The theme of The Boy In The Striped Pajamas is that fear can prevent people from protecting each other and doing the right thing.This theme was inferred when the book excerpt says, “He’d never seen anyone look so terrified as Shmuel did at that moment and he wanted to say the right thing”(47). In the story the son of an SS officer and a young boy who was a Jewish prisoner became friends, so when the time to protect each other came they failed and protected themselves out of the fear that had overcome them. The character’s who are Bruno, Shmuel, and Lieutenant Kotler played a part in the theme as well. In paragraph 45 Shmuel is terrified because he was caught eating by Lt.Kotler. Shmuel replies to Kotler “‘ No, sir. He gave it to me,’ said Shmuel, tears welling up in his eyes as he threw a sideways glance at Bruno. ‘ he’s my friend,’ …show more content…
In the story the son of an SS officer and a young boy who was a Jewish prisoner became friends, so when the time to protect each other came they failed and protected themselves out of the fear that had overcome them. The character’s who are Bruno, Shmuel, and Lieutenant Kotler played a part in the theme as well. In paragraph 45 Shmuel is terrified because he was caught eating by Lt.Kotler. Shmuel replies to Kotler “‘ No, sir. He gave it to me,’ said Shmuel, tears welling up in his eyes as he threw a sideways glance at Bruno. ‘ he’s my friend,’ he added.”. That quote shows that when Shmuel is in fear he decided to protect himself and said that Bruno was his friend causing him to protect himself and not speak up for his friend which would’ve been the right thing to