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The Boy

In: English and Literature

Submitted By keiramadeira
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Examine the ways in which two boys are presented in ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’

There are two boys in the story called Bruno and Shmuel they are both 8 years old and were both born on the 15 April 1934. The story is called ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ Bruno is the son of the Commandant and he is a very intelligent young boy with a very strong imagination. This can be seen by his curiosity to investigate the ‘farm’
Shmuel is Jewish; he has been put in Auschwitz. Bruno has a unique name and Shmuels is common. “I’ve never met anyone named Bruno……I think I might be the only one’ “there are dozens of Shmuels”….. (p109) all though to Bruno it is a very unusual name lots of Jews and polish people in the camp.
It can be seen how the two boys, although very different from one another, they have hidden similarities. Firstly, they have both been forced to leave the family homes. They both don’t like it there but the two young boys think the other is living a better life. Bruno invites Shmuel to dinner not realising he’s in prisoned ‘you’re on the wrong side of the fence though’ said Shmuel.
Although living very different lives the two boys develop an unexpected friendship “you’re my best friend shmuel….my best friend for life” (page) Bruno is at one side of the fence and shmuel is at the other. Why is that? Because germens don’t like Jews.

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