The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is a novel by John Boyne that tells the story of Bruno, a young boy living in Nazi Germany during World War II. Bruno is the main character of the novel, and he is a curious, imaginative, and naive boy who is oblivious to the horrors of the war and the Holocaust.
Bruno's father, Ralf, is a high-ranking Nazi officer who is responsible for running Auschwitz, the concentration camp where Bruno's family moves to. Ralf is a stern, disciplined, and loyal man who is devoted to the Nazi cause. However, he is also conflicted about the atrocities committed at Auschwitz and the impact it has on his family.
Bruno's mother, Elsa, is a kind, compassionate, and loving woman who tries to protect her children from the harsh realities of the war. She is conflicted about her husband's role in the Nazi party and the atrocities committed at Auschwitz.
Bruno's sister, Gretel, is a teenage girl who is obsessed with her appearance and the Nazi ideology. She is a loyal supporter of the Nazi party and is eager to join the League of German Girls, the Nazi organization for young girls.
Shmuel is a Jewish boy who lives on the other side of the fence at Auschwitz. Bruno meets Shmuel and they become friends, despite the fact that they are not supposed to interact with each other. Shmuel is thin, dirty, and malnourished, and he has lost his family in the Holocaust. He is a quiet, gentle, and intelligent boy who is a victim of the Nazi regime.
Lieutenant Kotler is an SS officer who works at Auschwitz. He is strict, cold, and ruthless, and he is dedicated to the Nazi cause. Kotler is an antagonist in the novel, as he represents the brutality and cruelty of the Nazi regime.
Overall, the characters in The Boy in the Striped Pajamas are complex and multifaceted, and their actions and motivations are shaped by the historical context of the war and the Holocaust. Each character represents different aspects of the human experience during this tumultuous period in history, and their interactions and relationships with each other serve to highlight the devastating effects of war and intolerance.