Genesis' SPJs Essay

The Result of Innocence

James Baldwin once said, “People who shut their eyes to reality simply invite their own destruction, and anyone who insists on remaining in a state of innocence long after that innocence is dead turns himself into a monster”. In  The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, author John Boyne shows that innocence should not be extreme before the truth. It is a novel about the tragic history of Bruno. That for his innocence, he never realized that reality was happening. His ignorance  was so much that it took him to extreme danger and one unexpected death. In John Boyne’s novel “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas,” Bruno’s innocence is a negative thing for him when he does not understand who Hitler is, he is being influenced by his parents, and he does not have any idea what is on the other side of the fence, which shows the reader that the innocence converts the truth and keeps  people ignorant about the reality that even hard is needed to be accepted .

First, Bruno is naive about the leader of the Nazis. When he is  talking with his father he says “He presumed [Heil, Hitler] was another way of saying, ‘well, goodbye for now have a pleasant afternoon” (Boyne 54). Here the author shows how innocent Bruno is, he can not realize what is going on,and  he does not know who Hitler is. Bruno thinks that [Heil, Hitler] is like another type to say “hello” or “have a nice day.” This is illogical because they are living  during a war, and everyone else know the true meaning of that phrase, which was to show respect towards Hitler who for Bruno was “The Fury.” If Bruno uses this phrase at any time or use it incorrectly, it could cause some conflict or problems between him or some members of his family with the Fury. That is  how Buno fails to understand is the boss of his father.

Second, Bruno tries to follow his father’s ideas. When he is  talking with Shmuel and they argue over their nations, Bruno is by have heard said.Bruno says to Shmuel, “ Well, because Germany is the greatest of countries … We’re superior”’ (Boyne 112). Here the reader can see how igneous  Bruno is; he repeats what he hears from his father, which causes him to believing that they are the best nation. Bruno thinks that they can be superior to the other people. He felt wrong after saying this but at that moment he is so innocent because he was brainwashed by the ideas that his parents tries to impose. If this had continued later on, he will be end up becoming as others with the same idea that Jewish people were less than him. Bruno is being influenced by the words of his father.

Last, Bruno is unsuspicious about what is inside of the concentration camp. When Gretel and him talk about the concentration camp Bruno says, “’I don’t understand why we’re not allowed on the other side of the fence’” (Boyne 181). Here the reader can see that Bruno is ignorant about the concentration camp. He did not have an idea what that place is. He thought it was a farm, and he never thinks about the suffering that people have at this place. Bruno does not comprehend that in that concentration camp, what they actually did was kill people. This leads to be a negative thing for him since it was such a degree of ignorance, he entered the other side of the fence and this led to his death. Bruno is ignorant of what is on the other side of the fence.

In The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne, Bruno’s innocence is a negative thing when he has no idea who his father’s boss is, his parents try to instill their same way of thinking, he does not realize anything about the concentration camp, which shows the reader that innocence cause people to do not realize about the harsh times that they are living in. In the case of Bruno, his innocence makes him never understand what is happening, it takes this child, who wanted to explore what is on the other side of the fence, dragging him to his sudden death, not understanding what is going on. Innocence is like if someone that is blind tries to go to an unknown place for him, he will probably end up falling and hurting himself.

Katia's SPJs Essay

Innocence, The Secret Weapon Against the Wickedness.

Bishop Robert South once said, “Innocence is like a polished armor; it adorns and defends.” In The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, author John Boyne shows the benefits of being innocent. In this novel the narrator tells the story of how Bruno and his family were living in the Holocaust period, and because of the job of Bruno’s father they had to leave their house and move to the countryside. The author also shows through the story how Bruno is naive about that they ended up living near one concentration camp, which name is Auschwitz, and demonstrates that he does not have a clue why a group of people called “Jews” were inside of the fence that bounded the camp that they lived by. Later, and until the final page of the book, the audience can read how the curiosity and innocence of Bruno leads him to meet a Jewish boy named Shmuel, and become his best friend in life. In Boyne’s novel The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, Bruno’s innocence is good when Bruno does not understand who Jewish people are, he does not have any idea about the period that they are passing through, and he ignores what happens to Shmuel in the concentration camp, which shows the reader that innocence is important and necessary for life, especially in children because this protect them even in harsh times.

To begin with, Bruno shows how naive he is about the Jewish people. When Bruno and his family were moving to the countryside, they were going to travel in one train that was very comfortable, but Bruno notices about another train that was full of people and, “For a moment he considered running across the platform to tell the people about the empty seats” (Boyne 41). Here the author shows that really Bruno do not figure out about Jewish and why they are not allowed to have the same rights that he and his family have. He is unaware what could happens if one Jewish person tries to enter the train that he is in. Lamentably, the reality is that if one Jew tried to go out of the train, and more if they try to enter in the train where Germans are, the most presumable thing is that in the same instant one soldier take “care” of the situation and they end up being riddled. But Bruno is just a child and does not think about it, for him everybody is equal, and everyone deserves the same things that he have. For this, his innocence is good, because it keeps him pure, and that is something that children must do not loose. Bruno is innocent about the Jewish citizens and who they are.

Second, Bruno is unaware about the time that they are living in. One day when Shmuel and Bruno were talking about the signs that were put in the armbands that jewish have and also the sign that is in the armband of Bruno’s father, Bruno tells Shmuel, “All the same... I think I’d quite like one. I don't know which one I’d prefer though, your one or father’s” (Boyne 127). Here John Boyne reveals that Bruno is free of stress about the war that is happening at that moment. Also he does not figure out the immense distance that existed between two of the most big groups of people that are living during this period, in one side there are the Germans, who are the people that are doing horrible things to the Jewish, that are the ones that are suffering thing as discrimination, abuse, and most of they are being killed inside of concentration camps. But Bruno does not know anything of all this information, as a child he just thinks that the signs in the armband do not mean anything, he just wants the one that is more cool, which is a typical behavior for a children, he is naive about the conflicts that are occurring, and this is positive because as a kid of nine years old, he does not need to be worrying about wars. The only thing that will happen if he realizes all these horrible things is that he will be afraid all the time and probably end being traumatized. Bruno does not have idea about the war that is occuring at that moment.

