The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne.
Innocence. Friendship. Human nature.
John Boyne’s book, The Boy in the Stripped Pyjamas, follows a nine year old named Bruno who had recently moved to Out-With due to his father’s job. Bruno loved exploring and had a hard time adapting to his new surroundings because he thought Out-With wasn’t worth exploring without his friends, Daniel, Karl and Martin, until he discovered a farm from the window of his new room. In Bruno’s eyes they were farmers dressed in Pyjamas, unaware that the farmers were Jewish prisoners. He set out to explore the farm, and that’s where Bruno met Shmuel; a young Jewish boy around his age. The innocence of both children on the different sides of the fence during the Holocaust.…show more content… Shmuel explained to Bruno that Lieutenant Kotler need someone with small hands to clean the glasses. Bruno’s hands compared to Shmuel’s were much healthier. “”. Bruno offered some chicken with stuffing to Shmuel. Shmuel was scared to take it, because he did not want Lieutenant Kotler to see him eat. Even so, Shmuel’s hunger got the better of him, so he helped himself to the chicken Bruno had offered him. Then Lieutenant Kotler entered the kitchen. He stared at Shmuel for a few minutes and accused Shmuel for stealing from the kitchen fridge. Shmuel then explained that he was offered the food and Bruno was his friend. “You have been eating, did you steal something from that fridge?” asked Lieutenant Kotler in chapter 15, page 171. And Shmuel replied “No sir… he gave it to me… he’s my friend”. Bruno wanted to say the right thing to make things better but he was just as terrified himself. Bruno lied and told Lieutenant Kotler “He was here when I came in, he was cleaning glasses, I’ve never spoken to him, and I’ve never seen him before in my life- I don’t know him”. “Where we will have a discussion about what happens to boys who steal” Lieutenant Kotler ended the conversation in chapter 15, page…show more content… Shmuel stopped waiting for Bruno by the end of the fence, Bruno still went there every day hoping to see Shmuel, but he never showed. On the seventh day, Bruno was surprised to see Shmuel sitting in his usual spot as if he were waiting for Bruno. Bruno began to apologize to Shmuel. “Shmuel, I’m so sorry Shmuel, I don’t know why I did it, and say you’ll forgive me.” Shmuel forgave Bruno. Bruno continued to apologize. The boys shook hands and smiled at each other, and it was the first time they had ever