel knew what was going on in the concentration camps an in that they keep their innocence. Distinctive ideas such as the essence of friendship are at the heart of the boy in the stripped pyjamas as even with the differences between Bruno and Shmuel a phenomenal friendship develops. The fact that Bruno is still able to stay friends with Shmuel after he discovers he is a Jews, he didn’t just conform to the Nazi ideology like his sister also explores the obedience conformity that Gretel fulfils but Bruno does not. But when Bruno was too scared to admit to Lieutenant Kotler that he was friends with Shmuel, he knew that Shmuel would be treated horrible as a result of it but Bruno was also scared and it made him feel sick that he didn’t stand up for his friend. We see the essence of friendships rise again as Shmuel easily forgave Bruno as he is constantly treated that way also made Bruno lose some of his innocence and began to look at things with a little more caution and he was beginning to discover that their friendship was forbidden and it was more than just keeping his new friend away from his sister and to himself. Even with the circumstance of the War we see some acts of humanity unfold. This is seen in the novel when Pavel helps Bruno after he fell from the tire swing even though he is treaded horribly by Bruno’s family he was able to perform the humane thing from the goodness from his hart and when Bruno’s mother said ‘thankyou’ to Pavel shows an amount of humanity from Bruno’s mother towards Pavel as Pavel is usually mistreated by her. Despite the fact that Bruno’s being taught by his farther and tutor that Jews are horrible Bruno shows humanity as he helped Shmuel in his search for his farther in the concentration camps even though he was scared, shows us just how much Bruno valued Shmuel as a friend. The ideas of friendship, prejudice, conformity, humanity, prejudice and discrimination are at the heart of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. Which are explored with numerous times in the novel.