Lastly, Bruno ignores what shmuel is having to go through. One day Bruno went to talk to Shmuel about that he is leaving Out-With,  and returning to Berlin. Because of this, Shmuel gets sad realizing that his best friend is moving, but when Bruno notices it, he said to Shmuel, “You could come on a holiday to Berlin. You can't stay here forever after all. Can you?” (Boyne 196). Here as the reader can see, Bruno does not have any idea of the conditions in which Shmuel is going through. Bruno thinks that just because he is free, and he can go wherever he wants, Shmuel could do it. In all the time that they talk together they create strong links, and even all the differences that existed between they,they became best friends for life. The innocence that Bruno has makes him find true friendship. Also Bruno releases from Shmuel the fear and stress that he has for living inside of the concentration camp, and even that he does not know, he is giving him hope. All the actions that Bruno is doing  demonstrates how pure he is and that he have a incredible degree of humanity, all this because of his innocence. Bruno is naive about the situation of Shmuel.

In The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, the innocence of Bruno is positive when Bruno is unaware about the Jewish population, he does not figure out what period they are passing through, and he is naive about how his friend Shmuel is living, demonstrating to the audience that being innocent is good and needs to be preserved in kids. The innocence that Bruno has is the major reason why he meets Shmuel and he could creates a beautiful friendship. Also his innocence help him to do not discovers the type of people that surround him, and the cruel and horrible things that they do to other humans. More that his father is one of the principal person responsible for the deaths of thousands of people, which their only crime is be Jewish. If Bruno realize this, he will be afraid and disappointed even of his own dad. This novel represents the importance of innocence in a world of  evil, because this keeps the mind pure, without fear and helps to not have detriments. Boyne with his novel wants his readers to know that innocence is the umbrella that protects humanity from the sinfulness, and that it must not disappear.

Celeste's SPJs Essay

Child’s Treasure

Churchman Robert South once said that “Innocence is like polished armor; it adorns and defends.” In John Boyne’s The Boy in the Striped Pajamas the audience learns the perks of being naive, and how this quality brings protection. This novel tells the story of the war and the Holocaust from a German boy’s perspective. It all begins when Bruno and his family leave their luxurious home in Berlin when Father receives a promotion as a Nazi commandant in a concentration camp during World War II. Because Bruno is a very curious boy he decides to explore and meets “the boy in the striped pajamas,” a Jewish boy named Shmuel who lives on the other side of the fence with whom he eventually starts an unusual friendship. In the book The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, Bruno’s innocence is a positive thing for him when he does not know who the people on the other side of the fence are, treats Shmuel as if there is no difference between them, and ignores the time period he is living in, which shows the reader that children must keep their innocence even when hard times approach, because it is the best thing that life has given them.

First, Bruno does not have the slightest idea of what is happening to the people trapped in the concentration camp. The reader can perceive this when after looking out the window Bruno says  “‘I don’t think the other children look at all friendly’” (Boyne 26). This is a positive aspect about how clueless Bruno is about everything that is happening around him, because he has made his own impression from what he sees through his window, therefore, his curiosity will eventually fade and his desires to explore the complex will go away. This gives him security because if he does not move from where he is now, then he will not suffer any damage. All this shows how the fact that Bruno ignores what happens on the other side of the fence protects him from getting hurt.

Secondly, Bruno shows his naivety to the reader when he treats his new friend, Shmuel, with respect and equality. When Bruno is with Shmuel at the edge of the fence , and he realizes that his friend is cold, he says “‘What’s the matter?’ he asked. ‘It’s not that cold is it? You should have brought a jumper, you know. The evenings are getting chillier’” (Boyne 141). At this moment, when Bruno says this to Shmuel, the reader discovers how the boy’s unawareness is a valuable thing for him. The fact that Bruno is treating Shmuel with fairness demonstrates that he has not made a conclusion from what his parents and sister have told him, but that he has decided to make one from his own thoughts and experiences, and to not be influenced by others. Bruno has also made a friend thanks to his innocence, and this friendship brings joy, not only to him but also to Shmuel, who had already lost his. Thanks to that Bruno completely ignores about the suffering of the Jewish people, he is not persuaded by the ideas of others, which leads him to treat his new friend politely.

Lastly, Bruno has not figured out about the Holocaust and what his parents and his country are doing at this time. He demonstrates how hopeful he is when he says to 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?’” ( Boyne 196). Bruno is still unsuspicious about what his dad is doing, and about what is really happening on the other side of the fence at this point. When Bruno talks about the future and how one day he and Shmuel will freely play all they want, he brings hope to Shmuel, who really needs it after all the horrors that he has seen that take place where he lives at this time. Bruno, being hopeful and clueless about the reality he is facing,  demonstrates the positive aspects about innocence, when he gives some of that hope to his new friend, who needs it desperately.

In, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, John Boyne tries to show the reader that Bruno’s lack of knowledge is positive when he misunderstands the people in the concentration camp, behaves respectfully with Shmuel, and feels uncertain about the Holocaust, which asserts in children’s necessity for their innocence. At the end of the story, when Bruno and his friend Shmuel find their fate, still the reader is aware of the positive aspects in this innocence. Showing that the youth need to preserve their innocence, especially in the adversity. Innocence protects just like armor, like a shield, and opens doors that nobody knew were there.