The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
Essay
In this novel, ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’, Boyne uses a variety of techniques to dim the horror. One of technique that Boyne used was to describe the events through the innocent eyes of a young 9 year old boy. Another technique is to create physical distance between Bruno’s ‘world’ and the world of the ‘Jews’. Finally, everyday events in Bruno’s life and touches of humour also help to dim the horror.
For Boyne’s first technique, he used Bruno, the innocent 9 year old boy, to describe the events. Some of the examples were, when Bruno thought the other side of the fence was a normal campsite containing with people in striped pyjamas. He was thought that the Jew’s were different people compared to normal people. Bruno only noticed the ‘outside’ of the camp, but he didn’t really understand what was happening ‘inside’ it.
Physical distance from the campsite helps to create an emotional distance. This also helps to dim the horror of the events happening in the camp. Boys like Bruno were always very impish, curious, messy and daring about the ‘outside’ world (daring enough to ‘explore’).Bruno interprets their actions, by seeing the children falling down and thinks they are just playing games. He doesn’t realize that they were shot or beaten up by the soldiers. Bruno mispronounced words like Out-With instead of Ausctwitz.
In the meanwhile, naive Bruno doesn't fully understand what's happening in his new world, including his 12-year-old sister, Gretel. He also can't comprehend why old Pavel, a "farmer" who works in the kitchen, gave up being a doctor so he could peel potatoes. Nor can he notice why Pavel and all the other "farmers" wear striped pyjamas. Reference to everyday events in Bruno’s life and touches of humour also help shield us from Auschwitz brutality. For example, his tedious tutor (Herr Liszt), the tyre he made, arguing with his sister (Gretel) and also happy moments with grandparents. However, the boy's inability to cope with
In this novel, ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’, Boyne uses a variety of techniques to dim the horror. One of technique that Boyne used was to describe the events through the innocent eyes of a young 9 year old boy. Another technique is to create physical distance between Bruno’s ‘world’ and the world of the ‘Jews’. Finally, everyday events in Bruno’s life and touches of humour also help to dim the horror.
For Boyne’s first technique, he used Bruno, the innocent 9 year old boy, to describe the events. Some of the examples were, when Bruno thought the other side of the fence was a normal campsite containing with people in striped pyjamas. He was thought that the Jew’s were different people compared to normal people. Bruno only noticed the ‘outside’ of the camp, but he didn’t really understand what was happening ‘inside’ it.
Physical distance from the campsite helps to create an emotional distance. This also helps to dim the horror of the events happening in the camp. Boys like Bruno were always very impish, curious, messy and daring about the ‘outside’ world (daring enough to ‘explore’).Bruno interprets their actions, by seeing the children falling down and thinks they are just playing games. He doesn’t realize that they were shot or beaten up by the soldiers. Bruno mispronounced words like Out-With instead of Ausctwitz.
In the meanwhile, naive Bruno doesn't fully understand what's happening in his new world, including his 12-year-old sister, Gretel. He also can't comprehend why old Pavel, a "farmer" who works in the kitchen, gave up being a doctor so he could peel potatoes. Nor can he notice why Pavel and all the other "farmers" wear striped pyjamas. Reference to everyday events in Bruno’s life and touches of humour also help shield us from Auschwitz brutality. For example, his tedious tutor (Herr Liszt), the tyre he made, arguing with his sister (Gretel) and also happy moments with grandparents. However, the boy's inability to cope with