Boy And The Striped Pajamas Essay

During world war two the world was divided, nationally, politically, and socially. Not many paid attention or even realized how this split in power affected the children. Because of this dark time period created by adults, children were unable to have an identity for themselves. In Germany you were either in the Nazi party or part of the ‘undesirables’.   In the novel ‘The boy in the striped Pajamas’ by John Boyne, Bruno’s family are Nazis therefor Bruno is a Nazi.   Shmuel was born into a Jewish family therefore he is in the ‘undesirable’ category.
Shmuel was taken away from his home and brought to a concentration camp, Auschwitz. There he witnessed an unfathomable amount of horror.   After being imprisoned in such a gruesome location, Shmuel’s identity was shattered. He was no longer a happy little boy.   His clothes were taken away, his home, his family and his life. He was no longer a person, but just a number. The reason Shmuel and his family were moved to the concentration camp was because of their religion. Shmuel never asked to be this religion, but because his family was Jewish, he had no choice in the matter.   Thousands of children like Shmuel were slaughtered over politics and a religion in which they had no control over.
Bruno lived a very sheltered life. His parents tried to shelter him from the politics of his father’s job. Bruno was never able to develop an identity. He was (at first) so protected from the outside world that he didn’t even realize the danger of speaking to Shmuel. Bruno was just excited to meet a new friend. Since Bruno never knew about the separation between the Jews and the Nazis, he didn’t realize that the two of them were supposed to have different identities.   Bruno is under the impression that life on the other side of the fence is pleasant. Throughout this story, Bruno remains innocent until he crosses over to the other side of the fence to be with Shmuel. Bruno lost the protection of his identity of someone who doesn’t reside...