The Boy in the Striped Pajamas - Essay Example

The Boy in Striped Pajamas The boy in striped Pajamas is a movie that displays aspects of society with a retrospective scope based on events that took place during the Nazi era, and the film focuses on the social features of the era. Social classes are well brought out through aspects of oppression expressed through portrayal of Shmuel as a poor boy who has to watch his father work in the Nazi concentration camps, where the Jews are considered of a lower social standing in comparison to the Germans.

As a result, they are taken to be slaves only useful in fulfilling the goals and purposes of the Germans after which they are to be killed. In addition, social classes are presented through the different ranks of the SS officers found at the concentration camp, where Bruno’s father is the head. Through the different ranks, there is clarity that different people exist in the society, and that their responsibilities are different considering that Bruno’s father follows orders without questioning.

Another aspect of social classes is represented in punishment meted out against lieutenant Kotler for not reporting for duty, where he is sent to the front line ("The Boy in the Striped Pajamas”). The punishment shows that different social classes have their distinct duties and failure to meet is punishable. The house cleaners and other servants, such as Maria, are indicative of these as they have no say in the house and only follow instructions. In addition, absolute control by the government is expressed in the film through the Nazi government and how it seeks to enforce its rule on the Jewish population that it has in concentration camps.

The totalitarian nature of the government is also brought out through the arguments held between Bruno’s father and mother, where the mother argues against having their children grow up in a concentration camp. The response of Ralf, Bruno’s father, are that what he does is part of work and that he cannot do anything about it (Boyne). This shows the grip that the government has on the people, both Jews and Germans. In addition, lieutenant Kotler holds extremist Nazi views and opinions although he does not have a pro-Nazi background, which is a further indicator of how the grip of the government goes.

In elements of innocence, the friendship between Bruno and Shmuel stands for this due to the enmity that exists between Jews and Germans, which is why the Germans live a free life, while Jews live in concentration camps. As a result, having this friendship and Bruno forgetting the names of his best friends only to name Shmuel as his only best friend until the end of the book further proves innocence in difficult times. Arguments by Bruno’s mother, too, indicate innocence in that she is against her children’s growing up in a concentration camp.

This brings up the loss of innocence, where she is concerned that if her children continue to grow up in such an environment, it will not be good for them (“Book to Movie…”). Gretel’s conduct also stands for loss of innocence in how she flirts with lieutenant Kotler and is even a member of the Hitler Youth. This shows how corrupted Gretel is at such a young age, considering that she is only 12 years old. In conclusion, the social aspects depicted in “the boy in the striped pyjamas” touch on different aspects of the German society and the Nazi era including modes of governance, corruption of innocence.

All these are well captured in the both the book and the film by the same title.Works cited"Book to Movie: The Boy in the Striped Pajamas | | Parchment Girl." Parchment Girl | Books • Faith • Culture. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Oct. 2013. .Boyne., John. "Something Is Happening - Books - Review - New York Times." The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. N.p., 12 Nov. 2006. Web. 16 Oct. 2013. . "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (2008) - Synopsis." IMDb - Movies, TV and Celebrities. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Oct. 2013. .