“Borderlands are physically present wherever two or more cultures edge each other; where people of different races occupy the same territory, where under, lower, middle and upper classes touch, where the space between two individuals shrinks with intimacy.” Anzaldua
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. "
Martin Luther King Jr.US black civil rights leader & clergyman (1929 - 1968)
FATHER BRESSANI CATHOLIC HIGH SCOOL: A SCHOOL FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDIES AND ADVANCED PLACEMENT CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Post #3: Final Reactions - novel
Students are asked to post their finalreactions, comments, questions, opinions on "Boy in the Striped Pygamas.
After reading this book I felt somewhat hollow, empty on the inside, due to the tragic yet somewhat expected death of Bruno and Shmuel, two boys that we able to do so much more than anyone of that time and place. While reading I felt depressed knowing that how naive bruno was would get himself into danger resulting in his tragic death but his innocence overall made him the incredible person he turned out to be. Bruno was able to not only overcome cultural differences between Jewish and German culture, which grown men weren't able to do, but embrace them, even though he did this without even knowing. He crossed the fence to another borderland. I was bewildered on how much Bruno had accomplished in his short life due to his innocence (I wrote more on this topic in post # 2). Many of you seemed upset that Bruno's parents didn't tell Bruno the truth about, his move of home, his father's job and who the people he sees through his window were. Many also seemed frustrated that Bruno was so naive to the chaos and massacre outside his bedroom window. I too was flustered on how much Bruno didn't know, and I understand how it's upsetting that Bruno's parents don't tell him the truth about things he had the right to know of, but I am almost glad that Bruno's parents and Shmuel protected Bruno from the truth. If Bruno was to be raised with the complete knowledge of what Bruno's father does and represents, as well as raise him with the same evil mentality Bruno would have never been able to do the things he ended up doing, even though it concluded to his sad death. Shmuel as a good friend also protects Bruno from the truth because he didn't want to harm Bruno's kindness and innocence and put him against his father and himself. Bruno probably would have been in denial if Shmuel told him the truth of what his father does, and Shmuel didn't want to hurt him. Bruno and Shmuel in some way have touched my heart by all the things they have accomplished in their short lives, because Bruno was such a naive young child and Shmuel was kind, forgiving and accepting. None of their friendship and journey together would have occured though without Bruno's innocence and protection from the truth.
The way the narrator depicts the book in third person but speaking as a nine year old boy would, keeps the book captivating and interesting as a few other students have mentioned as well. The book in its symbolism, messages, and format of writing have greatly made an impression on me. The simplicity of the book made it an emotional and excellent read.
I feel that ``the boy in the striped pyjamas`` was an amazing novel by author John Boyne. It held a deep emotional meaning for those with an understanding of the subject matter, and evoked the instinct to investigate for those who did not. With a setting such as Auschwitz, Boyne took an interesting approach by describing the feelings the young Bruno felt about his surroundings rather than explicitly telling us about the layout of the house or the colour of the wood. While we most likely were not all thinking of the same type of house, or the same type of Auschwitz, almost any person reading the book would likely have been left with a sort of ``gray`` feeling about the setting, and sometimes the characters. It was also a good choice by the author to have the story told from the perspective of an innocent young man. This leaves many questions unanswered, and as such makes you substitute any knowledge you have for the inexperience of Bruno. “the Boy in the Striped Pyjamas” then becomes a book which you must put down every once in a while and ponder the true meaning of what was said or done around Bruno, usually pertaining to the Holocaust. Most importantly, I especially liked the lesson of the story represented by the friendship between Shmuel and Bruno. It goes to show the author’s belief that not everyone back then in Germany was bigoted towards the Jews, and it was still entirely possible for a Jewish person to identify and become friends with a German. Alas, the ending also reflects an extreme of the outcome of such friendships, and how in a world where their friendships shouldn’t have ever happened, it all ended in tragedy.
My final reaction to the book, 'The Boy in the Striped Pajamas' was that this book really needs to be read if you can tolerate despair, and hopelessness. The book really had a major effect on me emotionally because it is just so tragic to see what the boy Bruno had to experience. Growing up in a family where you think that everything is perfect and you have everything you want, wasn't the case. Sure, it did look like that from the outside but as you continue reading through the book, you realize that everything was all a lie. I really felt for the two young children, but mostly Bruno because he was again, so naive of the entire situation. Who could possibly imagine that their father was a man who sent people to their death? Well, it definitely didn't seem that way in the household. The father was a little bit of a scare to me in some parts when he would yell, and I felt subject to him when he ordered the children to salute soldiers. Wouldn't you wonder what soldiers were doing in your household? Think about it for a second. You move houses, your father always wears his uniform, you have soldiers coming in and out from your home, and not to mention a HUGE fence in your backyard restraining you from crossing it. Through the course of the read I put myself in Bruno's shoes because I really wanted to make every situation he faced my own. By doing so, I read what the author was saying in a different approach. That was by feeling emotionally. I felt so many things when reading the book. I felt: mad, upset, joy, regret, anger, disappointment, despair, hopelessness, but mostly I felt sick to my stomach because even though this story about a young boy isn't necessarily true, the fact of the matter is that Jew's were really persecuted and put to their death in horrifying and gruesome ways. My favourite part in this entire book was in the end when Bruno really showed how much he cared for Shmuel. Not only did he go under the fence which his parents told him was strictly forbidden, but when entering the gas chamber, Bruno took Shmuel's hand in his own to show that he would be there no matter what happened. I felt like that was such an important part in the book and really showed me what true friendship was all about, and the measures you take for someone you care about. The only comment I have about the book is that I wish the author really made the ending dramatic. I didn't like how it ended because it was very brief and didn't show me any emotion. I wish the ending would have left me in tears because I would assume that's what I would expect from such a depressing book. Overall, I did enjoy reading the book, and I can't wait to watch the movie so we get to see the book come alive.
I am going to be straight up. When I finished the novel, I was not thinking about how Bruno and Shmuel died, and I definitely was not thinking about how this was the best book that I ever read. What I was thinking about, was Bruno’s naivety and that this was a book that everyone should read. I discussed briefly in my past blog about how readers have criticized Bruno’s naivety and ignorance throughout the whole novel, complaining that it was impossible to not realize what was going on the other side of his window, of his house, of his side of the fence, especially after all the clues. I mean why else would hundreds of people be wearing striped pajamas, behind a huge metal fence, scared each time a soldiers pass, isolated from the rest of the world. But I want to point out that this boy was nine years old. I cannot speak for everyone, but when I was nine years old, not only was I probably more ignorant and naïve than Bruno, I was definitely not as adventurous or curious. I played with my toys, talked to my friends, did the little homework I received and that was pretty much it. We are all reading this book from the eyes of fourteen and fifteen year olds, aware of the past actions that took place. Imagine giving this book to a child in grade three or four now and asking them what they think this book is about. Would they look at it like Bruno did, though naïve and for that matter, childish eyes? Probably. History changed many things but a kid is still a kid and that’s what we must all remember while reading this book. If Bruno wasn’t naïve and ignorant, he wouldn’t have been exploring, he wouldn’t have met Shmuel, and the story wouldn’t have been as heartbreaking and moving as it is. Now keeping that in mind, I really believe this is a book that everyone, at the right time and age, must read. It provides and reminds us not only of the ugly past but the beautiful present we are lucky and blessed to be living in today and that the Holocaust affected millions around the world. Not just adults, but even young, innocent nine year old boys. We all hope the actions of our past, stay in the past, and don’t reoccur in the future but in order for this to be a reality, we must always remember. And solely for that reason, everyone should read this book, because it gives everyone insight on what really happened and that although many were ignorant on the matter, the Holocaust did happen and we must never forget it. Overall, I really enjoyed this book.
Loss, disgust and despair were my immediate reactions to the tragic ending of John Boyne’s novel “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas”. For the first few minutes after reading this touching story all I felt was an inescapable sense that the world would never be right again. How could something so horrible happen to such a young and innocent child. I asked myself “Is there no justice in the world”? If Bruno, a little boy who was so inspirational and brave, whose friendship with Shmuel broke down the barriers that had been placed around him, was forced to succumb to such a horrific fate. I sat and I pondered this for a few minutes, before I finally felt a new and unexpected emotion, joy. I felt this joy because I came to the realization that Bruno, an innocent child was able to live such a full and meaningful life in the span of just nine years. I say this, because Bruno was able to do things during his childhood that it takes years for many people to do. Bruno learned not to base how he thought of people on what they looked like or which culture they belonged to. He chose instead to befriend Shmuel, a boy who both his father and sister had deemed unworthy, a boy who had been cast into the devil’s domain by Bruno’s own people. His friendship with Shmuel was based on the fact that despite all their differences they had so much in common. They could sit and talk, without the fear of being judged or ignored. They saw each other as equals and by doing so dismantled the barriers that were built to keep them apart. That is why “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” is such a beautiful story. Despite all the hatred, misery and evil that surrounds them, Bruno and Shmuel are able to find friendship and in doing so show the best of mankind, while the world around them demonstrates the worst of it.
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas was an interesting novel that brought up mixed emotions, historical meaning and life lessons. An intriguing part of the novel was Bruno’s oblivious behavior to his surroundings. This was a result of not being told the truth about his father, why they were really moving and why that fence in the backyard of Out-With was there. He had minimal knowledge in general because there was no one to educate him on the realities of life and wasn’t even aware that one of humanities largest atrocities, the Holocaust, was active. Despite the negative factors of being isolated from so much, this may’ve gone in his favor, somewhat. During Bruno’s stay at Out-With he obtained a true friendship with Shmuel. This friendship was un-appreciated at first but near the final minutes of their lives they realized how significant their relationship was. Bruno going out of character and grabbing onto Shmuel’s hand telling him that they are best friends was a profoundly moving thing to say and do. I was very surprised that Bruno would perform such an act that showed maturity and compassion. I learned during the reading of the book and class discussions that not all Germans but a select group were evil and positively hated the Jews. A once hero to the German people had gone insane and began to order the extermination of the Jewish, Catholics, the ill and handicapped etc. If these orders were denied you were to be killed, more than likely, most of us would follow. I’m sure the majority of the Germans didn’t take pleasure in taking the lives of innocent people. I was glad how Bruno and Shmuel showed the importance of their relationship at the end but was disappointed how it ended. It was predictable that Bruno’s naïveté would eventually catch up to him but I didn’t assume as drastic as this. It is unfortunate but is the result of labeling other people, as the German soldiers killed the flock of Jews that happened to include two brave young boys. This brings me to my next topic being the psychological label. I learned that we shouldn’t judge others and refrain fro m putting physiological label on people based on where they’re from, who their parents are or their appearance. By looking past differences and getting to know each other can avoid conflict. In this case, Bruno look past Shmuel’s appearance and accepted him just as anyone else. Shmuel was aware what descent Bruno was and what his father was and did to his people, but look passed this because it is unfair to grow an emotion off someone you never knew. It is wrong to have hatred for someone just because of they’re countries faults or parents’ at that. My point being, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas brought me to the attention that, everyone brings something to the table and it is vital that we all feed off of it and embrace each others differences for it only can beneficial towards each other.
