Prejudice in The Boy Inj The Striped Pyjamas

Boy in the Striped Pyjamas essay
How does the author, John Boyne, demonstrate the nature of prejudice in The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas?
Throughout the novel The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, John Boyne demonstrates that prejudice was a large factor in the holocaust. He demonstrates this opinion through the novel, it is shown through the characters including Father, Pavel, Bruno, Shmuel, Gretel, Mother and Lieutenant Kotler. In the eyes of these characters there are many different opinions on the Jews and the situation they are suited in. He demonstrates the different opinions of being prejudice throughout the book.
Boyne firstly demonstrates that prejudice is irrational through the character, Bruno who is naïve to the situation occurring.
Secondly, he shows how prejudice is necessary through the character of Father. Father is a commandment at the concentration camp and is very Anti-Semitic.
Lastly, he highlights that prejudice is cruel through the character of Pavel. Pavel is a Jewish servant working in Bruno’s house.
Boyne firstly demonstrates that prejudice is irrational through the character of Bruno. Bruno is a young boy living with his Mother, Father and Gretel. Bruno is a young boy that does not fully understand the situation he is in. Bruno is very naïve, as demonstrated throughout the book. Bruno talks to Gretel, asking ‘Are we Jews?’ this showing Bruno’s naivety and innocence to the situation with Gretel adding ‘No, we most certainly are not. And you shouldn’t even say something like that.’ Gretel giving ignorance to Bruno who does not understand the situation. Bruno meets a friend called Shmuel. Shmuel is a young, Jewish boy who is living in the concentration camp at the time of Bruno living in Auschwitz. He states that ‘we’re like twins’ referring to the state that he has the same age and birth date. Bruno does not care that Shmuel is a Jew even when his Father refers to them as being ‘Not really people at all’ and when Lieutenant Kotler calls Pavel a ‘Filthy Jew’. This proves that Bruno does not care about Shmuel being a Jew but demonstrates that prejudice is irrational.
Secondly, he shows how prejudice is necessary through the character of Father. Father throughout the novel, shows his prejudice against the Jews. Father needs to be prejudice because it is the belief of the Nazi party. Father shows that prejudice is necessary by when Bruno asks who the people in the huts and same clothes are, Father reply’s ‘Ah those people’ referring that Jews are not really people and they shouldn’t be treated by one, ‘those people, well they’re not people at all’. This is referring that the Jews should not be treated like a normal person and that they are different from the rest of the world and are a disgrace to the world. This is an example of how the Nazi party felt about the Jews and how it was such a disgusting time in history.
Lastly, he highlights that prejudice is cruel and unnecessary through the character or Pavel. Pavel is a Jew living in the concentration camp but is chosen to come to Bruno’s house and cook and serve dinner. In the book it shows hoe he is exploited to prejudice and how he is an innocent person. An example is when Bruno falls off his tyre swing and Pavel quickly reacts helping Bruno back to the house and helping him by cleaning up his knee. Pavel in the book is also subjected to prejudice from Lieutenant Kotler. When Kotler wants Pavel to get a tyre for Bruno. He yells ‘hey you! Come over here you jew’. Bruno was ashamed to be part of it all. Another example is when Kotler was at the dinner table. Pavel was not feeling very well that night as a result he was shaking and being clumsy. He accidentally split wine of Lieutenant Kotler and Lieutenant kotler violently injured Pavel. These examples show how innocent people can be found under prejudice and can have a horrible outcome for unnecessary reasons.
During the Novel The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas we are shown many different opinions of prejudice. We are shown anti-Semitism and all forms of prejudice. This novel gave us an understanding of what it might have been like to been a Jew, or person during the holocaust. Throughout the novel we were shown that prejudice is unnecessary, showing that it is disgusting and not needed.