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Character Analysis Of The Boy In The Striped Pajamas

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In the book The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne, the main character, Bruno, changes throughout the story due to his interactions and relationship with Shmuel, a Jewish boy in a German concentration camp. Prior to meeting Shmuel, Bruno exhibited many negative character traits. For example, just after Bruno arrives at Out-With, Bruno begins to complain to Maria, their maid, on all of the “horrible” traits the house possesses: “‘Well, if Father’s job means that we have to move away from our house and the sliding banister and my three best friends for life, then I think Father should think twice about his job, don’t you?’” (Boyne 17). Bruno already misses his old home, which allowed him to play and make his three “best friends for life”. He had enjoyed the familiarness and entertainment of his own home which made moving much harder. At his new house, Bruno is disappointed that he does not have as many opportunities as he had had in Berlin. Not only did Bruno miss his old home, but his new house made him uncomfortable. When gazing out his window, Bruno spots the wall of the concentration camp as “He put his face to the glass and saw what was out there, and this time when his eyes opened wide and his mouth made the shape of an O, and his hands stayed by his sides because something made him feel very cold and unsafe” (Boyne 19). Before meeting Shmuel, Bruno is lonely at Out-With. He has been hoping for an adventurous exploration to go on, yet finding out the unknown about these people makes him uncomfortable. Unsure of the wall’s purpose, the wall gives him an eerie feeling. He does not recognize these people either, nor does he know the reasoning on why they are behind the wall. This is not the kind of adventure Bruno was looking for. Bruno’s life before meeting Shmuel was very lonely and dull, yet after meeting his new friend, Bruno began to rather enjoy his time in Poland. After befriending Shmuel, Bruno’s thoughts and opinions on Out-With are altered as his loneliness has faded. To illustrate, when Bruno and Shmuel meet for the first time, each boy takes his turn sharing something about himself. When Bruno asks how old Shmuel is, he responds by saying “‘‘I’m nine,’ he [Shmuel] said. ‘My birthday is

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