Shortfalls and Benefits of Vegetarian Diet - Essay Example

October 16th Movie and Novel: The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas has two versions, the book and the movie, in which, the movie is based on the book, and the book is the original storyline. In this light, differences are bound to occur, thus, the need for this paper to compare and analyze the differences between the movie and the book. In the book, Bruno’s father is portrayed as a man with a strong personality and character with little to compromise in order to fulfill Nazi ambition. This is seen with his promotion to the position of a commandant, which prompted that he and his family migrate to Auschwitz for work purposes. In this place, he is a senior officer in the Nazi movement who is in charge of the detention camp where the Jews, enemies of the Germans based on the German conception, were tortured and exterminated by burning. However, the film portrays Bruno’s father as a different character altogether in light of his concerns and attitudes towards the paper. This is bearing in mind that the film focuses on a number of aspects aimed at bringing him out as a better man than the book does. In this case, Bruno’s father is featured as a family man and parent whose values are well laid when he is opposed to the concept of raising his two children close to the detention center. This is portrayed with the constant arguments that arise between him and his wife where he argues the reason that the children have to grow is because; he is there for work purposes. This means that the children cannot leave with their mother leaving him behind. In addition, the movie does not portray his role in the SS with much focus, which creates the visible difference between the film and the book. This is concerning the role that Bruno’s father is given in the book and the movie, where the focus in the book is on his line of work and his position in the Nazi movement while the film is based on his family man character. In addition, differences between the movie and the book appear in the character of Bruno’s mother. In the novel, she is portrayed as an objective person, who views things from multiple angles before coming up with an opinion and decision after weighing out all the available options. This is also shown in her arguments with her husband on how to raise their children in such an environment near the detention camp. This is especially considering how naive, impressionable, and perceptive the two youngsters are, and for this reason, she suggests that they move back to Berlin for the sake of raising their two children. On the other hand, the movie portrays her as being the emotional parent, who shares in the concerns for her children and those of the Jews in the concentration camps. This is seen with the sympathy she shows towards the Jews in the concentration camps and conditions, and the plight that they have to face. This is as opposed to her role in the book where the concern lies only in children and not the Jews. For this reason, the film differs from the book in that the film draws the emotion and reaction of the audience, in relation to the ethics of that which the Germans do to the Jews in the concentration camps. These appeals to the audience by making it appear as a disgusting deed and the level of wrongdoing questioning the moral and social thinking of the Germans. The other difference featured between the books and the film is in the details behind the facts found in the book and those found in the film. In relation to this, the book portrays the age of the two children, Shmuel and Bruno, as being aged nine years, while, the film differs. The film labels the two youngsters as being at the eight years, which is a difference of one year, which is uncalled for or whose role cannot be perceived to influence the two entities. The only difference might only be in the portrayal may be in the concept of naivety and innocence, which is more pronounced in the film than the book. This is shown by the fact that they cannot discern that they are supposed to be enemies in the book, where they are shown as being nine years old, while, in the film, the information on their supposed and ignored enmity is disregarded (Scott). In addition, the film exempts some details that are found in the book and that which relevance in their own way. This is such as the visit by Hitler to Bruno’s house, which is included in the book, but is mysteriously excluded in the film. The visit by Hitler is crucial to the building of the character of Bruno’s father as a highly ranked official in Hitler’s Nazi movement. The film eliminates this part, which is instead replaced by the role that Bruno’s father plays in the film as a family man. Still on detail exemption, Bruno’s mother’s knowledge on the proceedings in the concentration camp are included in the movie, while, in the book, this is not portrayed in any way. In this light, the film focuses intensely in the holocaust, while the book is based more on the relationship between Shmuel and Bruno and their innocent friendship despite the enmity between their two ethnic backgrounds. It is for this reason that Bruno’s mother is sympathetic to the plight of the Jews, in the concentration camp, in the film, as opposed to her character in the book. In relation to perspectives, the movie and the book, despite their close relationship, have significant disparities. This is in due to the perspective of the movie and the book being different by having the book written from the perspective of Bruno, while the film gives first-hand accounts of the events. This makes the film lose the sense of uniqueness as Bruno’s innocent perspective is undermined even by the explanation of the details in the book. In the book, the reader is forced to translate Bruno’s perspective thus; making the book more appealing than the film as the film seeks to reveal everything to the audience. This is done using audiovisual effects to bring out the scenes, while the book explains and leaves the final details to the discretion of the reader and his or her imagination. In addition, the film gives dominance to the last chapter by making it more dramatic in the point where Bruno leaves together with Shmuel to look for Shmuels’s father. This is contrary to the book, which gives only a couple of pages to the ending without any drama, although it is emotional for Bruno’s mother. In conclusion, the book and film The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas have distinct difference in spite of being based on a common story line. This is due to both the power of audiovisual communication and that of paper, which has no feedback and is based on reader discretion. Works Cited Scott, A.O. “Something is Happening.” The New York Times. Nov. 12, 2006. Web. 16 Oct. 2012. . Read More