Category: English 10

Jessica

English 10

Mrs. Thomasen

Effects of War on Individuals

War can change people, in ways one might not imagine. What effects did the events of World War 2 have on an individual? The movies Schindler’s List and The Boy in the Striped Pajamas are both set during World War 2. In Steven Spielberg’s Schindler’s List, Oskar Schindler initially exploits the Jews just for money, but soon he starts to protect them from death, by bribing the Nazis even if that risks his own life. In Mark Herman’s The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, Bruno is unaware of the horrors of what is going on, and when he goes exploring, he meets a boy named Shmuel. Later Bruno tells a lie to a Nazi Lieutenant, and Shmuel gets in trouble. Bruno and Shmuel later develop a true friendship before they meet their deaths. Therefore, both stories show how during the war, Schindler and Bruno humanize and learn to show empathy towards the Jews, because even in times of war, they saw past the conflicts. Schindler and Bruno learn to view the Jews from a different way, and that is how they became friends with them.

Oskar Schindler and Bruno are both Germans, living in two different perspectives of the war. Schindler is an adult, who moves to Krakow, a southern Poland city, as an opportunity to make money. On the other hand, Bruno is the nine year old son of a general, and moving to a new home means he has to spend his time playing alone. Schindler starts out setting up a factory and hiring Jews:

Three hundred and fifty workers on the factory floor with one purpose: to make money – for me! They won’t soon forget the name Schindler either. I can tell you that. Oskar Schindler, they’ll say. Everybody remembers him. He did something extraordinary. He did something no one else did. He came here with nothing, a suitcase, and built a bankrupt company into a major manufactory. And left with a steamer trunk, two steamer trunks, full of money. All the riches of the world… There’s no way I could have known this before, but there was always something missing. In every business I tried, I can see now it wasn’t me that had failed. Something was missing. Even if I’d known what it was, there’s nothing I could have done about it, because you can’t create this thing. And it makes all the difference in the world between success and failure, (Spielberg).

He currently has only one thing in mind: to make money from the war and the Jews. Schindler has tried many times before, but there was always something missing. War. Since now there is a war going on, he has a successful business. Meanwhile, Bruno and his family leaves Berlin, Germany. They move to southern Poland, near a concentration camp which Bruno mistakes for a farm. Bruno spends his time in isolation at first, but when he goes exploring, stumbles upon the camp and finds a boy named Shmuel. Later, Bruno’s father hires a teacher for them. The teacher teaches Bruno and his sister propaganda about the war, but the kids believe it. One day when talking to Shmuel, Bruno says, “We’re not supposed to be friends, you and me. We’re meant to be enemies. Did you know that?” (Herman). Even though Shmuel is a Jew, and they know they are not supposed to be friends, they still talk to each other. Bruno finds it hard to understand what is happening right now, because of Shmuel, what his parents tell him, and what his tutor teaches him.

The more Schindler works with the Jews, the more he began to grow empathy for them. The thought of making money, then going home was his first plan; however, he ends up using his own money to buy his Jewish workers, creating the Schindler’s list. He does this after seeing how many other Jews were horribly treated by Nazis. The war was also about to end. Schindler then comforts his Jews: “Now you are finally with me, you are safe now. Don’t be afraid of anything. You don’t have to worry anymore,” (Spielberg). He insures them that no one will hurt them as long as he is with him. He is risking his life for them. All of the people he saved are thankful of his actions, as he has saved all of their lives. Since he now will be hunted down by the Allies, he has to flee. The Jews present to him a gold ring, made from gold fillings with the words “whoever saves one life, saves the world entire” engraved on it as a token of appreciation (Spielberg). It shows that one person can really make a difference. As long as there is at least one person to show humanity in another, it will continue to exist in society. Even if only one who shows kindness and selflessness in the world, means that there is still good in the world. The ring given to him will represent the goodness to others he has done, and know it is him that needs help now. So with the ring, he also receives a signed statement hoping to save him if he ever gets captured by the Allies, signed from every single one of the Jews he saved. Schindler is very thankful and happy.

After Bruno tells a lie and gets Shmuel in trouble, they do not see each other many days later. When they do, Bruno is regretful of the scars and bruises Shmuel had from getting beat up by a Nazi: “I can’t believe I didn’t tell him the truth. I’ve never let a friend down like that before. Shmuel, I’m ashamed of myself,” (Herman). His actions hurt Shmuel, and he knows it. Their friendship grows bigger from there as they forgive each other, and Bruno promises to never do it again. The bond between the Jewish boy and the German boy becomes so strong that Bruno was willing to leave his family to be with Shmuel. He puts on a pair of striped pajamas Shmuel gives him, and digs his way in. Instead of seeing him as, an enemy, he sees him as a human, a friend. They are pushed into a dark room, and hold each other tightly as Bruno says, “You’re my best friend Shmuel… my best friend for life,” (Herman). Bruno senses something is not right; so he wants Shmuel to know how much he cares for him. Those are the final things Bruno says to Shmuel. Words full of assurance, warmth, and love.

In conclusion, war can bring out the best and worst of people. Bruno and Shmuel values their similarities and becomes friends, unlike the Nazis who only see differences in people. With Schindler, he realizes that saving lives and being kind towards another are more important than money. As a result, the war effects Schindler and Bruno by creating a kind-heartedness bond with the Jews; making them realize they are still human, despite the conflict against them from the war.

What I’m proud of

• Quotes
• Conclusion

What I want to improve

• Introduction
• Detail to quote

Works Cited

Spielberg, Steven, director. Schindler’s List. Universal, 1993.

Herman, Mark, director. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. Miramax, 2009.