After finishing the novel and reading the comments posted by my peers, I find myself in a different state of mind. While reading the beginning of the book, I could not get over my anger and frustration towards Bruno’s innocence; however, I now realize what a crucial part it played in the development of the plot, in eliciting emotion from the reader, and in building the relationship between Bruno and Shmuel. If Bruno was more aware, then the events would most likely not have unfolded in the way they did and the story would not have been nearly as captivating. In my first comment, I said that I wished that Bruno knew about what was really going on, but that was before he met Shmuel. Reflecting on this now makes me wonder about how Bruno would have acted if he was told the truth and how his relationship with Shmuel would have been different. Would Bruno have agreed with what his father was doing simply because he believed his father was always right? Or would he, for probably the first time in his life, have disagreed with his father, instead of letting fear and intimidation of everyone around him form his opinions? Would his relationship with Shmuel be different? Would he perceive himself as better because he was on his side of the fence? But more pressingly, would Bruno have even met Shmuel in the first place? If he knew the truth, would he have gone on the adventure to explore the fence and the surroundings in the first place? Who knows...these are all possibilities, things that could have happened but didn’t, at least not in this story. But they very well could have. Although this novel is not based on a true story, there is a great possibility that situations like this one did happen, and while some of them may have ended similarly to Bruno’s, others could have followed very different paths. They could have taken other turns, travelled through different tunnels, reached their own fences. The point is that every story has its “What if’s...” and I think that these are very important to consider because they give you a deeper insight into the meaning of what actually did happen. I know that for me, it definitely helped me to recognize the importance of Bruno’s innocence to the entire story.
My opinion hasn't changed much since the beginning of the novel. I still find it boring, and I still find the quality boring. If the book was written in a more detailed way I would have enjoyed the book a great deal more. When we got to the end of the book, or at least the last few chapters and I was so shocked that A) Bruno would like to see where Shmule lived after he said he didn't like it and B) Shmule would allow Bruno into his very dangerous home. It made me feel quite upset when Bruno and Shmule died by getting gassed to death. I had to keep myself from yelling aloud "you see! This is what happens when you go to a place that has been blocked off! Your sister told you that you weren't supposed to like the Jews and it is alright if you do, but if there is an entire area blocked off with Jews in it you know you shouldn't be there!!" it did bring out more emotions the. I expected, espicially considering I found the book going downhill. I was so shocked that the two boys died. I was so upset that they didn't realize it was such an unsafe place for Bruno to be. I was so annoyed when they kept talking about how Shmule would go and visit Bruno. I knew what was going on and I wanted to ju p into the book and let them know because they were NOT getting that opportunity. And I was aggravated. At the father and at the mother for not telling him what they were doing there because if they did they might have avoided the loss of their son.
Over all I am pleased to say that I respect the two boys for becoming friends after all that has happened to them. I am inspired by these two boys to realize that any one can be a difference in the way that we act towards one another. I am also encouraged that more people in the world would reach put to someone different then them.
After reading The Boy In The Striped Pajamas, I am faced with two conflicting emotions. The first is sadness. After such a big journey from strangers, to friends, to the final declaration of best friends for life, Bruno and Shmuel's journey came to a devastating end. As they held hands for the first and last time, both of them knew nothing of what would come next for the two of them. All that mattered was that they were together. Next, I felt an overwhelming sense of happiness and joy. Yes, their journey came to an end. But, thinking back I reflect on what their journey meant for the Jewish and German cultures. For me, these two boys weren't just nine year old children looking for someone to play with, they represented their two cultures coming together to be as one. I have mentioned before that I am thankful for Bruno's naivety throughout the story, because I believe without him really knowing what was going on around him, he was able to create the bond between him and Shmuel. The fence that was placed between them presented them with a challenge to work their way around the fence so that they could be friends, and that's exactly what they did. The ending was definitely bitter-sweet, but it got me thinking about life today. How many strangers do we walk by everyday and immediately stereotype them by the clothes they wear or the colour of their skin? We don't know these people, yet we judge them as if we do. To really understand this story, you have to read deeply into what John Boyne is telling us about not being prejudice and accepting people for their many differences. Our calling not only as people, but as Christians is to accept and help people who are different than us. So, the next time you meet a person who doesn't look like someone you might usually strike up a conversation with, go up to them and try. You might just find your best friend for life.
As the class finished “The Boy in The Striped Pajamas” together, I felt as though there were still questions that had gone unanswered. For example: Why didn’t Bruno ever come to the realization that Shmuel and the other Jews were prisoners of a camp his own father was commanding? Why hadn’t the parents of Bruno shed a bit more light on their situation? And I would have really liked to have a deeper understanding of Bruno’s parents’ feeling at the end of the book. Were they confused? Angry? Sad? I would also like to know whether or not Bruno’s father felt a bit more sympathy for the families of those he was killing everyday because he now knew how they felt. The things he did to these people were atrocious and uncalled for and if he knew he was doing it to his own son he probably would have stopped, but unfortunately, he did not catch himself before the damage had been done.
Although these questions had gone unanswered in my opinion, I still felt the book ended emotionally and dramatically and really captured the reader’s full attention. I found the novel overall to be simple, yet physically grasping. The border between the Jewish and German cultures was vanishing little by little throughout the book each time the two young boys’ friendship grew stronger. They did not care that the cultures hated each other or that Bruno’s father was killing Shmuel’s people, they still stayed true friends until the very end. (Literally)
Both Bruno and Shmuel were truly remarkable characters in the novel overall. Despite Bruno’s lack of knowledge and Shmuel’s lack of freedom, the boys ignored the social barrier between their cultures and made it a routine to meet everyday.
The Boy in The Striped Pajamas demonstrates the theme of Holocaust in an emotionally riveting way through the lens of an ignorant young boy. Taken as a whole, I enjoyed the novel very much and I look forward to learning about the Holocaust through different forms of media throughout the year.
There were alot of things that the book The Boy in the Striped Pajamas made me feel. The main one was of course sadness. I felt very sad because of that final image that John Boyne gives us of Bruno and Shmuel holding hands in the gas chamber. It was so sad that they had to die like that. Bruno had finished telling Shmuel that he could visit his house in Berlin after he moved out of Out-With. The symbolism of them holding hands is very symbolic to me in two ways. Firstly, it shows that after everything that separated them, both physical and symbolically, they managed to get past it and be together. One the other hand, it shows that no matter how hard you try, even if you think you have succeeded, there is always someone in the wold who doesn’t want you to be happy. In my opinion, Bruno and Shmuel beat even this, because they had everything against them and in the end, Bruno’s ignorance protected him. They both died happy, Bruno died happy because he had no clue what was going on and Shmuel died happy because he had found a friend in the most unlikely place.
Another feeling that I had after finishing the book was happiness. I was happy for Bruno and what he achieved, even though he just thought he went on a fantastic adventure. It is amazing that a nine year old boy could be so naive and basically pass through the defenses of the best of the German army. He, unknowingly stood up to everything that Hitler believed in and was trying to do. Bruno did things that most grown men and women had not done. He was extremely brave to go into the camp, even if it was for fear of being caught by his mother.
The last things that I was feeling were very confusing and they involve the father. I was very happy that Bruno’s father finally realised what he was doing to the Jews and everyone else in the concentration camp was wrong. However, I was disappointed that it took the death of his son and the destruction of his family, to see this. Even though the grandmother and even his wife at times told him his job was despicable, he ignored it. In a way, he was naive too. He just followed Hitler and did what he was told. If he truly and fully thought what he was doing was right, the death of his son would not have stopped him. This at least tells us that he does have a heart somewhere, but it also tells us he was just a puppet in Hitler's scheme.
When I finish a book, there are always two forms of a reaction that I undergo; the first is that instinctive wave of emotion that captivates me and lingers in my mind before I can really process what I’ve just read. The second comes through the development of my opinion on each character, event and scene within the book – this derives from reflection. Thinking back to the emotions I encountered and the thoughts that were provoked when I read the final chapter of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, it is most accurate to articulate my feeling of confusion. Confusion towards Bruno’s death; confusion directed at the people surrounding Bruno; confusion at the world! Why must events shape out resulting in the death of Bruno – a young boy with the most uninfluenced and truthful spirit? What form of destiny or faith decided that he must die? As a reader, having such an abrupt ending sneak up on can take you aback, for you can read the entire book and be fooled by means of Bruno’s naive mind. I kept questioning every little thing, asking why, why, why! There must be a bigger picture here, a reason why Bruno did not live to learn about the inexorable truth of the Holocaust. And that is how I came about the idea that nothing in this story is written by “chance”. A reason why is initiated with every small detail of this book. Was it a coincidence that Bruno crawled to the other side of the wired fence and found himself in the exact moment, at the exact time in the right (or wrong) place to be taken in for extermination? The reader sees that Shmuel is not once suspected for making his daily trip to be with Bruno, yet Bruno crosses the fence and suddenly all odds are on him. The development of a reason lead Bruno to find Shmuel while he was doing some honest exploring one day. Coming all the way from Berlin, on a day as ordinary as the one before and the one after it, walking along this extraordinary fence, Bruno meets Shmuel. What more? Shmuel and Bruno are a perfect match, embodying the same characteristics down to the very day they were born. Moreover, the most peculiar thing, and the very greatest irony is that the fence which represents the cruel discrimination of a culture is what caused these two boys to grow a relationship. The fence that cut millions of people off the face of this earth was what intertwined Bruno and Shmuel. Now traveling further back to the very premise of this entire story, it all begins with this one idea behind the entire Holocaust – that of the ‘true’ and ‘perfect’ race. From beginning to end, a reader encounters enormous occurrences that can appear as the unintentional chance of a 9 year old, but when summed up show the creation of a story and moral that is destined to happen. What the author does so well is conceal all of the ironies of Bruno’s tale and give the reader a story showing two boys on opposing sides of the fence. The way I see it, this whole book is based on the fact that everything in history has its story to tell, its perspective to offer and it secrets to conceal and to reveal. Considering the book through this approach helped me to find the answers that I was left with after the book told its story and the characters lived and died in my mind. Some may call the Holocaust a mistake in the world’s history, but without this blemish, we would not have the understanding or awareness of each beautiful culture that shapes all of the unique people of the planet. And if the Holocaust had not taken place, we would not have come to a better understanding of ourselves and how important, equal and marvellous we all are and will forever be. After all, Gorge Orwell says, “Who controls the past controls the future.”
