The Strength of Friendship

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Can friendships survive one problem after another? In The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, a German family moves next to a concentration camp. There, the son, Bruno, makes friends with a Jewish boy in the camp, named Schmuel. Despite many obstacles, including the prejudice of Bruno’s Nazi family, Bruno and Schmuel become life-long friends. Their relationship is a strong example of how friendships can overcome any obstacles. One of the many problems that Bruno and Schmuel face in their relationship is the huge amount of prejudice Bruno’s family and their friends have toward Jews. Bruno’s dad tells him that Jews are not real people. His instructor even teaches him that there is no such thing as a good Jew. Furthermore, Lt. Kotler, who works for Bruno’s dad, tells him that he cannot talk to Jews. Despite all of this, Bruno continues to visit Schmuel at the fence and brings him food. A second challenge that their friendship faces is hurt feelings and lies. When Lt. Kotler catches Schmuel eating and talking to Bruno, Schmuel honestly tells the lieutenant that Bruno is his friend and gave him the food. Bruno is scared, so he lies and says this is not true. Schmuel is beaten for these actions, and Bruno feels terrible guilt. When Bruno apologizes, Schmuel easily forgives his new friend the betrayal. Once again, these children prove that nothing can get between their friendship. One final barrier that Bruno and Schmuel face is the fence surrounding the concentration camp that physically separates them from each other. However, they work around this physical barrier. Bruno pushes food to Schmuel through the holes in the fence. They also talk through the fence and even play checkers- Bruno moves the pieces at Schmuel’s command. Furthermore, Bruno eventually digs a hole under the fence, so he can go inside the camp to help Schmuel find his father. Not even an

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