Maus Essay

AndrewHart

IntrotoLit

ProfRajaram

Oct.222013

Vladek'sConfusion

TobeintheHolocaustasajewishcitizenisafrighteningstretch.Overcomingthroughalltheodds thattheconcentrationcamps,Gestapo,andthewarprovidedisarewardingachievementforalucky JewishsubjectNotforVladekSpiegelmanInArtieSpiegelman'sGraphicNovelMaus,heuses picturestodescribehisfather'sjourneythroughtheHolocaust.Vladeklosesalmosteverythinghe loveshisbusiness,home,andmostofhisfamily.Thistestshischaracterthroughoutthestoryand ultimatelyresultshimbeingbittertowardslifeafterHowevertheHolocaustforcesVladektorely oninanimateobjectstogethimthroughthistime.Heconfusespeopleand...showmorecontent...

Healmostloseshisprizewife,butheprovesthatheactuallycaresabouther.Aftertheconsolingthe panelbelowshowahugefamilydinnercelebratingtriumphofVladek'shardworkgettinghistrophy wife.VladeklovesAnjaandprovedsobydealingwithanexgirlfriendscrazyantics.Howeverhis loveforAnjaisamilddistractionthathehasaspecialrelationshipwithcurrencyandhislovelifeis aformofit.WorldWar11makesVladek'suniquebondwithcurrencyavaluableresourceforhim asatoolforsurvival.Withthewarhittingthejewishcommunitythehardest,becauseofVladekand Anja'sfamilywealththeyareabletoenjoytheluxuriouslife–stylelonger.Vladekevensays"When firstIcamehomeitlookedexactlysoasbeforeIwentaway.(Spiegelman76)"Thepanelprievews outsidewindowlookinginonthefamilygatheringtogetherfordinnerInahugeestateasifthewar didnotaffectthem.Eventhoughalliscalmthenthefamilyknowsthiswillnotbesafeforthem forever.WiththeirmoneyrunninglowtheyrelyonVladek'sloveforcurrencytohelpthemkeepthe familygoingItistheshiftofcurrenciesthatVladekisabletokeepthingsrunningsmoothlyforhe andhisfamily.Afterdiscussingwithhisfamilythatthemoneyisrunninglowhegoesbacktohis businessrootsandhitsthestreetsinpursuittomake

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Astimegoesbyonewouldthinktheworldisevolvinginapositivemanner.Withallthenew technologyandnewresources,wewouldassumetobebetterpeoplethanthegenerationbeforeus. Manywouldarguethatwearebetterbecausewearealwayswellinformedbythetabloidsandsocial mediaofwhatishappeningintheworld.Unfortunately,weashumansareevolvinginanegative mannerOurhumannaturesincegenerationsbeforeusshowhowcruelweareInthebook,Maus writtenbyArtSpiegelmanshowsushowmaliciousandinhumanpeoplecantreateachother.The novelilluminatesourunderstandingofhumannatureasbeingevilaswellasdeceivingindividuals, whodonotacttobettertheworldastimegoesonInthecomic,Jewsweresenttoconcentration campsbutbeforetheyleftariotdowntownwasdescribed.Vladeksaid"...EveryoneYelling,"Jews Out!Jewsout!"...eventwopeoplekilled.Thepolicejustwatched!"(Spiegelman37).Thequote showshowpeopleareconstantlybeinginfluencedwhenahigherauthorityfigurehasmorepower thanthem.Inthisinstance,HitlerhadtheauthorityanddidnotwantthebestforJews.Policeareto keepeveryonesafeandcontrolchaosAswecanseeinthequoteabove,theshowmorecontent

Anjaknewsheinvolvedherselfinillegalactionbytranslatingcommunistmessages.Insteadof hidingthemessagesinherhouse,whichsheknewbydoingsoshewouldgetarrested.Shegave themtoherseamstress.Anjasaid"MissStefanska–Please!Hidethispackageforme–don'ttell ANYONEaboutit!"(Spiegelman28).Shedeceivedherseamstressbecauseshetrickedherinto hidingthemessagesandlaterontheseamstresspaidthepriceofAnjaAnjagavetheenvelopefull oftranslatedwordstohertoprotectherself,butthisdoesnotjustifywhatshedid.Spiegelman showsusthatinsteadofacceptingourfaultswetrytoblameothersfor

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ReviewofMaus:ASurvivor'sTalebyArtSpiegelman