After reading the entire book, “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas,” I realized how much of a connection I felt to Bruno. Through reading about his thoughts I felt I really got into his mind and understood what he was going through. When he died however, I didn’t exactly feel sad. In some way I felt it was the right thing. If Bruno wasn’t as adventurous as he was, he would have ended up staying safe at home, and eventually moving away with his family; his relationship with Shmuel would most likely fade away as the one with his previous “best friends for life” did. It felt as if it was expected for the curious and naïve son of the Nazi Commandant to suffer under his father’s cruel wrongdoings. However, when I read the last chapter, it felt as if that connection I felt was immediately cut off. As a result the ending didn’t leave me with much emotion at all, and I certainly didn’t feel like crying (as I expected). The last chapter had a very serious and formal tone to it, unlike the light and somewhat happier words used from Bruno’s perspective. This allowed me, the reader to take a step back from the story, and look back at what just happened with a blank stare. I guess this would be good because it numbed the pain felt by Bruno’s innocent death, but I think the final impression would be more absolute if it ended with Bruno. In the end, it didn’t really matter how the very final events of the story made me feel. At the end I simply reflected on the entire storyline itself and took time to appreciate what a simple yet captivating story it really was.
"It felt as if it was expected for the curious and naïve son of the Nazi Commandant to suffer under his father’s cruel wrongdoings." That's an interesting comment Sam. I never thought about it this way. I guess Bruno was a victim of the holocaust as Schmuel was. Caroline states a very interesting question, " I would also like to know whether or not Bruno’s father felt a bit more sympathy for the families of those he was killing everyday because he now knew how they felt. " Exactly! I wish I could write another chapter to this novel explaining how Bruno's father acted after Bruno's horrific accident. Bruno certainly didn't deserve to die that way; and neither did Schmuel. Ryan says, "I learned during the reading of the book and class discussions that not all Germans but a select group were evil and positively hated the Jews." We can't label everyone the same; even if they belong to the same culture. We must avoid the single story and look at the other side of the coin also. Good comments! Thanks everyone for sharing you thoughts about this wonderful literary work that attempts to tell the plight of the Jewish people through the eye of a German boy. We are looking at this story through the eyes of an innocent German boy.
My initial reaction to the end of this novel was sadness. Sad that such innocence, such naïveté, ultimately lead to Bruno’s demise. Sad, because his family was dealt such a hard blow, in regards to Bruno’s death. I also expected something like this to happen. This novel had a great deal of innocence in it that it seemed as though something horrible was bound to happen. A horror would disturb the peace. In the end it did. The two most prominent feelings that I felt after reading this book were sadness, and curiosity. Bruno and Shmuel being sent to the gas chambers gave the most touching, emotional scene in the entire book. This is the case because Bruno was always naïve. The feeling that I got from him was that everyone was good, no matter whom or what they are. The ending scene shows Bruno being secure in the choices that he has made, he is sure that his decision to stay with Shmuel is the right one. When I think of this scene, I think of the two young boys holding hands in the gas chambers, and I feel warmth; warmth to say that no matter what happens, these two boys will always be connected; that they have found true friendship. I noticed that as the book progressed, and as Bruno and Shmuel grew closer, he forgot about Karl, Daniel and Martin. It felt as though they were mere playmates, while Shmuel seemed to truly understand Bruno. A connection was established between the two boys, who were different, and yet the same. The gas chamber scene also makes me think of the fact that in the end, we are all the same. Throughout this book, Bruno and Shmuel have had different views on the world. Shmuel had grown accustomed to the harsher side, while Bruno lived in innocence. When they both died in the gas chambers, it seems as though all lives, as different as they are, end. When lives end, and bodies remain, they are all the same skin. Humans have all the same bones, the same brains, the same organs. We merely label ourselves in order to belong, and that creates more trouble that it is worth. I also felt curiosity at the end of this book because the last line made me think. What would have happened if the Holocaust had occurred with today’s technology and global connections. Would the people have discovered the truth sooner, or would the advances in killing have become so great that the dictator would have indeed exterminated every Jew, or every gypsy or anyone who did not fit his criteria. This event was one of the most tragic in human history, but it is not the only time where a culture has been singled out and slaughtered. George Santayana once quoted “those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it.” It seems as though humanity keeps forgetting the past. Cultures to this day are still persecuted and condemned. Who is to say that genocide is not going to happen? If the humans are persistent in keeping the past in the past, are we not bound to repeat the mistakes that have already happened?
His friendship with Shmuel was based on the fact that despite all their differences they had so much in common. They could sit and talk, without the fear of being judged or ignored. They saw each other as equals and by doing so dismantled the barriers that were built to keep them apart. That is why “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” is such a beautiful story. Despite all the hatred, misery and evil that surrounds them, Bruno and Shmuel are able to find friendship and in doing so show the best of mankind, while the world around them demonstrates the worst of it. I had to add Thomas' statement. This is exactly what I intended to teach you. Great comment. Thanks Thomas.
After I finished reading the book, I had a lot to think about. This book brought out many emotions for me, but mostly sadness. But it wasn’t Bruno’s death that made me sad; it was because Bruno didn’t know why he died. He died because one man thought he was better than everyone else. He died because this man thought that all other races and cultures were beneath him. Bruno died because he did what he thought was right. He ignored the fact that Shmuel was different than him, and became his friend. Even though the people all around him told him no to associate with the people on the other side of the fence, he still did, because he didn’t see anything wrong with them. Bruno did what a lot of people were afraid to do. He ignored all the labels on Shmuel, and got to know him before he judged him. I may be giving Bruno too much credit, seeing as he was naïve to the world around him, but I still believe that he was the part of the minority who saw the Jews as equals. In class we talk about there being only one race, which is the human race. I think that is how Bruno saw the world. He didn’t create any borders because people seemed different. This story has given me a lot to think about. Mostly, I think about what would happen if this were to happen to me, and I encountered a “fence”. Would I be like Bruno, and ignore any differences that the people on the other side had, or would I turn away from them. Overall this book is truly great, and in my opinion, it is probably one of the best books about the Holocaust. I liked how we saw the world through the eyes of a boy who was too young to know what was happening.
By the end of the book I did not really understand how I felt about “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.” It has given me mixed feelings through-out the entire novel. Two things I was certain I was feeling though, was frustration and sadness and pity. Frustrated mostly because of Bruno’s incredible naivety. I cannot believe how he could possibly be so dense. He did not even know he got killed! I was frustrated that the Germans mercilessly murder groups of people without even distinguishing them. It was like to them all those who wore the striped pyjamas were to all die. They did not even take the time to realize they were killing their “commandant’s” own son! I felt pity for Bruno for having died so oblivious and innocent. The truly sad thing was that Bruno died, only worrying about getting home on time, no idea that those would be his last breaths. It was nice though, that his last words and thoughts were about his close friendship with Shmuel. I have said this before that seeing the world of the Holocaust is an odd way of looking at it, and Bruno meeting his death as a child is frightening and I think even more horrific then having a descriptive death in the eyes of a mature man or woman. One thing that was saddening to me was that the Germans were so good at discarding of the dead prisoners’ body that Bruno’s family will never be able to find his body and never give him a proper burial. That they will never know how life changing his time at Out-with (Auschwitz) was. That they will never hear his tales of his new “best friend for life,” Shmuel. That Bruno’s father will have to live with the guilt of knowing that he, even if it was unintentional or indirectly, killed his own son. That if only any change in events this would have never happened: if Bruno was more cautious and naïve, if Shmuel’s father had not disappeared, if they given up the search little bit earlier, if the two boys did not look so alike. If Bruno had never gone and see the fence, never meeting Shmuel at all.
Ultimately, after finishing the novel, “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas,” I felt that the ending was one of the most heartfelt, yet bittersweet conclusions that could have possibly occurred. I strongly think that it was much better that Bruno was unaware of the situation he was in. Despite the fact that he was oblivious to his surroundings and had absolutely no clue where he was or why he was there, his innocence was kept throughout the whole novel. In the beginning, I was questioning why his parents were so resistant in speaking the truth, but now, I realize that it was for his own benefit. Bruno would have been too young to absorb the information given to him, and probably too stubborn to comprehend. If Bruno was already upset that Shmuel lived on the other side of the fence and he could never play with him, imagine if he had known the circumstances Shmuel needed to live with. It would of scarred Bruno's young and naive mind. The actual realization of friendship Shmuel and Bruno experienced in the last few seconds of consciousness was eyeopening. Earlier, it seemed that Bruno had never fully expressed how much Shmuel meant to him, even though Shmuel was the one and only friend he had at Out-With. It's unbelievable how, at the brink of death, Bruno finally expressed his true feelings to Shmuel. It was something that had been postponed from the moment that Shmuel and Bruno shook hands for the first time. Although the building and final product of their friendship was sincere, the death of these two young boys really was sudden and unsettling. When you look at the big picture, the reason Shmuel was exterminated was because of his religious faiths, and it just so happens that Bruno was in the wrong place at the wrong time. It is appalling that phenomenons like this do exist, with the labeling and all. Innocent lives were taken in this story, and all because of a religion difference between people, which makes the ending that much more tragic. Aside from this, I enjoyed reading the novel and learning about the true meaning of friendship and freedom.
