The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas Character Analysis

Character	Physical Description	Personality	Quotation to Support
Bruno	Bruno is a little fat and he has black hair. He is smaller than his peers. He is nine-years old, and born on the same day as Shmuel.	Bruno is very curious and juvenile. He is also a bit jealous of her sister. He is adventurous, so he always goes exploring. He is gullible and inexperienced in life, since he is a child. He is stubborn. He is caring, conscientious because he brings food to Shmuel. He also loves being right in an argument, especially with his sister. He is also friendly towards anyone; for example, Pavel. He loves reading story books.	“Who would he miss the most?” asked Bruno. “Me or Gretel?” page 5 “Perhaps you can come to dinner with us one evening” page 132 “It’s not boring at all,” said Bruno. “It’s an adventure. It’s better than dolls that is for sure.” Page 153 “All sorts of things. Football, for example. Or exploration. What’s the exploration like over there anyway? Any good?” page 131 “Bruno had read enough books about explorers to know that one could never be sure what one was going to find.” page 105
Shmuel	Shmuel is a skinny, pale boy. He doesn’t have much hair, since it is shaved in the concentration camp. He wears dirty stripped pyjamas like everyone else in the concentration camp. He wears an armband with the symbol      on his arm. His skin is almost grey and his eyes are the colour of caramel sweets.	Shmuel is knowledgeable and mature, unlike Bruno. He is usually quiet and patient. He is more experienced than Bruno since he is a Jew and is in a concentration camp. Since he is experienced in life, he is not a gullible as Bruno. He does not understand why Bruno visits him, but they are good friends. He is always hungry since there is less food in the camp.	“I don’t know why you’re so anxious to come across here anyway,” said Shmuel. “It’s not very nice.” page 151 “He sat down on the ground on his side of the fence and crossed his legs like the little boy and wished that he had brought some chocolate with him or perhaps a pastry that they could share.” page 108 “Shmuel shook his head and continued with his story. He didn’t often think about these things any ore because remembering his old life above the watch shop made him very sad.” page 127
Gretel	Gretel is thirteen years old, 3 years older than Bruno.	Gretel loves to play with her dolls and arrange them. She later starts to like geography instead of her dolls, for Lt. Kotler. She is rude, bossy, and acts maturely although she is not. She is obedient and gullible too, less than Bruno, of course. She is called “Hopeless Case” by Bruno. Their relationship gets better later.	“Bruno stood up and for the first time they stood up together, shoulder to shoulder, and stared at what was happening not fifty feed away from their home.” page 36 “I’m twelve but he’s only nine.” said. Gretel, looking at her brother with disdain. “And I can speak French too.” She added, which was not strictly speaking fine, although she had learned a few phrases in school. page 122