Stripped Pajamas Archetypes

Archetypes in The Boy in Striped Pyjamas

In the novel, The Boy In Stripped Pyjamas by John Boyne, it not only involves the

audience but also communicates ideas about issues that confront and challenge the reader.

This is accomplished through themes such as misuse of power, discrimination, and man's

inhumanity towards man, along with practical narrative techniques, character and setting. The

Holocaust is a point in history that everyone at the time had different views. The novel not

only draws the tragic effects of prejudice, but it offers a sarcastic look at the evil that humans

are capable. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is a comprehensive archetype of the Holocaust.

In this paper, I will look into the journey, the child, the

devil, the quest and the task

archetypes in Boyne’s novel.

The Child

A successful novel should position the reader to hear about serious issues about

discrimination and prejudice through setting and characterisation.

Bruno is the main child in

this book; he is the iconographic figure through the story he grows wiser and, therefore, more

mature. When Bruno first discovers the fence, a boy called Shmuel faces him. The use of

symbolism in this setting is accomplished by using the fence as a physical barrier. It also

symbolically highlights the lack of knowledge and innocence of these boys. 'There are dozens

of Shmuels on this side of the fence.' When Shmuel tells this to Bruno, it further emphasizes

their lack of knowledge. The fence Is the barrier that divides the two; this displays the

discrimination and man's inhumanity. The incidents that took place were not known to many

people and were ignored by some. The child-like language that is employed during the whole

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novel is used to show the naiveté of the situation. 'out with' and 'Fury' are used to illustrate

the innocence and lack of knowledge of the people within the circumstances. It is used as a

microcosm having Bruno as the personalities in the world who did not know much about the

developments that were taking place and Bruno's Father as the misuse of power towards the

The

Devil

Bruno’s father is the devil in the novel. 'That's all you soldiers are interested in

anyhow, looking handsome in your nice uniforms. Dressing up and doing the terrible,

terrifying things you do. It makes me ashamed.' The grandmother pronounces to Bruno’s

father; the grandmother is portrayed as a part of the microcosm as the voice of reason she is

the earth, mother. She represents the people who knew the terrible things that were happening

and said something about it. The grandmother knew the events that were taking place, and

The Journey

Bruno’s father does what he believes is right for his nation, and a party is held to

celebrate his elevation. Ralph’s new posting was in Poland as the commandant of a death

campground.When Bruno got home, he saw their things being arranged and packed by the

house helpers. He was puzzled about what was going on, his mother together and his sister,

named Gretel, addressed him and told him about having good news. Bruno did not have any

idea. Later in the day, Bruno discovered that the good news was concerning his father's

promotion to a higher-ranking officer. Because of the development, Bruno and his family had

to leave Berlin and move to the Poland where their new house was located. Bruno was very

hesitant to leave Berlin because he will would his friends. Ultimately, Bruno and his family

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left Berlin and arrived in the countryside. Bruno was very lonely in the beginning. He could

not see other children whom he could play with.