Novels do more than tell stories; they explore ideas.
How is this statement true for "the boy in the striped pyjamas"?
There are many ideas or themes in this book. John Boyne uses the innocence of children to explore the irrationality and brutality of the Holocaust. Bruno and Shmuel learn what is happening on other sides of the fence. Both worlds, the comfortable German world and brutality of the camp, do not make sense to the boys: and it should not make sense. Human brutality is absurd. You can check out more themes below:
http://www.gradesaver.com/the-boy-in-the-striped-pajamas/study-guide/themes
