discuss the importance of pavel in the boy and strip ed pyjamas

‘Discuss the importance of Pavel’
In the novel ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ the author is giving his viewpoint on the “death camps” of the Second World War. John Boyne said “As a writer, one must approach the subject with respect and sensitivity but there’s also a responsibility to tell an emotionally honest story.” In my opinion, telling the story through the eyes of a nine year old German boy the author tackles the subject of the Holocaust sensitively, innocently and from a surprising angle. Therefore, he does not delve into the reasons why these events took place but allows the more mature reader to realise the inferences and implications that he makes about the horror and inhumanity of ‘The Final Solution.’
In addition, in order to show the reader his viewpoint the author uses the character of Pavel to enable the reader to recognise not only how cruel ‘The Final Solution’ was, but also the courage and bravery of the prisoners of war.
Firstly in the physical appearance of Pavel we are given an insight into how he was treated. The quote ‘he was quite a small man, and very skinny too, with long fingers and angular features,’ Implies to us that he is obviously malnourished. The words ‘very skinny’ imply that he is not just skinny he is gone beyond that. Further on in the story Pavel is described again, this time he is even worse than before. The quote ‘he seemed to grow smaller and smaller each week,’ suggests to the reader that he is very frail and over time; week by week his living conditions have got worse. Another physical aspect is the uniform the prisoners were made to wear; because even though Pavel is waiting in the house he is still made wear this uniform. In my opinion, they are made wear them almost to be shamed and as a constant reminder of who they were and that they were not free people.
As well as just physical appearance the author demonstrates the mental and psychological impact it seems to be having on Pavel. The quote ‘the colour that should have been in his cheeks had drained almost entirely away. His eyes appeared heavy with tears.’ implies to the reader that he is not healthy. The word ‘drained’ implies to the reader that almost the life is being sucked out of him, but this has been over time and that he has being getting gradually worse. Also the word ‘heavy’ implies to the reader that he is very tired and like he is really giving up on life and no longer trying. I feel the author uses the progression of time to show how being in places like death camps slowly ate away at the mind set of people and the cruelness they must have suffered. So from page 83 when you first see Pavel to his reappearance on page 142, there is a visible change in his mental and physical appearance.
We are also shown courage and bravery when Pavel helps Bruno when he is hurt. The quote ‘your mother hasn’t returned yet, I’m afraid, said Pavel, who was kneeling on the floor in front of him and examining the knee. I’m the only one here’ shows that although Pavel knows there is no one there at the moment he is still taking a risk because at any moment a solider or his mother could arrive at the scene. I feel this shows Pavel and his caring side.
Another aspect the author highlights in using the character of Pavel is the true disregard the Nazis had for the previous life skills of the prisoners. Pavel used to be a doctor and now is nothing but a waiter peeling vegetables; ‘before I came here I practised as a doctor’ displays to the reader that no matter what you did before it is useless unless seen a useful skill by the Nazis. One’s race, ethnic origin or religious persuasion if not of Aryan nature overrode any skill set you once had. In other words you were less than a comparable human. Through the eyes of Pavel the author truly reflects how someone so skilled and intelligent could be made into someone so low and unvalued.
During the novel Pavel’s relationship with some of the other people in the house is also shown by the author. For example on page 135 to 137, there is a passage with Bruno talking to Maria the maid. Firstly ‘only he told me then that he wasn’t really a waiter at all. Maria’s face froze a little’ the use of the word froze in this quote implies that this is quite a tense and awkward subject for Maria to talk about. The quote ‘Pavel is not a doctor anymore Bruno said Maria quietly’ suggests that Maria is quite uncomfortable and also the use of the word ‘quietly’ which infers that she is frightened of being overheard, and almost like she knows that it’s not something she should be discussing with Bruno. Also the quote ‘Bruno frowned and thought about it. I don’t understand he said. Few of us do, said Maria’ implies to the reader that even she is unsure about how the prisoner’s previous careers are of such disregard to the Nazi’s. In my opinion the use of the part of Maria with Pavel is to show that not all the members of the household are exactly like the Nazis and even some who should be have their doubts over the Nazis beliefs.
The incident with Kotler when Pavel accidently spills wine on him is used by the author to make the reader think for themselves and to emphasise the fact that the Nazis did not have any care at all for a person’s life. The quote ‘What happened then was both unexpected and extremely unpleasant. Lieutenant Kotler grew very angry with Pavel… even though none of them could watch it made Bruno cry and Gretel pale,’ shows that even for just one simple mistake the punishment could be fateful. Also as the author does not actually describe what happens to Pavel it keeps the writing sensitive but to a more mature reader it is clear as to what has happened.
Also the use of Pavel lets Bruno see a different side to his father. For instance the quote ‘…and not even Father-stepped in to stop him doing what he did next’ shows the ruthlessness of the father and that even though he had the authority to stop Kotler he didn’t. Another quote ‘and while generally Bruno realized that Father was generally a kind and thoughtful man, it hardly seemed fair of right that no one had stopped lieutenant Kotler getting so angry at Pavel’ shows that again Bruno is beginning to realise that his father may not be quite such the good solider he thought he was.
In conclusion, John Boyne successfully uses Pavel to emphasise the inhumanity of the Nazis and how the human body and mind can be so brutally tortured but ones spirit and inner strength can endure even the worse that life can offer.