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How do (or would) different characters in the text view conflicts in The Boy in the Striped Pajamas?

The conflict that I would like to discuss here is actually the "supposed" conflict, or one that would be expected of a Nazi commandant's son and a Jewish boy:  Bruno vs. Shmuel.  This conflict can be seen in this quote that I will discuss later in the paragraph:


We're not supposed to be friends, you and me. We're meant to be enemies. Did you know that? 


It is ironic to label it as a conflict...

The conflict that I would like to discuss here is actually the "supposed" conflict, or one that would be expected of a Nazi commandant's son and a Jewish boy:  Bruno vs. Shmuel.  This conflict can be seen in this quote that I will discuss later in the paragraph:



We're not supposed to be friends, you and me. We're meant to be enemies. Did you know that? 



It is ironic to label it as a conflict at all in that the two are not really against each other, except in the idealism of Nazi Germany.  Still, it is interesting to see how other characters would react to that friendship.  Bruno's father, the Nazi commandant, (as well as Lieutenant Kotler) would be in favor of the conflict and forbid the friendship completely.  I believe Bruno's mother as well as characters such as Pavel and Maria would look upon Bruno with sad eyes whether the two boys were in conflict or friends.  All three characters would discourage any communication between the boys and feel sad for them in the process because any relationship would be dangerous for both Bruno and Shmuel.  Gretel would have a different take on things all together. She would see the conflict or the friendship as "stupid" because that is often how she labels her little brother.  In regards to Bruno and Shmuel themselves, they would not understand the conflict.  In fact, Bruno admits that very thing in the quotation above.  They would be in favor of the friendship and, in fact, that is exactly what happens.  They are loyal to the other even unto death.

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