Fredrick Nietzsche, a renowned German philosopher, believed that one of the strongest
governing drives that humans possess, is their desire for power. Essentially when we
closely examine the idea of power in literature, we see that much of the conflict in novels
is about power; the struggle to gain, maintain or redress the balance of power. The need for
power is a reality of life; to use or abuse, to claim or deny, own or disown, to marginalize
or empower. This theme is omnipresent throughout literature about the Holocaust. Hitler
and his struggle for power and dominance are infamous. Novels and films set in World
War II often examine the issues of power in terms of race, age, gender and social class.
One such novel is The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne. An Irish novelist,
Boyne is acutely aware of the issues of power and dominance as he grew up during the
time of The Troubles between the Protestants and Catholics in Northern Ireland. Boyne
uses the narrative conventions of style and characterisation in his poignant and moving
novel to explore and expose the power relationships of race, gender, age, social status and
politics in the novel.
Body Paragraph 1
Topic Sentence:
* Style – Point of view eg. Boyne uses third person limited point of view to expose the
power relationships of in the novel. Point of view
Expansion:
* As we see the world through the eyes of innocence and we as readers are positioned
through the use of the limited point of view to examine the world of Nazi Germany during
WWII so that step by step, alongside Bruno we come to the realisation of the extent of the
abuse of power that took place. Boyne uses third rather than first person point of view so
that we know more than the character at all times so that we can maintain objectivity and
through this objectivity make a clear judgement about what is occurring abuse
Example:
* Example of racial inequality (Kotler to Pavel about finding the tyre in the shed)
OR
* Example of gender imbalance (Father silencing Mother or grandmother)
OR
* Example of conflict due to youth and power expectations that youth do not challenge
authority (Bruno being told by Father or Kotler. when I was your age Bruno.)
Explanation:
* Further explanation of example/quote
Concluding sentence:
* Return to essay question and link it to what you have said in your paragraph
Body Paragraph 2
Topic Sentence:
* Style * Use of literary devices * puns and foreshadowing eg Boyne uses puns to
