Humanity Dims but Still Shines Each person is a candle, a candle of understanding, compassion and morality, of humanity. There, however, was a time when cold, dark winds, called the Nazi, blew out many of these candles, because they were different, not like them. This time, was The Holocaust. Although, dark winds swept through, extinguishing lights of humanity, some burnt on, shining through the story, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, by John Boyne, takes place in Germany, during the dark Holocaust, where thousands upon thousands of innocents were snatched from their bright lives and brought to the camps of winds, where the darkness engulfed them and their light. However, this story, is told through hopeful eyes, as it introduces three of the few …show more content…
lights, left in humanity, who refuse and fight against the darkness of the world. Despite the depressing circumstances, In The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, these few shine on, through Pavels understanding, Mothers compassion and Brunos morality, they prove the very best of humanity is possible, even in the most trying of circumstances. For one the circumstances are trying indeed, Pavel is tormented by the wind, being stripped of his identity, his life, but not his light, not his humanity. Even when he should turn in and become angry at the unforgiving wind, they do not. Pavel is understanding, and does not punish others for this suffering, he does not give in, to darkness. Although Pavel is in Out-With, Venuti 2 where thousands of his people are imprisoned, suffering alongside him, he does not become dark. Unlike the Nazi he does not discriminate, he does not see German or Jew, he sees humanity, he sees those in trouble, in need, he does not care what they are, what they do, simply understanding them, for who they are. An incident where this is shown, is when Bruno, an owner, of the camp, a Nazi, falls and becomes injured, Pavel comes to his aid, despite what he is, this is evident, in the following quote, “ When Bruno looked up again he saw Pavel coming… as Pavel scooped him up.” (Boyne, 79) Rather than leaving Bruno, Pavel put aside his anger and helped him instead. This shows Pavels understanding character. Although Bruno's family causes him much pain and suffering, Pavel does not take this out on Bruno. He understands that Bruno is merely a child, who has no part in his torture. This quote also advances the plot, due to Pavels humane and understanding nature, Bruno begins to open up to him, resulting in many questions, some that gives both Bruno, and the reader ideas about the Nazi. This is seen when Bruno begins to question Pavel, about his job, his life, before the camp, leading to the discovery of Pavels many secrets, as he tells Bruno, “Before I came here… I practised as a doctor,’... Pavel smiled… ‘I always wanted to be a doctor.” (Boyne, 83) This, evidently, reveals more about Pavels understanding character. Despite the fact that Pavel has been taken away from his life, full of happiness, and brought to this dark, desolate prison, he does not take it out on Bruno, once more. He could inform him of all the nasty, horrendous things his family does, abductions, the humiliation, the murder, all of it. He could bring Bruno to tears, for asking about his life,for his family dragging him here, for endangered him by even speaking to him. Fortunately, he does not, because unlike the Nazi, his humanity remains, he understands, that Bruno is merely a child, so Venuti 3 he speaks fondly, not shaming Bruno, blowing out his light, instead fanning it, letting it grow stronger. This exchange in result, contributes to the plot, also. While simply cleaning up Bruno, Pavel has put himself at risk. He, and the other servants, are not to speak to the Nazi, let alone clean their children. He has broken a rule, to help a child, truly an act of humanity, but also defiance, an act that will not go unpunished if caught. However, as one light recognizes another, compassion shines through, as it shields Pavel. Ironically enough, this shield of compassion is from a Nazi herself, Mother. Although her light is constantly lashed at, by the winds, Mothers light burns brightly, embodying compassion, especially towards those who have been wronged.
