True Friendship In 'The Boy In The Striped Pajamas'

Ruley 1

Carson Ruley

Mrs. Mittel

English 8, Period 2

7 December 2015

The True Friendship

During the Holocaust, life was given a new view, which opened up a world of sympathy to those being persecuted. 1 Two boys growing up in different lifestyles, being treated differently, and having more than one another, does not mean that a friendship can unite them in similarity, despite their differences. 2

In The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne, Bruno and Shmuel find true friendship in the midst of shared conflict that draws out similarities between them. 1 As the boys first meet, they find out that surprisingly enough, they share the same age and even the same birthday. 2 This allows them to understand each other on a much more personal

1 First, Bruno is raised in a German household as we see that his father has a big part in a Nazi regiment. 2 Shmuel on the other hand, is raised in a Jewish household, shown by his understanding of the Jewish symbol, the Star of David. 3 The difference in ethnicity of these two boys is water and oil; they do not mix under any circumstances. (metaphor) 4 Bruno’s family is affluent, well fed, together, sheltered, and educated, whereas Shmuel’s family is poor, underfed, separated, poorly sheltered, and partially educated. 5 While their differences in background separate them, the boys are also unlike in the way they act. CX 6 Living in a world of comfort, Bruno is an adventurous boy who has access to food, clothes, water, and shelter whenever he needs it. 7 Shmuel, living in a world of discomfort, has access to minimal water and food when given to him, only owns a never-washed pair of pajamas, and sleeps in a over crowed bunk house, all showing his inability to have any happiness in the concentration camp. 8 Bruno sees this in Shmuel’s appearance, which he describes as grey, skinny, dirty, and sad. 9 Next, Bruno does not have people tell him he is doing anything wrong, but Shmuel is reprimanded daily by Nazi soldiers. CD 10 Through distinctions like these, Bruno’s friendship with Shmuel grows to be hard as a rock. (simile) 11 Overall, Bruno and Shmuel have incomprehensible differences that define each other, yet their friendship bonds them together. 12

Ruley 3

It is true that Bruno and Shmuel were raised to be different people; however, their friendship broke any barriers they had since they saw past their ethnicity. 1 Perhaps Bruno and Shmuel will be examples in history that differences don’t define people.