Family Quotes in The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

Here we have a perfect example of where Bruno's gets his values. Politeness may seem like a small thing, but it can make all the difference in making someone feel appreciated or not. Or, you know, human.

"Some people" is Bruno's mother's code for Bruno's dad, a.k.a. her husband, as she expresses her displeasure in the move away from Berlin. The powerlessness she feels is demonstrated in her inability/refusal to refer to him directly—even when the guy's not in the room, he runs the show. Although, perhaps, by "some people" she really means Hitler…

Ah, good old machismo. Then again, Father's lack of mushy-gushiness could be due to his profession as a commandant and Nazi. For him, showing love could be seen as a sign of weakness, something the Nazis definitely don't admire.