Discussion Blog Post #3

Discuss how Bruno represents the Innocence of a child?

     Throughout the book, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, Bruno's innocence stays a the same level until the very end of the story. Shortly after moving from Berlin to Out-With (Auschwitz), Bruno's innocence is seen through the misunderstanding of his father's job, reason for a new home and the people in the striped pajamas. Deeper into the book, Bruno befriends Shmuel, a Jewish boy who lives on the other side of the fence. Shmuel and Bruno's lives are completely opposite from one another. Shmuel and his family were forced out of their city, separated from their mother and sister, and shipped into the concentration camp "Out-With". At Out-With they are worked hard, treated unfair, and hated by the Nazi soldiers. Bruno's parents have sheltered him so much he has no idea who the people in the striped pajamas are. Shmuel and his family could not be sheltered because they were the ones affected. Towards the end of the novel, Bruno informs Shmuel that he is moving back to Berlin because his parents say Out-Wth is no place to raise children. Shmuel says, "So I won't see you again?' asked Shmuel. 'Well someday, yes,' said Bruno. 'You could come on a holiday to Berlin. You can't stay here for ever after all. Can you?' Shmuel shook his head. 'I suppose not,' he said sadly" (196). Bruno and his family moved to Out-With over a year ago and Bruno still has no idea that Shmuel cannot leave! After all this time watching from his bedroom window one would think he might know a little bit more about the other side!  Unfortunately no, Bruno still has no idea what really occurs on the other side of the fence. For example, he doesn't realize that all the people who fall while working on the job have just died. Bruno's parents hide him from reality because they are scared of what might come if he knew. They don't want him to turn out like grandmother did, on the Jewish side. Being children, people are still innocent and don't know the crimes of which occur everyday. Kid's aren't exposed to the real world until later on in life. Bruno, being the small and thoughtful boy he is, would be horrified if he knew about the Jews. He would maybe try to help them which might lead to more punishment and death for the Jews. He could even potentially put his family in danger if the Fury got mad. By having his parents sheltering him, Bruno is still the innocent boy not knowing right from wrong. Sadly, his "innocence" lead him to crawl under the fence which resulted in his death. If Bruno had not been sheltered by his parents, then this book would have had a much happier ending.