For children, setting boundaries encourages temptation to break them, similar to the concept of rules. Some boundaries are used for discipline or safety, but during World War II, boundaries were created for separation of power, race, and social class. In the novel, “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” by John Boyne, two young boys from opposite ends of the war, Schmuel and Bruno, experience the backlash of boundaries, which was the World War II, a fence that physically separated them and the boundary of knowledge, that ultimately led to their death.
An example of a boundary the boys faced was World War II itself. Both boys were too young to be aware of their surroundings, nor were they properly educated on the matter. This lack of understanding …show more content…
Once the fence was crossed or diminished, both boys were considered the same. Bruno often thought that Schmuel could simply come over the fence and play with him, and said, “Dinner isn’t served until half past six. What time do you have yours?’ Schmuel shrugged his shoulders and pulled himself to his feet. “I think I’d better get back,” he said. ‘Perhaps you can come to dinner with us one evening,’ said Bruno, although he wasn’t sure it was a very good idea. ‘Perhaps,’ said Schmuel, although he didn’t sound convinced” (98). As the story developed, Bruno was the one who ended up taking the step over, unaware of consequences that followed. The boundary was there to separate and to “protect” the Aryan race from the Jews and people who identified differently. The fence originally represented the difference between the two boys, but when Bruno dug a hole to crawl under and put on striped pajamas, both boys finally considered the same race. However, being equal with Schmuel meant doing hard labor as well as sleeping in hoarded and diseased quarters. Bruno did not understand why Schmuel and the others were being treated like animals. Bruno came to face the reality of a prisoner in a death camp during World War II without knowing
An example of a boundary the boys faced was World War II itself. Both boys were too young to be aware of their surroundings, nor were they properly educated on the matter. This lack of understanding …show more content…
Once the fence was crossed or diminished, both boys were considered the same. Bruno often thought that Schmuel could simply come over the fence and play with him, and said, “Dinner isn’t served until half past six. What time do you have yours?’ Schmuel shrugged his shoulders and pulled himself to his feet. “I think I’d better get back,” he said. ‘Perhaps you can come to dinner with us one evening,’ said Bruno, although he wasn’t sure it was a very good idea. ‘Perhaps,’ said Schmuel, although he didn’t sound convinced” (98). As the story developed, Bruno was the one who ended up taking the step over, unaware of consequences that followed. The boundary was there to separate and to “protect” the Aryan race from the Jews and people who identified differently. The fence originally represented the difference between the two boys, but when Bruno dug a hole to crawl under and put on striped pajamas, both boys finally considered the same race. However, being equal with Schmuel meant doing hard labor as well as sleeping in hoarded and diseased quarters. Bruno did not understand why Schmuel and the others were being treated like animals. Bruno came to face the reality of a prisoner in a death camp during World War II without knowing