Imagery and Symbolism

I am choosing imagery and symbolism as my blog post topic for ‘The Boy in the Striped Pajamas’ by John Boyne. I am choosing imagery and symbolism as my third topic because there are many symbols in this book that have a lot of meaning. For example, one time when Bruno and Shmuel are talking, Shmuel draws the Star of David. The Star of David is the symbol for the religion of Judaism. This is important because it shows that he is Jewish, and people that were Jewish were the main target for Nazi Soldiers in WWII. Another example takes place at the same time that the other example takes place. Instead of Shmuel drawing the Star of David, Bruno draws a Swastika in the dirt. A Swastika is the symbol for the German Nazi party in WWII. This is important because it shows the difference between Bruno and Shmuel. Bruno’s father is a Commandant for the German Nazis’ and Shmuel’s father was Jewish, and that is how he got stuck on the bad side of the fence. Finally, the last symbol is the fence. There is a fence that runs between Shmuel and Bruno’s homes that divides them. The fence that runs between them is important because it shows the different statuses in WWII. Bruno is rich, and his father is a Commandant for the Nazis, and he is Christian. Shmuel is poor, and his father is stuck in the concentration camp with him, and he is Jewish. Both of them are very different, but find a way to become best friends. In conclusion, all of these symbols are extremely important throughout the book. The drawings the two boys made showed the difference between them. And the fence shows how you can overcome obstacles to get what you want, and in their case, it was friendship.

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