Even though, Mother is a Nazi, on top of the pyramid of hierarchy, she does not act superior to others, she acts with compassion. Although Mother has many servants, of whom she has no obligation to respect, she does anyway, despite the orders of others, including Father. This is clear when mother continuously stands up for Maria, informing her children, that she be treated with respect as shown in the following quote, as told by Bruno, “ His mother has always told him that he was to treat Maria respectfully and not just imitate the way Father spoke to her.” (Boyne, 1) This quote allows Mothers strong, compassionate character to be declared. Although Maria is merely a servant, and Father, the rule maker, undermines her, Mother does not, much like Pavel, she disobeys the rules of the Nazi, freely confessing her humanity. This act of compassion also brings out many ideas within the plot, such as rebellion, against hierarchy, superiority and the Nazi. As she proves even those who have been corrupt can still be humane, with this sense
of Venuti 4 compassion, which she carries with her, throughout the book. No matter the circumstances, Mother burns on, even when the stakes are dangerously high, such as the camps of Out-With. When Pavel shone his light of understanding upon Bruno, he broke a rule, one that could be punishable, perhaps by death, with Pavel in danger, the best in humanity shines through Mother as she uses her compassion, this is shown when Mother states to Pavel, “If the Commandant asks, we’ll say that I cleaned Bruno up.” (Boyne, 85) Here, Mother demonstrates compassion, towards Pavel, a serevent, when he is in peril. She puts aside their differences and spreads her compassion, for she knows that for what Pavel did he would be punished, he disobeyed, any other would let Pavel suffer, for he is a no more than a Jew, but not Mother she has compassion and spares Pavel. Like all the other lights, she sees the humanity, in all. Not only does Mothers compassion define her character, it defines the plot. Mothers protection of Pavel gives information to the plot while also advancing it. This incident sets a tone of severity to the the book. By Mother protecting Pavel, the reader begins to realize the consequences and risks the humane face. However, it also makes it increasingly clear in the plot, that no matter the darkness that challenges them, the very best in humanity is possible. Yet, while forgiveness and compassion are both fuels in the fire of humanity, they are not the spark. The spark of humanity, morality, is thoroughly represented through an unsuspecting character, through the eyes of a young wind, Bruno. Raised to be cold, unforgiving inhumane dark, instead is the warmest, brightest and most humane light of morality. Throughout the story, despite his age and background, Bruno's conscious guides him, shining through, always. However, this sort of acceptance does not come Venuti 5 easily to Bruno, as it is a constant battle, for, he is surrounded, raised by those who crush humanity, who constantly teach him to do the same. An incident of this in the book, that has much meaning, is when Bruno asks his father about the view from his window. After seeing the people in the striped pajamas, curious Bruno, asks his father, the harsh Commandant, about the people. As a result Father tells Bruno, “They’re nothing to do with you. You have nothing whatsoever in common with them’... ‘Yes Father’ said Bruno, unsatisfied by this response. (Boyne, 53) Bruno demonstrates many important traits, such as morality, defiance and humanity. Although Father gives him orders, that some are simply not human, not anything at all, Bruno rejects this idea, as shown when it is said, “Bruno, unsatisfied with this response.” This clearly shows the morality, within his character, as despite what his own powerful Father tells him, he knows what is right, this ultimately adds to the plot, while also advancing it. Many times throughout this quote, Father makes clear the point of racism, while emphasizing hierarchy. As shown when Father tells Bruno the people outside his window, are not really people at all, and Bruno has nothing in common with them whatsoever, implying that if he did, he would be going against him, the Fury and all they stand for. Fortunately, this is not what Bruno stands for, he disobeys his father and his entire race, because he believes in humanity, even in the most trying of times. Despite what others say Bruno does more than merely speak to a non person, he befriends one, Shmuel. This example of defiance and morality is best seen in the following quote, when Bruno first encounters Shmuel, “My birthday is April the fifteenth too. And I was born in nineteen thirty-four. We are born on the same day.” (Boyne, 104) Although the two know Venuti 6 they are different, Bruno still admits to the things they have in common, revealing much about his character. Not only does he disagree with the inhumane way others are treated, he also defies it, truly showcasing his morality. The past quote talks of Father informing Bruno, that he is to have nothing in common with them, to not give so much as a smile to them, but he does. He recognizes their similarities, such as their birthdays, not their differences, this in result, not only reveals Bruno's character but also advances the plot. This quote is the main turning point, as it is the beginning of a forbidden friendship, which results in the climax of the story, where Bruno and Shmuel, cross the fence together. They, two children meant to be enemies, become best friends, all because of morality, because of humanity. Humanity, cannot be destroyed, no matter the darkness which tries to snuff out it’s light, as long as there is forgiveness, compassion and morality, humanity will live on, through its candles of light. Pavel burning with understanding, Mother shining with compassion and Bruno glowing with morality, all put aside the differences of others and accept each other, to fight, resist, rebel against the winds, for even the most corrupted of souls can be the most humane. They truly prove that no matter the suffering, the consequences, the demands, the very best of humanity is possible. Although it’s light may dim it still shines.