After concluding "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas", I was assaulted by different emotions, thoughts, opinions and what ifs; it was like my brain had walked into a spice market. Though the book had proven the fact that differences can forge a wonderful friendship, one tends to realize the fact that the story was ultimately more complex than this. I felt that the story should not be read by just anyone, I believe that background knowledge to the subject of the book is necessary to fully comprehending the sobriety of the ‘simple’ story. In one way, I thought the ending was expected, because it would not have been possible for Bruno to escape from the concentration camp. I say this because it seemed too good to be true that a simple boy could fool an entire army of guards and escape death that many had faced and failed. Additionally, the fact that Bruno’s father was participating in such horrifying extermination to the Jewish people, it seemed ironic and fitting in such a way that his own son should be mistaken and killed like one of the Jews. This proves that there was not much difference between these two different cultures at all. Furthermore, the fact that the family finally disintegrated (it already was dysfunctional), really discouraged the reader about perhaps hoping the characters would have changed. Nothing really amazing or heartwarming happens at the end after Bruno “disappears”, nothing that I could have said that the character had been affected tremendously to change his actions. Perchance it was the little girl inside of me that hoped for a more conclusive or happy ending where if the lives of the two boys could not be saved; maybe the family could have done something to help stop the madness. Finally, propaganda is a powerful and dangerous thing that many people, past and present have fallen victim to. The Holocaust is one notorious example of this, the German people being captivated of the “spell” that Hitler had cast over them via speeches and posters. Thankfully the whole world did not embrace this madness.
The end of the book, the part of the book that is so deeply aspired and unwelcome to many a reader, especially in a book such as this; a book where the ending is almost certain, while your mind takes the unlikeliest of paths to swerve around a devastating end. Despite all the emotions that collided and writhed within me, taking root in the depths of my mind, at the very end of the novel, when the back cover closed, I felt something momentarily unbelievable. Nothing, I felt nothing. I just sat there staring at the wall and blinking. Perhaps I was shell-shocked out of responding instantly, or maybe I’m slower than I thought (no comments), but I sat there and allowed myself an unexpected moment of clarity, where my thoughts seemed to subconsciously organize themselves…before bombarding me all at once. I went through the expected motions, or rather emotions; anger, frustration, sorrow and horror. I say I expected both because of the nature of the book and the general nature of most books dealing with the subject of the Holocaust. Then it got ugly. I am shamed to admit that I did feel a sick sense of righteousness, a fleeting “I told you so!” echoing and fading in the whirlwind that became my thoughts (though apparently not ashamed enough to not admit it). I am also guilty of not only thinking, however, reflecting on another key, if not admirable, emotional reaction; relief. I find myself extremely selfish in being grateful that my family and my ancestors were not pointedly targeted in the Holocaust, or murdered (at least to my limited knowledge) because it would have, indirectly, killed me. I would not be here today, nor would any of you, if you really thought about it. Conversely, I thought about the unappealing prospect of being of German descent presently, as well as during the 1950s, when many Europeans fled to Canada. The Italian immigrants (such as my grandmother) were already given enough heartache for even being allied with Hitler; imagine the hatred towards German families, even the ones that did not agree with Hitler’s idealism. Understandably, that may be too specific and extreme, nevertheless, I would not want to be part of a culture that has an awful reputation and is put into a negative connotation by the people who are not familiar with the details of the War (which is a majority of people). I, personally, sympathize because I firmly believe that it is always, easier to lay blame. Anyway, after that nasty War, the Germans definitely had those stereotypes coming (and staying). Finally, after a lot of sorting and discarding and organizing and searching I came across something I think I was always searching for; my happy ending. Okay, maybe it wasn’t a happy ending definitively, but the fact that the book drew this emotion from me, did make me happy. Through it all; the agonizing knowledge of the end, the punishment of seeing the Holocaust through the eyes of a mere boy, the expected ending coming true and still managing to hit you like a Mac truck…I was glad. I was pleased, heart-warmed and all that other gushy stuff. In the end, Bruno dies, a reluctantly accepted fact. In the end, though, Bruno dies completely and entirely himself. We all knew he was just a little boy, raised in a household built upon lies, and so he was naïve beyond believability. We all knew he loved to explore and act and read and dress-up. We all knew he was curious, constantly thirsting for knowledge. We all knew he was innocent in his inquiries, in his actions, and therefore innocent in the role he played in, what could have been, his own destiny. We all knew that he was pure, not tainted by influences, in a world in which influence was used to suffocate, confine and control. We all knew that he remained this way into his very last moment in life. A little boy that died against all odds, a little boy that didn’t fit the mold, that broke free and lived a life complete though its incompletion , a boy, who through the greatest irony of all, discovered more than most can even dream of. Yes, he was a boy. The Boy in Striped Pajamas.
After reading the novel, “The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas” by John Boyne I was left with mixed emotions and a lot of thinking and connecting to do. One of the themes that stuck in my mind the most from this novel was ‘costumes’. When Bruno`s deceased grandmother was alive she would tell Bruno and his hopeless case sister, Gretel, ``you wear the right outfit and you feel like the person you`re pretending to be”. I believe this quote is very important throughout the course of the novel because there are many people who are wearing “costumes or outfits”. For example, Bruno’s father wore the ‘costume’ of a Nazi solider and commanded those around them acting as if he is the commander. In my honest opinion, if Bruno’s father was not dressed in his uniform, he would have acted in a more controlled manner. I am NOT saying that he would not be against the Jewish people but I am saying that his behaviour would not have been as aggressive or he would not have felt so powerful if he did not have a uniform to advertise his authority. Through my perspective, Bruno wears two costumes throughout the novel. At home, he wears the costume of an innocent, naive, nine year old German boy who obeys all rules of the family and stands clear of then “fence”. Once again, I am NOT saying that Bruno is not innocent, nor naive, but he does visit the fence and becomes friends with a young Jewish boy. Later on in the novel, Bruno wears the costume of a young boy in a concentration camp. His costume consists of a filthy striped cloth top, pants and cap. Once crossing over the physical barrier that separated Bruno and Shmuel—the fence, Bruno takes on the “part” of a Jew, as Shmuel puts it. With the Jewish people wearing, the “costumes” it made each Jew lose their sense of individuality let alone sense of dignity. One of the Germans main goals was to not only exterminate the Jewish culture but also in the process make all Jews the same; wearing the striped pyjamas, made the Jewish people different from the rest of the world but not different from one another. Attending a catholic school and being raised in a catholic family, made me realize that the German’s plan is the exact opposite of God’s plan. As Mr. Racco says there is only ONE race—the HUMAN RACE. Every person should NOT be judged or stereotyped by the way the look or the race/culture they are a part of. Bruno’s grandmother was a very good example of someone who did NOT stereotype the Jewish people and felt that what was happening to the Jewish culture was completely wrong. My reaction to the ending of this novel was the obvious reaction of sadness that Bruno and Shmuel had to pass but in a way it was sort of a heart warming ending because the two boys were able to end their lives together, holding hands, as best friends. I do not want any of you reading my post to think that I am some crazy girl with no heart, thinking the ending was “heart warming” but in my opinion, I felt it was because this death demonstrated the true test of friendship even if it was by two nine-year-old naive boys. Their death proved that barriers, both physical and mental can be overcome and no matter what there is always a way to break down the “fence” or cross the border, rather it be into someone else’s culture or into someone else’s shoes. Thank you Shmuel and Bruno for teaching me these lessons; that it doesn't matter where someone is from and what has happened in their past, everyone has some sort of story and it is our job to break down walls and discover their stories.
Like Samantha Clarizio had said, the ending was bittersweet. Because Bruno is only a little boy you have this hope that he will survive and that he will be okay. You hope that Shmuel will somehow escape the concentration camp and all will be well. As the book came to it's end, I gave up on that small hope and accepted that both will surrender to the cruelness of their environments. Yet at the same time, I couldn't help but feel slightly happy that they were both together til the end. Only Shmuel had known Bruno's true self, he had become the closest to him over the time that Bruno had stayed at "Out-With". Even when Bruno had gone over the physical fence, he had not really expressed all of his emotions until the end. Bruno had resisted his desire to show his friend how much he meant to him. Finally, when they were at the gas chambers, they overcame the final barrier and held hands tightly refusing to let anything come between them. I feel extremely grateful that even though prejudice is still present, most of us realize that "there is only one race". We are all alike if we bring down the barriers, from different cultures, way of communicating, and even physical appearance. Each one of us are capable of feelings and becoming closer to one another if we are not so judging; there are no "fences" unless we build them ourselves.
Thanks Chiara for this sincere reflection: “Bruno was able to not only overcome cultural differences between Jewish and German culture, which grown men weren't able to do, but embrace them, even though he did this without even knowing. He crossed the fence to another borderland.” Isn’t it funny that we are consciously attempting to cross into the Jewish and German culture, and Bruno did this unintentionally.
Thomas is correct. In only nine years Bruno did what other have been struggling with a lifetime: “Bruno was able to do things during his childhood that it takes years for many people to do. Bruno learned not to base how he thought of people on what they looked like or which culture they belonged to. He chose instead to befriend Shmuel, a boy who both his father and sister had deemed unworthy, a boy who had been cast into the devil’s domain by Bruno’s own people. His friendship with Shmuel was based on the fact that despite all their differences they had so much in common. They could sit and talk, without the fear of being judged or ignored. They saw each other as equals and by doing so dismantled the barriers that were built to keep them apart.”
I really like that you all mention emotions: loss, disgust, despair, anger, frustration, and happiness. And, many of you concluded with happiness and joy. This is a paradox; however, your reason were justified: “these two boys weren't just nine year old children looking for someone to play with, they represented their two cultures coming together to be as one. I have mentioned before that I am thankful for Bruno's naivety throughout the story, because I believe without him really knowing what was going on around him; he was able to create the bond between him and Shmuel. The fence that was placed between them presented them with a challenge to work their way around the fence so that they could be friends, and that's exactly what they did.” Thanks Michelle for voicing you honesty.
Terrific comments, great critical thinking skills exhibited. Congratulations.
