The Boy in the Striped Pajamas: A Fictional Story Inspired by History
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is a 2008 film based on a 2006 novel by John Boyne. It tells the story of Bruno, a young German boy who befriends Shmuel, a Jewish boy imprisoned in a concentration camp during World War II. The film depicts the horrors of the Holocaust through the eyes of innocence and ignorance, as Bruno does not understand the true nature of his father’s job as a Nazi officer or the fate of his new friend.
But is The Boy in the Striped Pajamas a true story? Did Bruno and Shmuel really exist? The answer is no. The film and the novel are both works of fiction, and there is no historical evidence that such a friendship ever occurred. However, the film and the novel are inspired by real events and real people who suffered and died in the Nazi genocide.
The Historical Setting of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
The film and the novel are set in Nazi-occupied Poland, where millions of Jews and other persecuted groups were deported and killed in extermination camps. One of these camps was Auschwitz-Birkenau, which is where Bruno’s family moves to when his father is appointed as the commandant. Auschwitz-Birkenau was the largest and most notorious camp, where more than 1.1 million people were murdered, mostly by gas chambers.
The film and the novel show some of the brutal realities of life in Auschwitz-Birkenau, such as the starvation, disease, torture, and execution of the prisoners. They also show some of the resistance and survival strategies of the prisoners, such as smuggling food, hiding valuables, and organizing revolts. However, they also omit or distort some of the historical facts, such as the layout of the camp, the security measures, and the timeline of events.
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The Fictional Characters of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
The main characters of the film and the novel are Bruno and Shmuel, two boys who are both eight years old and share the same birthday. They meet at the fence that separates Bruno’s house from Shmuel’s prison, and they develop a friendship based on their curiosity and loneliness. They do not realize that they are on opposite sides of a war that will end their lives tragically.
Bruno and Shmuel are fictional characters created by John Boyne, who said that he came up with the idea of two boys sitting at a fence talking to each other¹. He said that he wanted to write a fable that would introduce children to the subject of the Holocaust². He also said that he did not intend to write a historically accurate account, but rather a story that would explore the themes of innocence, friendship, and morality³.
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However, some critics have argued that Bruno and Shmuel’s story is implausible and inaccurate. They have pointed out that it would have been impossible for Bruno to wander around the camp without being noticed or stopped by guards or dogs. They have also noted that it would have been unlikely for Shmuel to survive for so long in such harsh conditions or to have access to a spare uniform for Bruno to wear. They have also questioned the moral implications of portraying Bruno as a victim rather than an accomplice or beneficiary of Nazi crimes.
Conclusion
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is not a true story based on real people or real events. It is a fictional story inspired by history. It is a story that aims to educate and entertain audiences about one of the darkest chapters of human history. It is also a story that challenges audiences to reflect on their own values and choices. It is a story that reminds us that we should never forget or repeat what happened in Auschwitz-Birkenau.
