Character Perspective~ Kurt Kotler The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas-John Boyne

This was for an assessment task for my english class. I am proud to say I received 23/25 for this task which is 92% A+. I know it's not exactly historically correct but I had 45 minutes to plan and write so I'm proud of my effort. Please know I do not support what the Nazis did during World War 2. This piece was written as a character perspective piece fr the point of view of one of the German soldiers at the Auschwitz concentration camp. I mean nothing about the cruelty in this as it is only from the perspective of one of the soldiers. I believe that everyone should be treated equally and that what the Germans did was inhuman and what they said about the Jewish people was horrible and in no way do I support the idea that they are not human.

Here we go...

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I try to explain myself, "We're not close, my father and I," I began as I looked around the table at the Commandants family, "really we haven't spoken in years." As the exit my mouth, I remember why he left Germany, because of me. Because of what I was doing. I should really turn him in, but, it's too late now. It was 4 years ago, in 1938. I was nearly fifteen, and I had joined Hitler youth. Then, six months later, shortly after my fifteenth birthday, I became a real soldier. Young I was, but I was strong, so I was recruited. So, when I started rounding up those Jews, my father left because he disagreed with what the soldiers and I were accomplishing and the great service we were doing to this great country. I still am disgusted at what he did. I think abut turning him in everyday, but I can't because that will land me in trouble, and probably in the camp for withholding information about a sympathizer. "And what reason did he give" the Commandant says interrupting my train of thought. "Might I ask," he continued "for leaving Germany at the moment of her greatest glory and her most vital need, when it is incumbent upon all of us to play our part in the national revival? Was he tubercular?" the Commandant queries. My mouth goes dry. I wish he was tubercular rather than a Jewish sympathizer.

I look over at the waiter, thinking how, if I reveal that my father is a traitor, how that could very easily be me. How I could have the threat of death upon me everyday. But I am not there as a punishment, he is. He is there because he deserves it. I am there to punish things like him. I am human. I am German. I am superior. Jews are not people. Jews don't even deserve to be called vermin. Jews deserve death. They shouldn't even be worthy enough to serve food to the Commandant or even myself. I feel a little better, looking at that horrible being. I still worry though, and can feel my palms getting sweaty and my mouth going dry again, just at the thought of my secret being revealed. If only I hadn't opened my mouth, I wouldn't even be in this situation. And if that stupid child hadn't started talking about history, I would be fine.