After reading this book I felt somewhat hollow, empty on the inside, due to the tragic yet somewhat expected death of Bruno and Shmuel, two boys that we able to do so much more than anyone of that time and place. While reading I felt depressed knowing that how naive bruno was would get himself into danger resulting in his tragic death but his innocence overall made him the incredible person he turned out to be. Bruno was able to not only overcome cultural differences between Jewish and German culture, which grown men weren't able to do, but embrace them, even though he did this without even knowing. He crossed the fence to another borderland. I was bewildered on how much Bruno had accomplished in his short life due to his innocence (I wrote more on this topic in post # 2). Many of you seemed upset that Bruno's parents didn't tell Bruno the truth about, his move of home, his father's job and who the people he sees through his window were. Many also seemed frustrated that Bruno was so naive to the chaos and massacre outside his bedroom window. I too was flustered on how much Bruno didn't know, and I understand how it's upsetting that Bruno's parents don't tell him the truth about things he had the right to know of, but I am almost glad that Bruno's parents and Shmuel protected Bruno from the truth. If Bruno was to be raised with the complete knowledge of what Bruno's father does and represents, as well as raise him with the same evil mentality Bruno would have never been able to do the things he ended up doing, even though it concluded to his sad death. Shmuel as a good friend also protects Bruno from the truth because he didn't want to harm Bruno's kindness and innocence and put him against his father and himself. Bruno probably would have been in denial if Shmuel told him the truth of what his father does, and Shmuel didn't want to hurt him. Bruno and Shmuel in some way have touched my heart by all the things they have accomplished in their short lives, because Bruno was such a naive young child and Shmuel was kind, forgiving and accepting. None of their friendship and journey together would have occured though without Bruno's innocence and protection from the truth.
ReplyDeleteThe way the narrator depicts the book in third person but speaking as a nine year old boy would, keeps the book captivating and interesting as a few other students have mentioned as well. The book in its symbolism, messages, and format of writing have greatly made an impression on me. The simplicity of the book made it an emotional and excellent read.
I feel that ``the boy in the striped pyjamas`` was an amazing novel by author John Boyne. It held a deep emotional meaning for those with an understanding of the subject matter, and evoked the instinct to investigate for those who did not.
ReplyDeleteWith a setting such as Auschwitz, Boyne took an interesting approach by describing the feelings the young Bruno felt about his surroundings rather than explicitly telling us about the layout of the house or the colour of the wood. While we most likely were not all thinking of the same type of house, or the same type of Auschwitz, almost any person reading the book would likely have been left with a sort of ``gray`` feeling about the setting, and sometimes the characters.
It was also a good choice by the author to have the story told from the perspective of an innocent young man. This leaves many questions unanswered, and as such makes you substitute any knowledge you have for the inexperience of Bruno. “the Boy in the Striped Pyjamas” then becomes a book which you must put down every once in a while and ponder the true meaning of what was said or done around Bruno, usually pertaining to the Holocaust.
Most importantly, I especially liked the lesson of the story represented by the friendship between Shmuel and Bruno. It goes to show the author’s belief that not everyone back then in Germany was bigoted towards the Jews, and it was still entirely possible for a Jewish person to identify and become friends with a German. Alas, the ending also reflects an extreme of the outcome of such friendships, and how in a world where their friendships shouldn’t have ever happened, it all ended in tragedy.
My final reaction to the book, 'The Boy in the Striped Pajamas' was that this book really needs to be read if you can tolerate despair, and hopelessness. The book really had a major effect on me emotionally because it is just so tragic to see what the boy Bruno had to experience. Growing up in a family where you think that everything is perfect and you have everything you want, wasn't the case. Sure, it did look like that from the outside but as you continue reading through the book, you realize that everything was all a lie. I really felt for the two young children, but mostly Bruno because he was again, so naive of the entire situation. Who could possibly imagine that their father was a man who sent people to their death? Well, it definitely didn't seem that way in the household. The father was a little bit of a scare to me in some parts when he would yell, and I felt subject to him when he ordered the children to salute soldiers. Wouldn't you wonder what soldiers were doing in your household? Think about it for a second. You move houses, your father always wears his uniform, you have soldiers coming in and out from your home, and not to mention a HUGE fence in your backyard restraining you from crossing it. Through the course of the read I put myself in Bruno's shoes because I really wanted to make every situation he faced my own. By doing so, I read what the author was saying in a different approach. That was by feeling emotionally. I felt so many things when reading the book. I felt: mad, upset, joy, regret, anger, disappointment, despair, hopelessness, but mostly I felt sick to my stomach because even though this story about a young boy isn't necessarily true, the fact of the matter is that Jew's were really persecuted and put to their death in horrifying and gruesome ways. My favourite part in this entire book was in the end when Bruno really showed how much he cared for Shmuel. Not only did he go under the fence which his parents told him was strictly forbidden, but when entering the gas chamber, Bruno took Shmuel's hand in his own to show that he would be there no matter what happened. I felt like that was such an important part in the book and really showed me what true friendship was all about, and the measures you take for someone you care about. The only comment I have about the book is that I wish the author really made the ending dramatic. I didn't like how it ended because it was very brief and didn't show me any emotion. I wish the ending would have left me in tears because I would assume that's what I would expect from such a depressing book. Overall, I did enjoy reading the book, and I can't wait to watch the movie so we get to see the book come alive.
ReplyDeleteI am going to be straight up. When I finished the novel, I was not thinking about how Bruno and Shmuel died, and I definitely was not thinking about how this was the best book that I ever read. What I was thinking about, was Bruno’s naivety and that this was a book that everyone should read. I discussed briefly in my past blog about how readers have criticized Bruno’s naivety and ignorance throughout the whole novel, complaining that it was impossible to not realize what was going on the other side of his window, of his house, of his side of the fence, especially after all the clues. I mean why else would hundreds of people be wearing striped pajamas, behind a huge metal fence, scared each time a soldiers pass, isolated from the rest of the world. But I want to point out that this boy was nine years old. I cannot speak for everyone, but when I was nine years old, not only was I probably more ignorant and naïve than Bruno, I was definitely not as adventurous or curious. I played with my toys, talked to my friends, did the little homework I received and that was pretty much it. We are all reading this book from the eyes of fourteen and fifteen year olds, aware of the past actions that took place. Imagine giving this book to a child in grade three or four now and asking them what they think this book is about. Would they look at it like Bruno did, though naïve and for that matter, childish eyes? Probably. History changed many things but a kid is still a kid and that’s what we must all remember while reading this book. If Bruno wasn’t naïve and ignorant, he wouldn’t have been exploring, he wouldn’t have met Shmuel, and the story wouldn’t have been as heartbreaking and moving as it is. Now keeping that in mind, I really believe this is a book that everyone, at the right time and age, must read. It provides and reminds us not only of the ugly past but the beautiful present we are lucky and blessed to be living in today and that the Holocaust affected millions around the world. Not just adults, but even young, innocent nine year old boys. We all hope the actions of our past, stay in the past, and don’t reoccur in the future but in order for this to be a reality, we must always remember. And solely for that reason, everyone should read this book, because it gives everyone insight on what really happened and that although many were ignorant on the matter, the Holocaust did happen and we must never forget it. Overall, I really enjoyed this book.
ReplyDeleteLoss, disgust and despair were my immediate reactions to the tragic ending of John Boyne’s novel “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas”. For the first few minutes after reading this touching story all I felt was an inescapable sense that the world would never be right again. How could something so horrible happen to such a young and innocent child. I asked myself “Is there no justice in the world”? If Bruno, a little boy who was so inspirational and brave, whose friendship with Shmuel broke down the barriers that had been placed around him, was forced to succumb to such a horrific fate. I sat and I pondered this for a few minutes, before I finally felt a new and unexpected emotion, joy. I felt this joy because I came to the realization that Bruno, an innocent child was able to live such a full and meaningful life in the span of just nine years. I say this, because Bruno was able to do things during his childhood that it takes years for many people to do. Bruno learned not to base how he thought of people on what they looked like or which culture they belonged to. He chose instead to befriend Shmuel, a boy who both his father and sister had deemed unworthy, a boy who had been cast into the devil’s domain by Bruno’s own people. His friendship with Shmuel was based on the fact that despite all their differences they had so much in common. They could sit and talk, without the fear of being judged or ignored. They saw each other as equals and by doing so dismantled the barriers that were built to keep them apart. That is why “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” is such a beautiful story. Despite all the hatred, misery and evil that surrounds them, Bruno and Shmuel are able to find friendship and in doing so show the best of mankind, while the world around them demonstrates the worst of it.
ReplyDeleteThe Boy in the Striped Pajamas was an interesting novel that brought up mixed emotions, historical meaning and life lessons. An intriguing part of the novel was Bruno’s oblivious behavior to his surroundings. This was a result of not being told the truth about his father, why they were really moving and why that fence in the backyard of Out-With was there. He had minimal knowledge in general because there was no one to educate him on the realities of life and wasn’t even aware that one of humanities largest atrocities, the Holocaust, was active. Despite the negative factors of being isolated from so much, this may’ve gone in his favor, somewhat. During Bruno’s stay at Out-With he obtained a true friendship with Shmuel. This friendship was un-appreciated at first but near the final minutes of their lives they realized how significant their relationship was. Bruno going out of character and grabbing onto Shmuel’s hand telling him that they are best friends was a profoundly moving thing to say and do. I was very surprised that Bruno would perform such an act that showed maturity and compassion. I learned during the reading of the book and class discussions that not all Germans but a select group were evil and positively hated the Jews. A once hero to the German people had gone insane and began to order the extermination of the Jewish, Catholics, the ill and handicapped etc. If these orders were denied you were to be killed, more than likely, most of us would follow. I’m sure the majority of the Germans didn’t take pleasure in taking the lives of innocent people. I was glad how Bruno and Shmuel showed the importance of their relationship at the end but was disappointed how it ended. It was predictable that Bruno’s naïveté would eventually catch up to him but I didn’t assume as drastic as this. It is unfortunate but is the result of labeling other people, as the German soldiers killed the flock of Jews that happened to include two brave young boys. This brings me to my next topic being the psychological label. I learned that we shouldn’t judge others and refrain fro m putting physiological label on people based on where they’re from, who their parents are or their appearance. By looking past differences and getting to know each other can avoid conflict. In this case, Bruno look past Shmuel’s appearance and accepted him just as anyone else. Shmuel was aware what descent Bruno was and what his father was and did to his people, but look passed this because it is unfair to grow an emotion off someone you never knew. It is wrong to have hatred for someone just because of they’re countries faults or parents’ at that. My point being, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas brought me to the attention that, everyone brings something to the table and it is vital that we all feed off of it and embrace each others differences for it only can beneficial towards each other.