TheholocaustwasaterriblewarthatkilledmanyJewishpeopleValdekwasextremelyluckyand hewasoneoftheveryfewJewswholivedandmadeitthroughthewar.Althoughheisstillalive hewillneverbeabletoforgettheterriblethingstheNazisdidtotheJews.Thethingshelearntin theconcentrationcampswillalwaysaffecthislifeandafterreadingMausthereadercanseemany differentwaysthattheholocausteffectedValdek'spersonality.ItmadeValdektobecomeextremely frugal,infuriatinglymanipulative,andlastlyheisn'tabletorelaxanymore.Weseethesethreetraits alotthroughoutthebook.

Vladektriesnottoshowthatheistraumatizedbutyou...showmorecontent... Unfortunatelyhekeptthistraitthroughouttherestofhislifeanditiswhatcausedhimtolosehis secondwife,Mala.ThisquotationshowsthatMalawasveryunhappylivingwithValdek."Your fatherhetreatsmeasifIwerejustamaidorhisnurse...worse!Heonlygivesme$50.00amonth..." (Spiegelman130,MausI)InthisquoteyouseehowMalacan'tstandlivingwithValdekandyou alsoseethatValdekissofrugalthathewillnotevengiveMala,hisownwifemoney. InfuriatinglymanipulativewasanothercharacteristicValdekreceivedasaresultofthewarValdek alwaysneededeverythingintherightorderandhealwayshadtohaveeverythingdoneintheright way/thewayhelikesit.ThiswasduetothefactthatwhenValdekwasinthewar,everythinghe wastoldtodo,witherhewastoldtofixashoeorputpiecesintherightorderithadtobedone perfectly.Valdeksaidthiswhenhewassortingouthisoldnailsinhisgarage."I'mputtingnow awaymyoldnails–thelongonesseparatefromtheshortones."(Spiegelman98,MausI)This quotationshowsthereaderthatValdekalwaysneededeverythinginorder.Healsohadtheskillofa swiftlearner.Thereforeheleanthowtofixmanydifferentthings.Thishelpedhimsurvivethewar, butnowheknowshowtodomanythingswhichcauseshimtoshowoffArtiesaidthistohiswife onemorningwhenValdekaskedhimtohelphimfixtheroof."Helovedshowingoffhowhandyhe

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Whyarecomicsnotappreciatedasmuchasthedrynarrativesofnovelsintheliteraryworld?A comiciscomposedofsymbolstoexpressconceptssharedbyallpeopleintheirownsocial environment,andprovidemoretoolsthanconventionalarttotrulyshowartisticintention. Comicsexisttoexposetheethnicrepresentationsthatseektocontrolthedevelopmentofcollective perceptions,memoriesandemotionsandespeciallyfearbyinvestigatingthetechniquesthrough whichthiscontrolismaintained.MausIisatrueaccountofaHolocaustsurvivor,Vladek Spiegelman,andhisexperiencesasayoungJewduringthehorrorsleadinguptotheconfinementin AuschwitzMausIIisaboutVladekrecountinghisownhistorytohissonArtshowmorecontent Spiegelmanusesmice,cats,pigsandotheranimalstoportraythevictimsandeventsinthe Holocaust.Heusesrealfeaturesofhumanbeingssuchashands,feetandemotionstogivethe animalsthefullpotentialtorelateto.Mausrevealsthatthecharactersportrayedasmicearebeing seeninsharperreliefashumanconcernsintheworldofmice.Spiegelmandecidedoninteresting butpossiblyoffensiveuseofdifferentanimalstouseThefirsttypeofanimalwhichappearsinthis comicisthemouse(MausI:5).TheformofmiceisusedtorepresenttheJewishpeopleduringthe Holocaustandasofnowtoo.ThePolishpolicewereinvolvedinthearrestofinnocentJewishmice (27).ThePolishpeoplewerepigsandGermanswererepresentedascats.TheGermans'appearance ascatsbegantomakesenseinthewayhowcatschase,huntandkillmice(33).Thiscomicbook wastranslatedintoaneasilyreadableformattoeducatethehistoryoftheHolocausttotheyounger generations.

