Quotations
Who said: “This isn't home and it never will be”
Bruno
The fence
The fence symbolizes the division of two worlds by separating the prisoners in the Out-With camp from the rest of the world.
Adventurous nine-year-old boy; small for his age
Bruno
Theme 1
Power
Who said: “He has a lot of kindness in his soul, truly he does, which makes me wonder”
Maria
The Office Door
The door to Bruno's father's home office a barrier, both in Berlin and at Out-With. It serves as a shield between his father's horrible duties, which align Ralf with evil, and Bruno's innocence.
Authoritarian commandantof Auschwitz
Father
Theme 2
Subordination
Who said: “We don’t have the luxury of thinking ... Some people make all the decisions for us.”
Mother
The Bedroom Window
Bruno's father wants to keep the camp activities hidden from his family, However, the view from the window spurs Bruno's curiosity, and he, too, must explore the unknown world that he can see but is not supposed to visit.
Aggressive, bullyingGerman office
Lieutenant Kotler
Theme 3
Secrecy
Who said: “Groups, staring at the ground, looking horribly sad; they all had one thing in common: they were all terribly skinny and their eyes were sunken and they all had shaved heads”
Bruno
Clothing
The clothing worn by some of the main characters rises to the level of symbolic importance, emphasizing themes of power, separation, and friendship.
quiet, long-suffering nine-year-old boy; Jewish prisoner at Auschwitz
Shmuel
Theme 4
Transcendent Friendship
Who said: “Looking handsome in your fine uniforms. Dressing up and doing the terrible, terrible things you do. It makes me ashamed.”
Grandmother
Caring, dutiful,alcoholic woman
Mother
Theme 5
Separation: Physical and Psychological