Boy in the Striped Pyjamas Essay - 771 Words

John Boyne has created a sophisticated and meaningful novel in The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas through his thematic analysis of power which explores society’s perception of authority; his symbolic representation of the fence which starkly exposes Bruno’s ignorance of cultural divisions; and ï ¬ nally, his characterisation of Mother revealing the fraught atmosphere during the Holocaust. The theme of power is explored in this novel through authoritative ï ¬ gures and their presentation in society.The character of Father displays his newfound sovereignty with ostentatiousness, and Bruno observes this closely. He notes how Father’s actions often lead to an instantaneous response, stating, â€Å"Father held a hand in the air, which immediately†¦show more content†¦His innocence is so innate that he remarks to Gretel, â€Å"I don’t understand why we’re not allowed on the other side of it. What’s so wrong with us that we can’t go over there and play?† Bruno’s innocent perspective contrasts with the cruelty occurring, questioning its value in a time when it was widely accepted. Just as Bruno does not see the fence as a reason for segregation, so too are readers inspired to eradicate the fences of prejudice wherever they exist in society today. The reï ¬â€šection this calls readers to undertake produces a profundity and sophistication in the novel. The language used to convey Bruno’s misunderstanding of the fence’s symbolism is simplistic. This literary technique, employed by Boyne, assists in portraying the naivety of Bruno. Bruno’s enquiry of â€Å"What’s so wrong with us that we can’t go over there and play?† demonstrates how his juvenility shapes his view of the world, and allows his friendship with Shmuel to ï ¬â€šourish despite their division. Shmuel’s concession that â€Å"they were all exactly the same really† illustrates this fact. The boys’ exemplar of friendship provided by their childish perspective encourages the audience to accept everyone, contributing to the insightfulness of the book; and in this way, its meaning and sophistication. The characterisation of MotherShow MoreRelatedThe Boy in Striped Pyjamas1080 Words   |  5 Pagesliterature about the Holocaust. Hitler and his struggle for power and dominance are infamous. Novels and films set in World War II often examine the issues of power in terms of race, age, gender and social class. One such novel is The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne. An Irish novelist, Boyne is acutely aware of the issues of power and dominance as he grew up during the time of The Troubles between the Protestants and Catholics in Northern Ireland. Boyne uses the narrative conventionsRead MoreThe Boy in the Striped Pyjamas1558 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"More than anything else, belonging is about finding a sense of our own place in the world† The book tells a story seen through the innocent eyes of an 8 year old boy, Bruno, who is unsure of his place in the world. The most evident concept of belonging is his hitch in his transition from childhood to adulthood. Throughout the book, he faces the conflict between accepting the harsh Jew-killing reality of the world or stay immersed in his fantastical world filled with adventure. Bruno also feelsRead MoreBoy In striped pyjamas764 Words   |  4 PagesThe Boy in the Striped Pyjamas - Fun Facts, Questions, Answers, Information Quizzes Games Other Team Welcome to our world of fun trivia quizzes and quiz games: Me ? New Player Page 1 of 2 Register New Player - Log In Play Now! Fun Trivia: B : Bj - Bq Movies Special Sub-Topic: The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas Click Here To Play: The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas In the movie The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas , which character uses the harsh line stating, They reRead MoreThe Boy in the Striped Pyjamas1685 Words   |  7 PagesThe Boy in the Striped Pyjamas The use of language in texts inspires emotional reactions in readers. A particular theme that impacts the reader is the World War II Holocaust when Germans killed the Jewish race. The holocaust is confronting as it demonstrates the horrors of war which conflicts with the values of the reader. From this point on many people acted and wanted equality throughout the world. 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The era in which this heartwarming yet heartbreaking novel is written is during the Nazi control of most of Eastern Europe, with the setting of the novel predominantly located in Auschwitz, Poland. The story unravels as Bruno, 9 year old son of the Commandant, after moving from his beloved Berlin to Auschwitz, strikes up an unlikely friendship with a boy on the ‘other side of the fence’, ShmuelRead MoreBoy in the Striped Pyjamas Essay971 Words   |  4 Pa gesThe Boy in the Striped Pyjamas presents ideas about World War 2 and the holocaust. The movie shows what fear and Punishment and the innocence of childhood would have been like during WW2 and the holocaust. During World War 2 and the holocaust, fear within the Jewish race was created by the soldiers. Soldiers had the power and right to abuse and attack the Jewish people â€Å"when it pleased them.† Under Hitler, the soldiers had the next amount of ultimate power and used it to their advantage to pressureRead MoreThe Boy in the Striped Pyjamas Essay1746 Words   |  7 PagesJohn Boyne’s novel, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, concerns human brutality. Courage, loyalty and love, however, are more important as themes in the novel. Do you agree? John Boyne’s novel, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, is a touching story, based on real events that have happened in the past. Although it concerns aspects of human brutality, in the end it shows us that courage, loyalty and love are far more important themes in this story. In this novel, examples of courage, loyalty and love areRead MoreThe Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ and ‘the Book Thief’1430 Words   |  6 Pages‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ and ‘The Book Thief’ In novels, the author creates a focus on a relationship - between enemies or friends, a parent and child, or husband and wife. In the two texts, The Book Thief, and The Boy in the Stripped Pyjamas this is a aspect that is featured in both, the relationship between children. The Book Thief focuses on the relationship between Liesel and Rudy, two of the characters. In The Boy in the Stripped Pyjamas the relationship that is focused on is betweenRead MoreEssay on The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas808 Words   |  4 PagesTHE BOY IN THE STRIPED PYJAMAS Essay Question: â€Å"Books that engage directly with contemporary concerns and issues will always involve a reader† Through the study of the novel The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne, it is clear that the concerns and issues, as well as the style and structure of a text, are what determines the reader’s involvement. In addition, the issues of the past (particularly those about war) still remain concerns today. The issues amplified within The Boy in the Striped