Topic: Characterization

Bruno is a significant character because the story is his. He is the protagonist in the story. Bruno is happy, young (9 years old) and naive. In Berlin, there is beauty, color, friends and freedom–freedom to explore indoors and outdoors. Bruno is near-sighted, only seeing what is directly in front of him and only what his parents show him. This is understandable because of his age. The truth is hidden from him and he spends a lot of time guessing what is happening around him–he does not know what his father does for a living, but he knows what his friends’ fathers do for a living. In his family, when conversations are not for children, Bruno is told to leave. On several occasions, he tries to listen in and eavesdrop and piece together bits of information, but because of his immaturity, he is not able to. What Bruno seems to know is that his father has an important job, soldiers visit his home, and his father’s office at home is “Out Of Bounds At ALL Times And No Exceptions.” At the party when his Grandmother was upset with Bruno’s father, Bruno has no idea why. It is clear to the reader why Bruno’s Grandmother is so upset with her son. When Bruno’s father gets promoted to “Commandant,” Bruno does no idea what that means. Bruno is upset that the family had to move from his home to the place he calls Out-With. At Out-With, he misses his old house in Berlin, he misses his friends, and he misses exploring outside. Bruno thinks the new house feels “empty and cold.” (13). There is no beauty, no friends, no color, no freedom. He is told not to venture toward to camp with the barbed wire fence. After a while Bruno sees beyond his own home and begins to explore.