Comparing Bruno And Shumel's The Boy In The Striped Pajamas
Anyone reading The Boy in the Striped Pajamas has most likely heard of the horrors of the Holocaust. Eleven million people were killed during this terrible time in our history; six million of them were Jewish. This book shows the Holocaust from a perspective of two young boys ignorant of what is happening around them. The friendship between Bruno and Shumel breaks down the walls created by race and religion at a time when that seemed impossible.
Despite the obvious differences of race and religion between Bruno and Shumel, the boys discover through the course of their friendship the things that connect them even if they appear different. They look very different from each other but their curiosity overcomes their fear. “It was quite a strange …show more content…
Bruno decides to spend his last day at, “Out-With” with Shumel looking for his father. “Both boys went home in high spirits that afternoon. Bruno imagined a great adventure ahead and finally an opportunity to see what was really on the other side of the fence before he went back to Berlin.” (199) They are very happy to finally be on the same side of the fence after a year of developing their relationship apart from one another. “Bruno had an urge to give Shumel a hug… Shumel had the urge to give Bruno a hug…Neither of them did hug each other though.”(206) Just before the two boys are killed, Bruno has an epiphany about their friendship: that Karl, Dan and Martin are no longer his best friends for life.
‘They’re not my best friends anymore anyway.’ He looked down and did something quite out of character for him: he took hold of Shumel’s tiny hand in his and squeezed it tightly. ‘You’re my best friend, Shumel.’ he said. ’My best friend for life.’
As the boys discovered that their differences weren’t as great as they had thought, their friendship was strengthened, making them truly best friends for life.
The friendship between Bruno and Shumel shows that religion does not define who you are. Our fear of “the other” makes it impossible to see our common humanity. Stories like Bruno and Shumel’s help people to discover
Despite the obvious differences of race and religion between Bruno and Shumel, the boys discover through the course of their friendship the things that connect them even if they appear different. They look very different from each other but their curiosity overcomes their fear. “It was quite a strange …show more content…
Bruno decides to spend his last day at, “Out-With” with Shumel looking for his father. “Both boys went home in high spirits that afternoon. Bruno imagined a great adventure ahead and finally an opportunity to see what was really on the other side of the fence before he went back to Berlin.” (199) They are very happy to finally be on the same side of the fence after a year of developing their relationship apart from one another. “Bruno had an urge to give Shumel a hug… Shumel had the urge to give Bruno a hug…Neither of them did hug each other though.”(206) Just before the two boys are killed, Bruno has an epiphany about their friendship: that Karl, Dan and Martin are no longer his best friends for life.
‘They’re not my best friends anymore anyway.’ He looked down and did something quite out of character for him: he took hold of Shumel’s tiny hand in his and squeezed it tightly. ‘You’re my best friend, Shumel.’ he said. ’My best friend for life.’
As the boys discovered that their differences weren’t as great as they had thought, their friendship was strengthened, making them truly best friends for life.
The friendship between Bruno and Shumel shows that religion does not define who you are. Our fear of “the other” makes it impossible to see our common humanity. Stories like Bruno and Shumel’s help people to discover