Second,thechoiceofacomicformatservesasavitalaspectinthereader'sunderstandingofthe visualsocietyandmakingawarenessthroughgenerationsasmoreattunedtotheimagethantothe word.InVladek'sworld,beingandlivingasahumanmeantlivinginfear.Vladekescapesthefear ofdeathforatimethroughtheintercessionofanS.S.officerwhowantedtolearnEnglishfromhim andinreturnprovidedhimwithsomeprotection(78).This

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ArtSpiegelmanwritesMaustodepicttheeventsoftheHolocaustinNaziGermany.Spiegelman usesacomicbookmediumtoportrayhisfather'sexperiencesinAuschwitzwhichisaveryunusual waytowriteaboutaserioustopic.ArtSpiegelmanrevealsthetrueterrorandhorrorofthe HolocaustinMausthroughfirsthandaccountsandexperiencestoenhanceandconveyadeeper meaningalongwithvisualrepresentationstointensifythestoryinawholenewwaywherethe readercanhaveamoreunderstandableapproachtotheeventsofthecomicbook.Spiegelman'sway ofdepictingtheHolocaustthroughacomicbookiscompletelyacceptablebecauseofthecomic book'svisualexperiences,andfirsthandaccountevidencethatallowsthereadertointerpretthebook intheircreativewaytohaveamoresophisticatedinterpretationandunderstandingthanwitha traditionalbook.Spiegelmanalsowritesusingvisualstoshowthemeaningandterrorbehindhis wordsthatshowmorecontent

Theothershadtojumpinthegraveswhilestilltheywerealive...prisonerswhatworkedthere pouredgasolineovertheliveonesandthedeadones"(SpiegelmanMausII)Thisaddstothe conclusionthatitisacceptabletowriteinacomicbookmediumbecause,inthissituation,thereader interpretsthisspecificartworkintheirownwaywheretheycanfeeltheemotionandterrorasifthey couldheartheprisoner'sscreams.Also,thereaderdoesnothavetovisualizetheimageintheir thoughts,insteadSpiegelmanpresentsthereaderwithanimagetothinkabout.Anadditional examplewouldbewhenVladektellsArtiehowtheGermanswouldtakekids,andhowsometimes theGermansdidawfulthingstothesekids.Spiegelmanwrites,"mosttheytookwerekids–some only2or3years.Somekidswerescreamingandscreaming.Theycouldn'tstop.SotheGermans swingedthembythelegsagainstawall,

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3.ChooseoneortwothemesfromthefollowinglistandshowhowSpiegelmanconveyedthisin Maus:Loneliness;Discrimination;AbuseofPower;LossofInnocence,Guilt,Survival.

ThegraphicnovelMausbyArtSpiegelmanconveysmanyvariedandpowerfulthemestothe readerSpiegelmanhasconveyedthethemesGuiltandSurvivalbyusingvariousmethodsincluding narration,dialogueandseveralcomicbooktechniquestoshowtheexpressionsandfeelingsofthe centralcharacters.GuiltisanespeciallystrongthemeinMaus,appearingmanytimeswithArtand VladekSurvivalisanotherprimarythemeinMausImagesareusedbySpiegelmantodisplaythe waysthatVladeksurvivedduringtheHolocaust.

Art'sguiltisshowntohisfathershowmorecontent

VladektooappearstofeelguiltyabouthavingsurvivedtheHolocaust.AsSpiegelman'sguilt continueshevisitsamannamedPavelandthetwodiscusstheguiltandwhatitmeanstobea Holocaust"survivor."PavelsuggeststhatVladekhimselfactuallyfeltasenseofguiltforhaving survivedtheHolocaustwhilstsomanyofhisfriendsandfamilydidnot.AndmaybeVladektook thisguiltoutonArtthe"realsurvivor"asPavelcallshim.

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Maus:ASurvivor'sTale,byArtSpiegelman,tellsthestoryofhisfather'ssurvivalinAuschwitz duringtheHolocaust,aswellasaboutArt'srelationshipwithhisfather,broughtoutthroughthe interviewprocessandwritingthetwobooks.Thesubjectmatterofthetwobooksisstarkly juxtaposedwiththestyleinwhichitwaswritten,thatis,itisagraphicnovel.Inmostsimpleterms, thestoryistoldinasortofcomic,withcharactersrepresentedasanimalsbasedontheirraceor nationality(Jewsarepresentedasmice,Germansascats,Polesaspigs,andAmericansasdogs). Whilethecartoonhadoncebeenreservedforratherchildishandlightsubjectmatter,Spiegelman hasbroughtittoawholenewlevelasamediumcapableshowmorecontent

