Lieutenant Kotler: The handsome and arrogant 19-year Lieutenant Kotler is an interesting character throughout the novel. He pretends to be friendly with the Commandant in order to climb the ranks of the Third Reich, but in reality, he is an unloyal, hot-headed soldier.He carries on an affair with the Commandant's wife throughout the novel.In Chapter 13, during dinner, Lieutenant Kotler says that his father left for Switzerland in 1938. The Commandant questions Kotler...
Lieutenant Kotler: The handsome and arrogant 19-year Lieutenant Kotler is an interesting character throughout the novel. He pretends to be friendly with the Commandant in order to climb the ranks of the Third Reich, but in reality, he is an unloyal, hot-headed soldier. He carries on an affair with the Commandant's wife throughout the novel. In Chapter 13, during dinner, Lieutenant Kotler says that his father left for Switzerland in 1938. The Commandant questions Kotler as to why his father chose to leave for Switzerland and suggests that maybe he had differing views about the government policies. Kotler is apprehensive to answer and says nothing. There are several reasons to believe that Kotler's father is, in fact, a Jew, who did have disagreements with the Nazi regime, which is why he fled. It is noted that Kotler dyes his hair and that the year in which his father left Germany was termed 'The Fateful Year,' because it was when the Nazis' Jewish policies went into full swing. One can surmise that the Commandant not only found out about the affair but also found out that Kotler's father was a Jew, which is why he was relieved of his position.
Pavel: The reality of Pavel's situation is that he is a former doctor who is being held as a prisoner of Auschwitz concentration camp because he is a Jew. The reason Pavel looks like he is losing weight is because he suffers from malnutrition like the rest of the inmates. The unhappy look on Pavel's face reflects the terrible situation he is in.
Bruno's Grandmother "Nathalie": The reality of Nathalie's situation is that she is aware that her husband and son are staunch supporters of the Nazi regime. She realizes the extensive atrocities that the Third Reich commits and is utterly opposed to their policies. She is ashamed of her son and disagrees with her husband's patriotic views. Her relationship with her son is ruined following an argument on Christmas Day.
Bruno's Father "Ralf": Bruno's father is in an uncompromising position. He has just been promoted to Commandant in the Third Reich and has been given orders directly from Hitler to move his family to Auschwitz. The Commandant understands that he cannot resist Hitler's commands, despite his wife's appeals. His marriage is in a downward spiral, and he fears repercussions from the Nazi regime if he were to resign and move back to Berlin. His determination to reach the top of the Nazi regime has cost him his marriage, and eventually he loses his mind after Bruno dies.
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