ReplyDeleteAfter finishing the novel and reading the comments posted by my peers, I find myself in a different state of mind. While reading the beginning of the book, I could not get over my anger and frustration towards Bruno’s innocence; however, I now realize what a crucial part it played in the development of the plot, in eliciting emotion from the reader, and in building the relationship between Bruno and Shmuel. If Bruno was more aware, then the events would most likely not have unfolded in the way they did and the story would not have been nearly as captivating. In my first comment, I said that I wished that Bruno knew about what was really going on, but that was before he met Shmuel. Reflecting on this now makes me wonder about how Bruno would have acted if he was told the truth and how his relationship with Shmuel would have been different. Would Bruno have agreed with what his father was doing simply because he believed his father was always right? Or would he, for probably the first time in his life, have disagreed with his father, instead of letting fear and intimidation of everyone around him form his opinions? Would his relationship with Shmuel be different? Would he perceive himself as better because he was on his side of the fence? But more pressingly, would Bruno have even met Shmuel in the first place? If he knew the truth, would he have gone on the adventure to explore the fence and the surroundings in the first place? Who knows...these are all possibilities, things that could have happened but didn’t, at least not in this story. But they very well could have. Although this novel is not based on a true story, there is a great possibility that situations like this one did happen, and while some of them may have ended similarly to Bruno’s, others could have followed very different paths. They could have taken other turns, travelled through different tunnels, reached their own fences. The point is that every story has its “What if’s...” and I think that these are very important to consider because they give you a deeper insight into the meaning of what actually did happen. I know that for me, it definitely helped me to recognize the importance of Bruno’s innocence to the entire story.
ReplyDeleteMy opinion hasn't changed much since the beginning of the novel. I still find it boring, and I still find the quality boring. If the book was written in a more detailed way I would have enjoyed the book a great deal more. When we got to the end of the book, or at least the last few chapters and I was so shocked that A) Bruno would like to see where Shmule lived after he said he didn't like it and B) Shmule would allow Bruno into his very dangerous home. It made me feel quite upset when Bruno and Shmule died by getting gassed to death. I had to keep myself from yelling aloud "you see! This is what happens when you go to a place that has been blocked off! Your sister told you that you weren't supposed to like the Jews and it is alright if you do, but if there is an entire area blocked off with Jews in it you know you shouldn't be there!!" it did bring out more emotions the. I expected, espicially considering I found the book going downhill. I was so shocked that the two boys died. I was so upset that they didn't realize it was such an unsafe place for Bruno to be. I was so annoyed when they kept talking about how Shmule would go and visit Bruno. I knew what was going on and I wanted to ju p into the book and let them know because they were NOT getting that opportunity. And I was aggravated. At the father and at the mother for not telling him what they were doing there because if they did they might have avoided the loss of their son.
ReplyDeleteOver all I am pleased to say that I respect the two boys for becoming friends after all that has happened to them. I am inspired by these two boys to realize that any one can be a difference in the way that we act towards one another. I am also encouraged that more people in the world would reach put to someone different then them.
After reading The Boy In The Striped Pajamas, I am faced with two conflicting emotions. The first is sadness. After such a big journey from strangers, to friends, to the final declaration of best friends for life, Bruno and Shmuel's journey came to a devastating end. As they held hands for the first and last time, both of them knew nothing of what would come next for the two of them. All that mattered was that they were together. Next, I felt an overwhelming sense of happiness and joy. Yes, their journey came to an end. But, thinking back I reflect on what their journey meant for the Jewish and German cultures. For me, these two boys weren't just nine year old children looking for someone to play with, they represented their two cultures coming together to be as one. I have mentioned before that I am thankful for Bruno's naivety throughout the story, because I believe without him really knowing what was going on around him, he was able to create the bond between him and Shmuel. The fence that was placed between them presented them with a challenge to work their way around the fence so that they could be friends, and that's exactly what they did. The ending was definitely bitter-sweet, but it got me thinking about life today. How many strangers do we walk by everyday and immediately stereotype them by the clothes they wear or the colour of their skin? We don't know these people, yet we judge them as if we do. To really understand this story, you have to read deeply into what John Boyne is telling us about not being prejudice and accepting people for their many differences. Our calling not only as people, but as Christians is to accept and help people who are different than us. So, the next time you meet a person who doesn't look like someone you might usually strike up a conversation with, go up to them and try. You might just find your best friend for life.
ReplyDeleteAs the class finished “The Boy in The Striped Pajamas” together, I felt as though there were still questions that had gone unanswered. For example: Why didn’t Bruno ever come to the realization that Shmuel and the other Jews were prisoners of a camp his own father was commanding? Why hadn’t the parents of Bruno shed a bit more light on their situation? And I would have really liked to have a deeper understanding of Bruno’s parents’ feeling at the end of the book. Were they confused? Angry? Sad? I would also like to know whether or not Bruno’s father felt a bit more sympathy for the families of those he was killing everyday because he now knew how they felt. The things he did to these people were atrocious and uncalled for and if he knew he was doing it to his own son he probably would have stopped, but unfortunately, he did not catch himself before the damage had been done.
ReplyDeleteAlthough these questions had gone unanswered in my opinion, I still felt the book ended emotionally and dramatically and really captured the reader’s full attention. I found the novel overall to be simple, yet physically grasping. The border between the Jewish and German cultures was vanishing little by little throughout the book each time the two young boys’ friendship grew stronger. They did not care that the cultures hated each other or that Bruno’s father was killing Shmuel’s people, they still stayed true friends until the very end. (Literally)
Both Bruno and Shmuel were truly remarkable characters in the novel overall. Despite Bruno’s lack of knowledge and Shmuel’s lack of freedom, the boys ignored the social barrier between their cultures and made it a routine to meet everyday.
The Boy in The Striped Pajamas demonstrates the theme of Holocaust in an emotionally riveting way through the lens of an ignorant young boy. Taken as a whole, I enjoyed the novel very much and I look forward to learning about the Holocaust through different forms of media throughout the year.
There were alot of things that the book The Boy in the Striped Pajamas made me feel. The main one was of course sadness. I felt very sad because of that final image that John Boyne gives us of Bruno and Shmuel holding hands in the gas chamber. It was so sad that they had to die like that. Bruno had finished telling Shmuel that he could visit his house in Berlin after he moved out of Out-With. The symbolism of them holding hands is very symbolic to me in two ways. Firstly, it shows that after everything that separated them, both physical and symbolically, they managed to get past it and be together. One the other hand, it shows that no matter how hard you try, even if you think you have succeeded, there is always someone in the wold who doesn’t want you to be happy. In my opinion, Bruno and Shmuel beat even this, because they had everything against them and in the end, Bruno’s ignorance protected him. They both died happy, Bruno died happy because he had no clue what was going on and Shmuel died happy because he had found a friend in the most unlikely place.
ReplyDeleteAnother feeling that I had after finishing the book was happiness. I was happy for Bruno and what he achieved, even though he just thought he went on a fantastic adventure. It is amazing that a nine year old boy could be so naive and basically pass through the defenses of the best of the German army. He, unknowingly stood up to everything that Hitler believed in and was trying to do. Bruno did things that most grown men and women had not done. He was extremely brave to go into the camp, even if it was for fear of being caught by his mother.
The last things that I was feeling were very confusing and they involve the father. I was very happy that Bruno’s father finally realised what he was doing to the Jews and everyone else in the concentration camp was wrong. However, I was disappointed that it took the death of his son and the destruction of his family, to see this. Even though the grandmother and even his wife at times told him his job was despicable, he ignored it. In a way, he was naive too. He just followed Hitler and did what he was told. If he truly and fully thought what he was doing was right, the death of his son would not have stopped him. This at least tells us that he does have a heart somewhere, but it also tells us he was just a puppet in Hitler's scheme.
When I finish a book, there are always two forms of a reaction that I undergo; the first is that instinctive wave of emotion that captivates me and lingers in my mind before I can really process what I’ve just read. The second comes through the development of my opinion on each character, event and scene within the book – this derives from reflection. Thinking back to the emotions I encountered and the thoughts that were provoked when I read the final chapter of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, it is most accurate to articulate my feeling of confusion. Confusion towards Bruno’s death; confusion directed at the people surrounding Bruno; confusion at the world! Why must events shape out resulting in the death of Bruno – a young boy with the most uninfluenced and truthful spirit? What form of destiny or faith decided that he must die? As a reader, having such an abrupt ending sneak up on can take you aback, for you can read the entire book and be fooled by means of Bruno’s naive mind. I kept questioning every little thing, asking why, why, why! There must be a bigger picture here, a reason why Bruno did not live to learn about the inexorable truth of the Holocaust. And that is how I came about the idea that nothing in this story is written by “chance”. A reason why is initiated with every small detail of this book. Was it a coincidence that Bruno crawled to the other side of the wired fence and found himself in the exact moment, at the exact time in the right (or wrong) place to be taken in for extermination? The reader sees that Shmuel is not once suspected for making his daily trip to be with Bruno, yet Bruno crosses the fence and suddenly all odds are on him. The development of a reason lead Bruno to find Shmuel while he was doing some honest exploring one day. Coming all the way from Berlin, on a day as ordinary as the one before and the one after it, walking along this extraordinary fence, Bruno meets Shmuel. What more? Shmuel and Bruno are a perfect match, embodying the same characteristics down to the very day they were born. Moreover, the most peculiar thing, and the very greatest irony is that the fence which represents the cruel discrimination of a culture is what caused these two boys to grow a relationship. The fence that cut millions of people off the face of this earth was what intertwined Bruno and Shmuel. Now traveling further back to the very premise of this entire story, it all begins with this one idea behind the entire Holocaust – that of the ‘true’ and ‘perfect’ race. From beginning to end, a reader encounters enormous occurrences that can appear as the unintentional chance of a 9 year old, but when summed up show the creation of a story and moral that is destined to happen. What the author does so well is conceal all of the ironies of Bruno’s tale and give the reader a story showing two boys on opposing sides of the fence. The way I see it, this whole book is based on the fact that everything in history has its story to tell, its perspective to offer and it secrets to conceal and to reveal. Considering the book through this approach helped me to find the answers that I was left with after the book told its story and the characters lived and died in my mind. Some may call the Holocaust a mistake in the world’s history, but without this blemish, we would not have the understanding or awareness of each beautiful culture that shapes all of the unique people of the planet. And if the Holocaust had not taken place, we would not have come to a better understanding of ourselves and how important, equal and marvellous we all are and will forever be. After all, Gorge Orwell says, “Who controls the past controls the future.”