ThetwopagesbeginwithaframewhereArtSpiegelmanasthecartoonist(weknowitistheArtas thecartoonist,partlyduetothescene,butalsoingreatpartduetotheuseofmasksratherthanthe completeanimalmetaphorusedthroughouttherestofthenovel)isbeinginterviewedbyapairof dogs,asspecifiedearlier,signifyingAmericans.Thecharactersarestandinguponthispileofmice corpseswithfliesbuzzingaroundthemAstheframescontinue,ArtSpiegelmanisfurtheraccosted bydifferentgroupsofpeople.Followingthedogs,amanwearingacatmaskbeginstointerviewArt aboutthecriticismhehasbeenreceivinginGermany.Afterthemaninthecatmask,apersonina mousemaskaskshimaboutIsrael.Followingthepersoninthemousemask,anotherpersonappears inamaskthatistryingtomakeabusinessoffer,butthetypeofanimalthatisrepresentedis indistinguishableAlsointhisframe,theimageofArtbeginstoshrinkashesitsinthechairInthe followingtwofinalframesonthefirstpagecontinue,Art'simageshrinksevenfurtheruntilheisthe sizeofasmallchild.Itisevenseenthatheisactinglikeasmallchildashebeginstocry.Onthe nextpagetheframesbeginagain,butallthepeoplethatwerepreviouslyinterviewinghimhave disappeared.However,inthecornerofthefirstframe,thereisaflystillbuzzingaround.Theninthe nextframe,Artmakesfurthercommentaryabout

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Alligottasayis,thisbookisawesome!!Iwouldratemausa4.5outof5.Thebooki'mreadingis mausbyArt,Spiegelman.Thisbookisrevolvingaroundtheauthor'sfatherandhisfamily's experiencesinthedaysoftheholocaust.Thewaytheauthordragsyouinbyintroducingyouwitha littlefamilycomedyisamazingididn'treallyexpectmuchoutthisbookbecauseformanyyearsi've learnedalotabouttheholocaustandthoughtthatiknewitallTheauthorgoeshiswayexplaininga differentviewthatineverthoughtof.Thespigelmanfamilyarejewishandthewaytheauthorgoes abouttellingtheirstoryisbythroughtheirmemories.Iwouldalwaystrytothinkwhatitwould've beenlikeasajewduringthattimebuttheauthoropenedmyeyesasiwasreadingthisbookitwas likelearningeverytragedyalloveragain.Ireasoniratedthisbooksohigh...showmorecontent... Thisonereviewmademequestionmyselfaboutmyownopinionbecauseicouldn'thavedisagreed morewiththereviewer.Hesaid"itwasdifficulttorelatetothebookandtheholocaustbecausethe authormadethecharactersaspigs,cats,mice."(mouse#1).Sobasicallythereviewerissayingthat hecouldn'tseetheconnectionsthatweretryingtobemadewiththeuseoftheanimalsasthe charactersthroughoutthetext.Iwouldhavetosaythatidisagreewiththepointthattherevieweris tryingtosay,becausetheauthorusedtheseanimalsascharacterstoshowsymbolismbetweenthe charactersandhumans.Thecoverofthebookisagreatexpamlefromthebooktoshowhowthese characterssymbolizehumans.(spieglemenCover.)Thepictureshowsanazisymbolwithacat (germans)inthemiddleandtwomicescareddownbelow,itsymbolizesthatduringtheholocaust thejews(mice)werescaredanddefenselessthroughoutthebookandthegermans(cats)werethe biggerandmoreleathealtobullythe

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ArtSpiegelman'sMaus,hasthedepthandsubtletythatweexpectfromtraditionalnovelsand extendednonfictionaltext.Whenyouthinkofacomicyouthinksuperheroesandfunnycomicsin thebackofthenewspaper.MausisthechillingrealityofsurvivingasaJewduringtheHolocaust. ThecomictypewritingandillustrationhelpusunderstandwhattheJewshadtogothroughto surviveduringtheHolocaustFormanypeopletodayitishardtoimaginewhatitmusthavebeen liketoliveasaJewinthosedays.Theillustrationsshowhowtheyhadtodisguisethemselvesso theywouldn'tbeattackedforjustbeingthemselves.Jewsdidn'treallyhaveanyonetoturnto.Even thepolicewouldnothelpSpiegelmanusedanimalstoshowdifferent

