Answer: The novel "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas: A Fable" by John Boyne tells the story of two young boys, Bruno and Shmuel, whose friendship develops despite their vastly different backgrounds. The novel is set during World War II, and the theme is the brutality and senselessness of war, especially when it affects innocent people. The point of view and the characters' perspectives contribute significantly to the novel's theme.
The novel is narrated from the point of view of Bruno, a young boy who is unaware of the Holocaust and the brutalities of war. His perspective is one of innocence and ignorance, and this is reflected in his language and the way he views the world around him. For example, when he first sees the concentration camp from his bedroom window, he describes it as a "farm" with people in "striped pajamas." This perspective underscores the theme of the novel by emphasizing the cruelty of war and the tragedy of its innocent victims.
Furthermore, the characters in the novel are used to illustrate the theme of the senselessness of war. Bruno's father, a high-ranking Nazi officer, is portrayed as a man who blindly follows orders without considering the consequences of his actions. He is convinced that he is doing the right thing and is not capable of understanding the harm he is causing to innocent people. This characterization underscores the theme of the novel by showing how the ideology of war can blind people to the reality of their actions.
Shmuel is another character who contributes to the theme of the novel. He is a Jewish boy who is imprisoned in the concentration camp, and he represents the innocent victims of war. His experiences and perspective are in stark contrast to Bruno's, and this contrast underscores the theme of the novel by showing the tragedy of the innocent people caught up in the war.
In conclusion, the theme of "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas: A Fable" is the brutality and senselessness of war, especially when it affects innocent people. The point of view of the novel and the characters' perspectives contribute significantly to this theme. Bruno's perspective of innocence and ignorance, his father's blind ideology, and Shmuel's tragic experiences all emphasize the theme and provide an important commentary on the human cost of war.
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