being just silent when Bruno says that Germany is far superior to Shmuel’s country, Poland Boyne 112 and when Bruno misunderstands what Shmuel tells about his
sad experiences Boyne 127-130. In summary, despite the difficulties they face when trying to get general
information about each other, Bruno and Shmuel can successfully pas through this first stage of development in seeking similarity and support. We can see that their
efforts are enhanced by their tolerance and patience in having conversations. As their conversations become more intimate, they decide to develop their friendship
into the higher level stage of development, which is increasing intimacy.
4.1.3.2 Increasing Intimacy
The second stage of development of friendship as stated by Duck is increasing intimacy. It is in this stage that people begin to open themselves about
more personal information, such as attitudes, personalities, inner character and true selves 71-85. As what Jourad qtd in Duck 71-72 says that the main
characteristic developed in this stage is self-disclosure. Self-disclosure means one’s willingness to open someone’s self and personal thoughts to his friends. This
characteristic must happen in a friendship because someone who never says anything about personal opinions, thoughts, and feelings will be considered as a
closed and defensive person. In the novel, Bruno reflects the characteristic of self-disclosure when he
builds a friendship with Shmuel. We can see the example from Bruno’s stories about the people around him, such as his opinions about his sister Boyne 129 and
Lieutenant Kotler Boyne 141. Bruno’s actions indicate that he wants to open
himself by telling private matters. Bruno also shows his commitment that he seeks to get closer to Shmuel by asking him to play together and inviting him to dinner.
“Perhaps you can come to dinner with us one evening,” said Bruno, although he wasn’t sure it was a very good idea.
“Perhaps,” said Shmuel, although he didn’t sound convinced. “Or I could come to you,” said Bruno. “Perhaps I could come and meet
your friends,” he added hopefully. He had hoped that Shmuel would suggest this himself but there didn’t seem to be any sign of that.
“You’re on the wrong side of the fence through,” said Shmuel. “I could crawl under,” said Bruno, reaching down and lifting the wire off
the ground. In the centre, between the wooden telegraph poles, it lifted quite easily and a boy as small as Bruno could easily fit through.
Shmuel watched him do this and backed away nervously. “I have to go back,” he said.
“Some other afternoon then,” said Bruno. “I’m not supposed to be here. If they catch me I’ll be in trouble” Boyne
132.
Here, Bruno shows his self-disclosure towards Shmuel. He wants Shmuel to feel his friendliness and hospitality in a hope that Shmuel can also open himself to
Bruno. In this stage, Shmuel seems to have a little difficulty in showing self- disclosure to Bruno. It is caused by his personality which is basically closed and
melancholic. We can see the example when Bruno regularly asks Shmuel to allow him to crawl under the fence and play with him. Shmuel, knowing that the life in
the camp is horrible, just answers in a low voice, “You don’t know what it’s like here” Boyne 140. Shmuel does not want Bruno to know that he lives a miserable
life in the camp. Furthermore, he does not want Bruno to end their friendship after knowing that he is a Jewish boy, while Bruno is a son of Nazi military officer.
From the sociocultural-historical point of view, Shmuel’s actions are reasonable. Jewish children were the main targets to be murdered as they were weak and not
capable of doing anything useful to the soldiers. In a death camp, young children were selected and murdered because they had little value as laborers. Usually
children lied about their age to survive the selection. Many of them suffered starvation, diseases, and sexual abuses. In Auschwitz camp, they were even used as
objects of brutal experiments Laqueur 117-118. Being silent and passive were the only ways to avoid soldier’s attentions towards them. It explains Shmuel’s
reluctancy to tell Bruno about his conditions because he tries not to attract any attentions that may provoke soldiers to search and find him.
Once, their friendship seems to get worse when Shmuel, who works in Bruno’s house as a servant, is caught of eating food given by Bruno. When
threatened by Lieutenant Kotler, Shmuel admits that Bruno is the one who gives the food because he is a friend of Shmuel. Bruno, in his fear towards Lieutenant Kotler,
says that he does not know Shmuel Boyne 172. This action can be explained through the historical background in that era. Nazi Germany’s rules deprived
Jewish children from all of basic rights, including the right to attend schools. The idea was to separate Jewish children from German children as Nazi believed that
Jews tried to spread bad influence towards German people. Both German and Jewish children were to obey that rules Laqueur 115. That is why Bruno tries to
deny the fact that he is a friend of Shmuel. However, both Bruno and Shmuel can manage to apologize and forgive each other after the incident. The result is that the
incident does not make their friendship ends. Instead, it strengthens their friendship in a more intimate level.
4.1.3.3 Showing That the Friendship is Growing