A story of a young boy and his father as they are stolen from their home in Transylvania and taken through the most brutal event in human history describes the setting. This boy not only survived the tragedy, but went on to produce literature, in order to better educate society on the truth of the Holocaust. In Night, the author, Elie Wiesel, uses imagery, diction, and foreshadowing to describe and define the inhumanity he experienced during the Holocaust.
The Great Depression of the 1930’s caused widespread poverty, but the popular culture of the time did not reflect this. People wanted to escape from this harsh time so movies, dancing and sports became very popular. Radios broadcasted boxing matches and boxers became stars. The heavyweight champion James J. Braddock aka “Cinderella Man,” gained popularity. James Braddock gained fame by winning many fights and proving everyone wrong when they said he was too old and couldn’t win.
Many different responses have occurred to readers after their perusal of this novel. Those that doubt the stories of the holocaust’s reality see Night as lies and propaganda designed to further the myth of the holocaust. Yet, for those people believing in the reality, the feelings proffered by the book are quite different. Many feel outrage at the extent of human maliciousness towards other humans. Others experience pity for the loss of family, friends, and self that is felt by the Holocaust victims.
The book The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, by John Boyne is about a young boy, Bruno, whose father is a soldier in the German army during WWII. Bruno lives with his parents and his older sister, Gretel. They live in a five story house in Berlin. He goes to school and has three best friends that he goes on adventures with. One day he comes home to find their maid packing his things. They move to a three story house in Germany because his dad was promoted and needs to be closer to his work.
Pavel’s recurring kindness and openness to the mother allowed the mother to move forward but with the removal of Pavel her crutch is snatched from her and she falls. When the gendarmes arrived it is made clear that “this time the affair was not [as] terrorizing to her” (pg. 74). With Pavel’s arrest the mother was stronger in her understanding of the truth. She knew that it was necessary, but her strength did not last. “When the police had led Pavel away, the mother sat down on the bench, closing her eyes began to weep quietly” (pg. 75). The mot...
We all have a childhood, whether it is happy or unfortunate. The Boy In The Striped Pajamas by Irish novelist John Boyne tell us about during World War II, 8-year-old Bruno and his family leave Berlin to take up residence near the concentration camp where his father has just become commandant. He beginning a forbidden friendship with a Jewish boy in the camps about his age. The Kite Runner by Afghan-American author Khaled Hosseini tells us about in 1970’s Afghan, Amir and Hassan who are friends. As Amir’s servant, Hassan protects him when Assef a local bully threatens them, but Amir doubts the relationship between he and Hassan. Even though, these children are different ages, live in different countries, and have different experiences, they still have some similarities in power, friendship, and bravery.
Narrative is a rhetorical structure that distorts reality in order to reveal it. This is an eminently evident actuality in John Boyne’s The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. Through this distortion, Boyne is able to evoke the reader’s empathy, portray the horror of the Holocaust to a younger audience and convey human’s capacity for inhumanity and indifference. This is achieved by Boyne, primarily through the exaggeration of innocence throughout the novel, the content presented to the audience, and the use of a child narrator. Thus, in The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne, narrative is presented as a composition that distorts in order to reveal.
