Why is the wooden bench turned to face the house boy in he striped pajamas?

In "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas," the wooden bench facing the house symbolizes the stark contrast between the lives of Bruno and Shmuel. Bruno sits on the bench, representing his sheltered and privileged upbringing, while Shmuel, on the other side of the fence, embodies the harsh realities of the Holocaust. This physical separation underscores the themes of innocence and the arbitrary divisions created by society. The bench serves as a metaphor for the barriers between the two boys, highlighting their friendship despite the circumstances.