Character Representation: Bruno from "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas"
What Bruno Says:
“I don’t understand why I can’t play with you,” he insists, his voice rising with a mixture of confusion and frustration, directed toward his father.
What Bruno Does:
Bruno kicks at the dirt beneath his shoes, casting glances at the barbed wire that separates him from the boy in the striped pajamas. He bites his lip, torn between the urge to explore and the feeling of being trapped.
What Bruno Feels:
A sense of loneliness washes over him, an emptiness that fills the space where his friends should be. He feels a longing for normalcy as he gazes out of the window of his new home, wishing for the adventures he used to have.
What Bruno Thinks:
Why can’t I have friends here like I did in Berlin? Thoughts of his old life linger as he meticulously considers the new world he's been thrust into, which feels more like a prison than a home. He thinks about how his father’s job is so different and why his father looks at him with such seriousness when he talks about “the way things are.”
Short Explanation:
I chose this format to highlight Bruno's innocence and confusion in a world that’s foreign to him. By illustrating what he says, does, feels, and thinks, I demonstrate his childlike yearning for friendship and understanding amidst a backdrop of fear and separation. This representation captures the essence of Bruno's character as a symbol of innocence in a harsh environment, reflecting his struggle to connect with others despite his circumstances.
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