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the entire book, “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas,” I realized how much of a connection I felt to Bruno. Through reading about his thoughts I felt I really got into his mind and understood what he was going through. When he died however, I didn’t exactly feel sad. In some way I felt it was the right thing. If Bruno wasn’t as adventurous as he was, he would have ended up staying safe at home, and eventually moving away with his family; his relationship with Shmuel would most likely fade away as the one with his previous “best friends for life” did. It felt as if it was expected for the curious and naïve son of the Nazi Commandant to suffer under his father’s cruel wrongdoings.
ReplyDeleteHowever, when I read the last chapter, it felt as if that connection I felt was immediately cut off. As a result the ending didn’t leave me with much emotion at all, and I certainly didn’t feel like crying (as I expected). The last chapter had a very serious and formal tone to it, unlike the light and somewhat happier words used from Bruno’s perspective. This allowed me, the reader to take a step back from the story, and look back at what just happened with a blank stare. I guess this would be good because it numbed the pain felt by Bruno’s innocent death, but I think the final impression would be more absolute if it ended with Bruno.
In the end, it didn’t really matter how the very final events of the story made me feel. At the end I simply reflected on the entire storyline itself and took time to appreciate what a simple yet captivating story it really was.
"It felt as if it was expected for the curious and naïve son of the Nazi Commandant to suffer under his father’s cruel wrongdoings." That's an interesting comment Sam. I never thought about it this way. I guess Bruno was a victim of the holocaust as Schmuel was. Caroline states a very interesting question, " I would also like to know whether or not Bruno’s father felt a bit more sympathy for the families of those he was killing everyday because he now knew how they felt. " Exactly! I wish I could write another chapter to this novel explaining how Bruno's father acted after Bruno's horrific accident. Bruno certainly didn't deserve to die that way; and neither did Schmuel. Ryan says, "I learned during the reading of the book and class discussions that not all Germans but a select group were evil and positively hated the Jews." We can't label everyone the same; even if they belong to the same culture. We must avoid the single story and look at the other side of the coin also. Good comments!
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone for sharing you thoughts about this wonderful literary work that attempts to tell the plight of the Jewish people through the eye of a German boy. We are looking at this story through the eyes of an innocent German boy.
My initial reaction to the end of this novel was sadness. Sad that such innocence, such naïveté, ultimately lead to Bruno’s demise. Sad, because his family was dealt such a hard blow, in regards to Bruno’s death.
ReplyDeleteI also expected something like this to happen. This novel had a great deal of innocence in it that it seemed as though something horrible was bound to happen. A horror would disturb the peace. In the end it did.
The two most prominent feelings that I felt after reading this book were sadness, and curiosity. Bruno and Shmuel being sent to the gas chambers gave the most touching, emotional scene in the entire book. This is the case because Bruno was always naïve. The feeling that I got from him was that everyone was good, no matter whom or what they are. The ending scene shows Bruno being secure in the choices that he has made, he is sure that his decision to stay with Shmuel is the right one. When I think of this scene, I think of the two young boys holding hands in the gas chambers, and I feel warmth; warmth to say that no matter what happens, these two boys will always be connected; that they have found true friendship. I noticed that as the book progressed, and as Bruno and Shmuel grew closer, he forgot about Karl, Daniel and Martin. It felt as though they were mere playmates, while Shmuel seemed to truly understand Bruno. A connection was established between the two boys, who were different, and yet the same.
The gas chamber scene also makes me think of the fact that in the end, we are all the same. Throughout this book, Bruno and Shmuel have had different views on the world. Shmuel had grown accustomed to the harsher side, while Bruno lived in innocence. When they both died in the gas chambers, it seems as though all lives, as different as they are, end. When lives end, and bodies remain, they are all the same skin. Humans have all the same bones, the same brains, the same organs. We merely label ourselves in order to belong, and that creates more trouble that it is worth.
I also felt curiosity at the end of this book because the last line made me think. What would have happened if the Holocaust had occurred with today’s technology and global connections. Would the people have discovered the truth sooner, or would the advances in killing have become so great that the dictator would have indeed exterminated every Jew, or every gypsy or anyone who did not fit his criteria. This event was one of the most tragic in human history, but it is not the only time where a culture has been singled out and slaughtered.
George Santayana once quoted “those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it.” It seems as though humanity keeps forgetting the past. Cultures to this day are still persecuted and condemned. Who is to say that genocide is not going to happen? If the humans are persistent in keeping the past in the past, are we not bound to repeat the mistakes that have already happened?
His friendship with Shmuel was based on the fact that despite all their differences they had so much in common. They could sit and talk, without the fear of being judged or ignored. They saw each other as equals and by doing so dismantled the barriers that were built to keep them apart. That is why “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” is such a beautiful story. Despite all the hatred, misery and evil that surrounds them, Bruno and Shmuel are able to find friendship and in doing so show the best of mankind, while the world around them demonstrates the worst of it.
ReplyDeleteI had to add Thomas' statement. This is exactly what I intended to teach you. Great comment. Thanks Thomas.
After I finished reading the book, I had a lot to think about. This book brought out many emotions for me, but mostly sadness. But it wasn’t Bruno’s death that made me sad; it was because Bruno didn’t know why he died. He died because one man thought he was better than everyone else. He died because this man thought that all other races and cultures were beneath him. Bruno died because he did what he thought was right. He ignored the fact that Shmuel was different than him, and became his friend. Even though the people all around him told him no to associate with the people on the other side of the fence, he still did, because he didn’t see anything wrong with them. Bruno did what a lot of people were afraid to do. He ignored all the labels on Shmuel, and got to know him before he judged him. I may be giving Bruno too much credit, seeing as he was naïve to the world around him, but I still believe that he was the part of the minority who saw the Jews as equals. In class we talk about there being only one race, which is the human race. I think that is how Bruno saw the world. He didn’t create any borders because people seemed different. This story has given me a lot to think about. Mostly, I think about what would happen if this were to happen to me, and I encountered a “fence”. Would I be like Bruno, and ignore any differences that the people on the other side had, or would I turn away from them. Overall this book is truly great, and in my opinion, it is probably one of the best books about the Holocaust. I liked how we saw the world through the eyes of a boy who was too young to know what was happening.
ReplyDeleteBy the end of the book I did not really understand how I felt about “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.” It has given me mixed feelings through-out the entire novel. Two things I was certain I was feeling though, was frustration and sadness and pity.
ReplyDeleteFrustrated mostly because of Bruno’s incredible naivety. I cannot believe how he could possibly be so dense. He did not even know he got killed! I was frustrated that the Germans mercilessly murder groups of people without even distinguishing them. It was like to them all those who wore the striped pyjamas were to all die. They did not even take the time to realize they were killing their “commandant’s” own son!
I felt pity for Bruno for having died so oblivious and innocent. The truly sad thing was that Bruno died, only worrying about getting home on time, no idea that those would be his last breaths. It was nice though, that his last words and thoughts were about his close friendship with Shmuel. I have said this before that seeing the world of the Holocaust is an odd way of looking at it, and Bruno meeting his death as a child is frightening and I think even more horrific then having a descriptive death in the eyes of a mature man or woman. One thing that was saddening to me was that the Germans were so good at discarding of the dead prisoners’ body that Bruno’s family will never be able to find his body and never give him a proper burial. That they will never know how life changing his time at Out-with (Auschwitz) was. That they will never hear his tales of his new “best friend for life,” Shmuel. That Bruno’s father will have to live with the guilt of knowing that he, even if it was unintentional or indirectly, killed his own son. That if only any change in events this would have never happened: if Bruno was more cautious and naïve, if Shmuel’s father had not disappeared, if they given up the search little bit earlier, if the two boys did not look so alike. If Bruno had never gone and see the fence, never meeting Shmuel at all.
Ultimately, after finishing the novel, “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas,” I felt that the ending was one of the most heartfelt, yet bittersweet conclusions that could have possibly occurred. I strongly think that it was much better that Bruno was unaware of the situation he was in. Despite the fact that he was oblivious to his surroundings and had absolutely no clue where he was or why he was there, his innocence was kept throughout the whole novel. In the beginning, I was questioning why his parents were so resistant in speaking the truth, but now, I realize that it was for his own benefit. Bruno would have been too young to absorb the information given to him, and probably too stubborn to comprehend. If Bruno was already upset that Shmuel lived on the other side of the fence and he could never play with him, imagine if he had known the circumstances Shmuel needed to live with. It would of scarred Bruno's young and naive mind. The actual realization of friendship Shmuel and Bruno experienced in the last few seconds of consciousness was eyeopening. Earlier, it seemed that Bruno had never fully expressed how much Shmuel meant to him, even though Shmuel was the one and only friend he had at Out-With. It's unbelievable how, at the brink of death, Bruno finally expressed his true feelings to Shmuel. It was something that had been postponed from the moment that Shmuel and Bruno shook hands for the first time. Although the building and final product of their friendship was sincere, the death of these two young boys really was sudden and unsettling. When you look at the big picture, the reason Shmuel was exterminated was because of his religious faiths, and it just so happens that Bruno was in the wrong place at the wrong time. It is appalling that phenomenons like this do exist, with the labeling and all. Innocent lives were taken in this story, and all because of a religion difference between people, which makes the ending that much more tragic. Aside from this, I enjoyed reading the novel and learning about the true meaning of friendship and freedom.