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TheThemeOfSurvivalInMausByArtSpiegelman

AftertheHolocaustonMay8th,1945,abookcalledMauswasreleasedwhichisrevolvedaround survival.Theauthor,ArtSpiegelmanintendedthestorywastoreflectuponhispastandexpresshis feelingsworldhowhehadtodeallifewasatthetime.ThebookisastoryofArt'sfathernamed Vladek,hetellshispoint–of–viewtotheworldtoshowmultiplestruggleshehadtowithstand.The themeofArtSpiegelman'sbookMausissurvival;ArtSpiegelmanshowsthethemeofsurvivalby usingtone,mood,andpoint–of–viewthroughoutthegraphicnovel.Vladekisthemaincharacterof Mausandshareshispointofview.VladektellsatruestoryabouthowhesurvivedtheHolocaust andthethingshehadtoaccomplishtomakeitthroughaliveThisbookisbasedonatruestoryof whathadhappenedduringtheHolocaust.

ThetoneinMausisdepression;thisisshownwhenVladektellsthestoryinhisperspectiveand revealswhatkindofeventsoccurredduringtheHolocaust.Thisrelatestosurvivalbecauseeven thoughVladekhadafeelingofdiscouragementthroughhisexperiences,hestillmanagedtosurvive Vladekexplainswhenhewascapturedasawarprisonerandwhattheygavethemtoeat."Theother prisonersgettwomealsaday.WeJewsgetonlyacrustofbreadandalittlesoup."(Spiegelman,55) ThisshowshowharditwasfortheJewsandhowhopelessVladek'sstorywas.Another heartbreakingpartofthestorywaswhenVladekhadtoworkhardandactasslavestothe ...Getmorecontent...

Whenreadingatraditionalbook,itisuptothereadertoimaginethefacesandlandscapesthatare describedwithin.Awellwrittenstorywilldescribetheimagesclearlysothatyoucaneasilypicture thedetails.InArtSpiegelman'sTheCompleteMaus,theuseoftheanimalsinplaceofthehumans offersarathercomicalviewinitssimplisticrelationtothesubjectandatthesametimedevelopsa crypticmoodwithinthestoryHisdrawingsoflivingconditionsinAuschwitz;expressionsonthe facesofpeopleenduringtorture,starvation,anddespair;hisexperiencewiththementalinstitution andhismother'ssuicide;andoccasionalsnapshotsofcertainindividuals,createanewdynamic betweenbookandreaderByusingtheformofshowmorecontent

ArtshowstheobsessivecompulsiveaspectsofVladekwithintensity.AsyoulistentoVladek's story,youbegintounderstandhisdrivingneedtokeepeverything.Livinginaninfestedprisonwith littlefoodanddrink,hehadtolearntosurvive.WithsmalltokensfromhislifebeforeAuschwitz, Artbegantomakealliesandtradeforfoodandclothing.TeachingEnglishtoaguardandacquiring somebasicnecessitiesforsurvival,asatinsmithhefoundpeopletotradeforfoodandgavegiftsto hisKapotogainfavorandbettertreatment,heevenfixedthebootsofhiswife'sKapoand afterwardshiswifewasnolongertreatedsopoorly.Vladekhadtosalvageanythingthatmightbeof valuetosomeoneelseandeventuallywasevenabletomovehiswifeclosersohecouldkeepaneye onher.Soonhisobsessionwithsavinganythinghecangethishandsonstartstomakesense.As youtakeinthestoryofAuschwitz,therearemomentswhenyourealizehoweasilyheVladekis tellingthestory.Hedescribestimeswhentheprisonersareinspectedforhealthandiftheypassthey aresentbacktothebarrackstocontinueworkingandiftheyaretoosickthentheyareremoved fromthecampArtusesthesmokestacktorepresentthosewhoaretakenawayandsenttothegas chamber,thedevastatingimageischillingandleavesabadfeelinginthepitofyourstomach.Itis suchasimpledrawing,small

