Characterisation in Bitsp by John Boyne

John Boyne wrote a book called "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas" about a boy named Bruno who becomes friends with a Jewish boy named Shmuel in a concentration camp during World War II. The book looks at themes like friendship, innocence, and how war affects people. Boyne uses characterisation, which means how he creates and describes the characters, to show these themes. By making the characters deep and interesting, Boyne makes the story more real and relatable for readers. This essay will talk about how characterisation is important in "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas" and how it makes the book powerful.

Bruno

Let's talk about Bruno first. He's a young boy whose dad is a Nazi officer. Boyne shows Bruno as an innocent kid who doesn't understand the world around him. Through Bruno's eyes, we see how kids can be innocent and not know about the bad things happening in the world. For example, Bruno is excited to move to a place called "Out-With" (like Auschwitz), but he doesn't know what really goes on there. This shows how war can affect people who don't really understand what's happening.

Shmuel

Now, let's look at Shmuel, the Jewish boy in the camp. Boyne makes Shmuel smart and thoughtful, but also someone who's been through a lot of bad stuff. When Shmuel talks to Bruno, we see how war affects people who are right in the middle of it. Shmuel's character reminds us that the Holocaust was a terrible time for Jewish people, and it shows their strength and suffering during that dark part of history.

Bruno's Family

Besides Bruno and Shmuel, Boyne also makes Bruno's family interesting. Bruno's mom struggles with supporting her husband, who's a Nazi, while also feeling bad about what's happening to the Jewish people. This makes her more human and adds depth to the story. Bruno's dad is a loyal Nazi officer, but he also has moments where he questions what's going on. This shows that even people involved in bad things can have doubts and conflicts.

The Power of Characters

In the end, the characters in "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas" are what make the story so powerful. By making them complex and real, Boyne helps us understand the victims of the Holocaust, the innocence of childhood, and the struggles of people involved in war. The characters show us that people are flawed and can be conflicted, which makes the story more moving and thought-provoking.

Conclusion

To sum up, the characters in "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas" are important because they help us connect with the story and its themes. Through characters like Bruno, Shmuel, and Bruno's family, Boyne shows us the impact of war on people in a way that feels real and emotional. The characters make the story feel more human, and they make us think about the dark parts of history in a deeper way.