In the film, The Breakfast Club (1985), John Bender, the slovenly rebel at Shermer High School in Chicago, is serving a Saturday detention with four very different students. Right from the beginning, Bender exhibits the qualities of a destructive and thoughtless criminal, i.e., he taunts everyone else in order to hide his personal inadequacies. Whenever Bender is questioned by his peers about a personal issue, or whenever he cannot provide a clear answer to a question, he—albeit defensively— responds in a facetious and irritated manner. Bender demonstrated this when Andrew Clark, the “sporto”, told him that he did not count, and that “if [he] disappeared forever it wouldn’t make any difference.” Distraught from Andrew’s blunt comment, Bender sarcastically retorted, “Well, I’ll just run right out and join the wrestling team...” As time goes on, Bender slowly sheds his rough attitude and starts opening up his true self to the other students.
Boyne, John. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. New York: Random House Inc., 2006. Print.
This film portrays one of humanity’s greatest modern tragedies, through heartache and transgression, reflecting various themes throughout the movie. Beyond the minor themes some seem to argue as more important in the film, the theme of friendship and love is widely signified and found to be fundamental in understanding the true meaning behind The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. Director Mark Herman presents a narrative film that attests to the brutal, thought-provoking Nazi regime, in war-torn Europe. It is obvious that with Herman’s relatively clean representation of this era, he felt it was most important to resonate with the audience in a profound and philosophical manner rather than in a ruthlessly infuriating way. Despite scenes that are more graphic than others, the film's objective was not to recap on the awful brutality that took place in camps such as the one in the movie.
Imagine waking up on a normal day, in your normal house, in your normal room. Imagine if you knew that that day, you would be taken away from your normal life, and forced to a life of death, sickness, and violence. Imagine seeing your parents taken away from you. Imagine watching your family walk into their certain death. Imagine being a survivor. Just think of the nightmares that linger in your mind. You are stuck with emotional pain gnawing at your sanity. These scenerios are just some of the horrific things that went on between 1933-1945, the time of the Holocaust. This tragic and terrifying event has been written about many times. However, this is about one particularly fascinating story called The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne.
"The Boy in the Striped Pajamas" explores the beauty of a child's innocence in a time of war:
Occam’s razor states, “No more things should be presumed to exist than are absolutely necessary (Haddon 90).” In “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time” Mark Haddon emphasizes Christopher’s dislike of fiction, lies and illogical situations. The novel is about Christopher John Francis Boone, a teenage boy with autism. After Chris found his neighbor's dog to be dead, he decided to further investigate the mysterious murder to make sense of the situation. Although Chris is determined to find out what happened, he faces many obstacles including his autism, reality and other individuals. Having autism is certainly a struggle for Chris at times, but because it makes him a very logical, honest person, Christopher is protected from highly emotional realities that occur throughout the book.
The plays “Master Harold”... and the boys by Athol Fugard and Othello by William Shakespeare were written centuries apart, but both explore society’s complex perspective on race. In the 1600’s and the 1950’s—the respective time time periods of Othello and “Master Harold”... and the boys—having dark skin meant that one was considered an outsider, and someone typically below people with lighter skin; the protagonists of Shakespeare and Fugard’s works contrast this stereotype. Othello is a highly regarded general in the Venetian army, but his appearance quickly leads to his mutation and downfall as a murderer. On a less drastic scale, Sam Semala is a wise and caring servant in young Hally’s parents’ tea shop; his nature is twisted when Hally chooses
It’s always important to be touched. Writers know and understand this idea. Whether the audience feels good or bad about whom or what you present is not as important as the fact that they feel something. Bertolt Brecht’s Mother Courage and Her Children is a perfect example of a work that doesn’t leave us in very high spirits but touches us in such a way that it becomes even more powerful than if it had.