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  • Essay / The Holocaust through the eyes of a child in The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

    The Boy in the Striped Pajamas continues a literary tradition of the evil of the Holocaust through the eyes of a child. In this book he contrasts the differences between man's inhumanity and his capacity to care and love. The main theme, however, remains the representation of the innocence of children. This shows that no matter the circumstances, a child will always see another child as the same. They don't see race, color, or any other biases that adults tend to have. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Author John Boyne said he believed the only way to respectfully write about the Holocaust was through the eyes of a child. Demonstrate how Bruno and Shmuel maintain the innocence of their childhood despite what is happening around them. Boyne recognizes that the only people who can truly understand the horrors of the Holocaust are those who lived through it. It gives voice to the victims, especially the millions of innocent children who perished at the hands of the Nazis. What makes "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas" so effective is that instead of looking at the big picture and its cruelty, it instead focuses on individual relationships and gives viewers the perspective of two innocent boys looking for the same ideal friendship. On the one hand, there is Bruno's incomprehension why people in striped pajamas are considered "non-humans" and how they differ from others. On the other side, there is the awareness of reality and the unnatural acceptance of the world as it is. However, Boyne classifies “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” as a fable, a story with a moral lesson. This film falls into this category because it teaches many lessons. Among these valuable lessons, perhaps the most significant is the last sentence which suggests that “nothing like this could happen again, not in this day and age.” This forces observers to confront the sad reality that hatred, discrimination and intolerance remain powerful forces in the world. Viewers reflect on their own biases and actions, perhaps wondering if they are guilty of mistreating others. Additionally, some may even wonder what their role in the Holocaust would have been, whether bystander, perpetrator, or victim. For such a young boy, Bruno has an incredibly strong sense of morality and ethics in "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas." I don't think it comes from his father, who is a Nazi, although we can only assume he gets it from the female figures in his life, his mother and grandmother. Bruno, unlike many Nazis, does not view anyone in his life as inferior or subhuman. Bruno is more interested in connections than differences and looks for loyalty, trust and kindness in people, qualities found in all good human beings, regardless of race or class. When Bruno is forced to leave Berlin, one of his main complaints is that he also has to leave his three best friends. Worse still, when he arrived at the new Auschwitz house, there were no other families or children around. Despite their many differences, these two form a bond that transcends race, and even barriers, and when asked if he still wants to return to Berlin, Bruno confidently answers no. In a world ruled by hatred, Bruno and Shmuel show that friendship can thrive even in the dark. Bruno and Shmuel did not have this hatred. They were just two little boys who didn't even have a clue what was going on around them..