ReplyDeleteAfter concluding "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas", I was assaulted by different emotions, thoughts, opinions and what ifs; it was like my brain had walked into a spice market. Though the book had proven the fact that differences can forge a wonderful friendship, one tends to realize the fact that the story was ultimately more complex than this. I felt that the story should not be read by just anyone, I believe that background knowledge to the subject of the book is necessary to fully comprehending the sobriety of the ‘simple’ story.
ReplyDeleteIn one way, I thought the ending was expected, because it would not have been possible for Bruno to escape from the concentration camp. I say this because it seemed too good to be true that a simple boy could fool an entire army of guards and escape death that many had faced and failed. Additionally, the fact that Bruno’s father was participating in such horrifying extermination to the Jewish people, it seemed ironic and fitting in such a way that his own son should be mistaken and killed like one of the Jews. This proves that there was not much difference between these two different cultures at all.
Furthermore, the fact that the family finally disintegrated (it already was dysfunctional), really discouraged the reader about perhaps hoping the characters would have changed. Nothing really amazing or heartwarming happens at the end after Bruno “disappears”, nothing that I could have said that the character had been affected tremendously to change his actions. Perchance it was the little girl inside of me that hoped for a more conclusive or happy ending where if the lives of the two boys could not be saved; maybe the family could have done something to help stop the madness.
Finally, propaganda is a powerful and dangerous thing that many people, past and present have fallen victim to. The Holocaust is one notorious example of this, the German people being captivated of the “spell” that Hitler had cast over them via speeches and posters. Thankfully the whole world did not embrace this madness.
The end of the book, the part of the book that is so deeply aspired and unwelcome to many a reader, especially in a book such as this; a book where the ending is almost certain, while your mind takes the unlikeliest of paths to swerve around a devastating end. Despite all the emotions that collided and writhed within me, taking root in the depths of my mind, at the very end of the novel, when the back cover closed, I felt something momentarily unbelievable. Nothing, I felt nothing. I just sat there staring at the wall and blinking. Perhaps I was shell-shocked out of responding instantly, or maybe I’m slower than I thought (no comments), but I sat there and allowed myself an unexpected moment of clarity, where my thoughts seemed to subconsciously organize themselves…before bombarding me all at once. I went through the expected motions, or rather emotions; anger, frustration, sorrow and horror. I say I expected both because of the nature of the book and the general nature of most books dealing with the subject of the Holocaust. Then it got ugly. I am shamed to admit that I did feel a sick sense of righteousness, a fleeting “I told you so!” echoing and fading in the whirlwind that became my thoughts (though apparently not ashamed enough to not admit it). I am also guilty of not only thinking, however, reflecting on another key, if not admirable, emotional reaction; relief. I find myself extremely selfish in being grateful that my family and my ancestors were not pointedly targeted in the Holocaust, or murdered (at least to my limited knowledge) because it would have, indirectly, killed me. I would not be here today, nor would any of you, if you really thought about it. Conversely, I thought about the unappealing prospect of being of German descent presently, as well as during the 1950s, when many Europeans fled to Canada. The Italian immigrants (such as my grandmother) were already given enough heartache for even being allied with Hitler; imagine the hatred towards German families, even the ones that did not agree with Hitler’s idealism. Understandably, that may be too specific and extreme, nevertheless, I would not want to be part of a culture that has an awful reputation and is put into a negative connotation by the people who are not familiar with the details of the War (which is a majority of people). I, personally, sympathize because I firmly believe that it is always, easier to lay blame. Anyway, after that nasty War, the Germans definitely had those stereotypes coming (and staying). Finally, after a lot of sorting and discarding and organizing and searching I came across something I think I was always searching for; my happy ending. Okay, maybe it wasn’t a happy ending definitively, but the fact that the book drew this emotion from me, did make me happy. Through it all; the agonizing knowledge of the end, the punishment of seeing the Holocaust through the eyes of a mere boy, the expected ending coming true and still managing to hit you like a Mac truck…I was glad. I was pleased, heart-warmed and all that other gushy stuff. In the end, Bruno dies, a reluctantly accepted fact. In the end, though, Bruno dies completely and entirely himself. We all knew he was just a little boy, raised in a household built upon lies, and so he was naïve beyond believability. We all knew he loved to explore and act and read and dress-up. We all knew he was curious, constantly thirsting for knowledge. We all knew he was innocent in his inquiries, in his actions, and therefore innocent in the role he played in, what could have been, his own destiny. We all knew that he was pure, not tainted by influences, in a world in which influence was used to suffocate, confine and control. We all knew that he remained this way into his very last moment in life. A little boy that died against all odds, a little boy that didn’t fit the mold, that broke free and lived a life complete though its incompletion , a boy, who through the greatest irony of all, discovered more than most can even dream of. Yes, he was a boy. The Boy in Striped Pajamas.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the novel, “The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas” by John Boyne I was left with mixed emotions and a lot of thinking and connecting to do. One of the themes that stuck in my mind the most from this novel was ‘costumes’. When Bruno`s deceased grandmother was alive she would tell Bruno and his hopeless case sister, Gretel, ``you wear the right outfit and you feel like the person you`re pretending to be”. I believe this quote is very important throughout the course of the novel because there are many people who are wearing “costumes or outfits”. For example, Bruno’s father wore the ‘costume’ of a Nazi solider and commanded those around them acting as if he is the commander. In my honest opinion, if Bruno’s father was not dressed in his uniform, he would have acted in a more controlled manner. I am NOT saying that he would not be against the Jewish people but I am saying that his behaviour would not have been as aggressive or he would not have felt so powerful if he did not have a uniform to advertise his authority. Through my perspective, Bruno wears two costumes throughout the novel. At home, he wears the costume of an innocent, naive, nine year old German boy who obeys all rules of the family and stands clear of then “fence”. Once again, I am NOT saying that Bruno is not innocent, nor naive, but he does visit the fence and becomes friends with a young Jewish boy. Later on in the novel, Bruno wears the costume of a young boy in a concentration camp. His costume consists of a filthy striped cloth top, pants and cap. Once crossing over the physical barrier that separated Bruno and Shmuel—the fence, Bruno takes on the “part” of a Jew, as Shmuel puts it. With the Jewish people wearing, the “costumes” it made each Jew lose their sense of individuality let alone sense of dignity. One of the Germans main goals was to not only exterminate the Jewish culture but also in the process make all Jews the same; wearing the striped pyjamas, made the Jewish people different from the rest of the world but not different from one another. Attending a catholic school and being raised in a catholic family, made me realize that the German’s plan is the exact opposite of God’s plan. As Mr. Racco says there is only ONE race—the HUMAN RACE. Every person should NOT be judged or stereotyped by the way the look or the race/culture they are a part of. Bruno’s grandmother was a very good example of someone who did NOT stereotype the Jewish people and felt that what was happening to the Jewish culture was completely wrong.
ReplyDeleteMy reaction to the ending of this novel was the obvious reaction of sadness that Bruno and Shmuel had to pass but in a way it was sort of a heart warming ending because the two boys were able to end their lives together, holding hands, as best friends. I do not want any of you reading my post to think that I am some crazy girl with no heart, thinking the ending was “heart warming” but in my opinion, I felt it was because this death demonstrated the true test of friendship even if it was by two nine-year-old naive boys. Their death proved that barriers, both physical and mental can be overcome and no matter what there is always a way to break down the “fence” or cross the border, rather it be into someone else’s culture or into someone else’s shoes. Thank you Shmuel and Bruno for teaching me these lessons; that it doesn't matter where someone is from and what has happened in their past, everyone has some sort of story and it is our job to break down walls and discover their stories.
Like Samantha Clarizio had said, the ending was bittersweet. Because Bruno is only a little boy you have this hope that he will survive and that he will be okay. You hope that Shmuel will somehow escape the concentration camp and all will be well. As the book came to it's end, I gave up on that small hope and accepted that both will surrender to the cruelness of their environments. Yet at the same time, I couldn't help but feel slightly happy that they were both together til the end.
ReplyDeleteOnly Shmuel had known Bruno's true self, he had become the closest to him over the time that Bruno had stayed at "Out-With". Even when Bruno had gone over the physical fence, he had not really expressed all of his emotions until the end. Bruno had resisted his desire to show his friend how much he meant to him. Finally, when they were at the gas chambers, they overcame the final barrier and held hands tightly refusing to let anything come between them.
I feel extremely grateful that even though prejudice is still present, most of us realize that "there is only one race". We are all alike if we bring down the barriers, from different cultures, way of communicating, and even physical appearance. Each one of us are capable of feelings and becoming closer to one another if we are not so judging; there are no "fences" unless we build them ourselves.
Final Novel Posts:
ReplyDeleteThanks Chiara for this sincere reflection: “Bruno was able to not only overcome cultural differences between Jewish and German culture, which grown men weren't able to do, but embrace them, even though he did this without even knowing. He crossed the fence to another borderland.” Isn’t it funny that we are consciously attempting to cross into the Jewish and German culture, and Bruno did this unintentionally.
Thomas is correct. In only nine years Bruno did what other have been struggling with a lifetime: “Bruno was able to do things during his childhood that it takes years for many people to do. Bruno learned not to base how he thought of people on what they looked like or which culture they belonged to. He chose instead to befriend Shmuel, a boy who both his father and sister had deemed unworthy, a boy who had been cast into the devil’s domain by Bruno’s own people. His friendship with Shmuel was based on the fact that despite all their differences they had so much in common. They could sit and talk, without the fear of being judged or ignored. They saw each other as equals and by doing so dismantled the barriers that were built to keep them apart.”
I really like that you all mention emotions: loss, disgust, despair, anger, frustration, and happiness. And, many of you concluded with happiness and joy. This is a paradox; however, your reason were justified: “these two boys weren't just nine year old children looking for someone to play with, they represented their two cultures coming together to be as one. I have mentioned before that I am thankful for Bruno's naivety throughout the story, because I believe without him really knowing what was going on around him; he was able to create the bond between him and Shmuel. The fence that was placed between them presented them with a challenge to work their way around the fence so that they could be friends, and that's exactly what they did.” Thanks Michelle for voicing you honesty.
Terrific comments, great critical thinking skills exhibited. Congratulations.