The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

What allows some individuals to take a stand against prejudice while others choose to participate in it? Consider Bruno’s grandmother, Kotler’s father, Bruno’s father, mother and sister?

All around the world, people react to situations differently because of the different circumstances they are in, thus making them see things with a different perspective and state of mind depending on how they have lived their lives and how they have been raised. In this book, Brunos father participates in the prejudice going on because it benefits him well under his circumstances. By doing so, he is given power and a higher position in the German army therefore socially as well, gaining respect from supporters of the Nazi party.

On the other hand, Kotler's father and Bruno's grandmother are in disagreement with the prejudice though their fight for this cause is looked down upon and hidden from others. Although we do not know much about them through the book, we can suspect their fight agaisnt the war is because of the way they were brought up and the knowledge they've gained from years of experience.

Bruno's mother does not really participate in the bias movement but she also does not take much of a stand other than her reaction to Bruno's father when she discovers the truth behind the concentration camps. Because of her position as the commandants wife it would not benefit her to speak out of line because all she really worries about is her childrens safety, to raise them in a good environment and good education.

Finally, Bruno's sister participates in the prejudice because of the things she says to Bruno when explaining to him whats going on. She does this because shes young and that is the only thing she has been taught, she is still not old enough to make up her mind for herself, especially since she has been brainwashed from all the propaganda.