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Aswastika,acat,andtwodespondentlookinglikemice.Theoldmaximgoesyoucan'tjudgea bookbyitscover,butthecoverofMausaptlysetsusupforareadingexperiencelikenoother. Mausisagraphicnovelthataimstodisplaythegruesome,deplorable,anddehumanizingeventsthat occurredduringtheHolocaust.TheHolocaust,insimpleterms,wasthebrutalgenocideofoversix millionJewsbythehandsoftheGermansItcanbearguedthatatitscore,Mausisanovelaboutthe father–sonrelationshipbetweenArtSpieglmenandhisfather,Vladek.WhatseparatesMausfrom variousothernovelspublishedabouttheHolocaust,isthemediumSpiegelmenusestostylizehis storyMausisreadthroughaseriesofexpressivecomicstripsandSpiegelmenoptsforanimal maskstorepresentthehumansinthenovel,whichhasamultitudeofimpactsonthenovel.The choiceofanimalsassociatedwiththeirtypical"people"clearlytendstothewickednessof Holocaust,witheachanimalrepresentingtheirownallegoricalmeaning.Ontheflipside,theusage ofanimalscanbeinterpretedasmeanstolightenupasaddeningstory,andineffectdesensitizethe JewishplightMoreover,afterreading"PrisonerofHellPlanet",(Theshort,almostsurreal,comic stripsillustratedbySpiegelmenashumans,whichpredatesMausandconcernsthesuicideofhis mother)wetrulyexperiencethisdifferentsetofemotionsevokedfromhumansvsthatofanimals. Thereisastrikingcontrastin

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AnimalCharacterizationInMaus

MausisanAmericangraphicnovelthatisusedtodescribethedifferentsituationinthereligious andsocietalnorms.Thegraphicnoveliswellknownforitsuseofcharacterization.,theuseof animalstorepresentthevariouspeopleinthesociety.Characterizationandpersonificationarepart ofthesignificantliterarydevicesthathavebeenusedinnovelstodisplaydifferentcharacteristicsof thepeoplebeingdiscussedItisausefultoolintheliteraturethatraisestheattributesofan individualoragroupofindividualsbasedonthecharacteristicsofananimalasanobject,inthe book,Maus,thesymbolicuseofthemiceisusedtodescribethedifferentattributeoftheJewish peopleinthecommunity

ThebookMausdepictsSpiegelmaninterviewinghisfatherabouthisexperiencesasaPolishJew andHolocaustsurvivor.It,however,donotusetheancientpresentationtechniquesbutchoosesto usepost–modernistfeaturesandapproachestodiscussandraisethedifferentthemesthatmakethe objectiveofthebookefficientlyapplicableinthesocietyitisplacedin.TheJews,asmentioned,are representedasmicewhiletheGermanandotherpeopleinthecommunityservedascatsandpigs Eachoftheseanimalshasarepressivelyapplicableattributethatrelatestothepeopleitrepresents. Thediscussionontheanimalcharacterizationandthisrepresentationofthepeoplewillbethefocus ofthispaper.Eachanimalanditssymbolicattributesonhowit

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UsesOfSymbolismInMausByVladekSpiegelman

TheHolocaustwasahorribleatrocity.Thiseventkilledsixmillionjewsandseventeenmillion victimsoverall,butmanyjewssurvivedtotellthestoryofhowitwasinsidethecampsandhow theyweretreated.OnewasVladekSpiegelman,aresourcefulmanthathaditroughduringthe Holocaust.Hisson,ArtieSpiegelman,wrotethebookMauswhichhetellsthestoryofhisfather whenhewasinAuschwitzandtellsabouthislifeinthetimeArtieiswritingthebookInArtie's book,Maus,heusesalotofsymbolisminhisworktogethispointacross.InMaus,ArtSpiegelman usessymbolismtohelpthereadersunderstandhischaractersandtheconflictstheyface,alongwith muchmoreTofindsymbolism,onemustfirstknowthemeaningofthetermSymbolismisdefined astheuseofsymbolstorepresentideasorqualities.Symbolismisusedallthetimetohelpthe audienceunderstandwhattheyarereadingorseeing.Artieusessymbolismtodefinethecharacters heputinthebookbydrawingthemasanimalsinsteadofhumans.Healsohaddifferentexamplesof symbolismliketheconflictonthecharacter'smask,hisfather'sresourcefulness,hismother's journal,andtheswastikapathwaythatheputinthebooktohelpreadersunderstand Thefirstexampleofsymbolismthatcaughtreader'sattentionwasthecharactersinhisbook.Artie depictedthemasanimalsandnotjustanyanimals,animalsthatdescribedtheirethnicity.TheJews weremice,scaredrodents

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1.HowdoestheirstoryofsurvivalcomparetothatofPrimoLevi?2.WhydoyouthinkArt Spiegelmandrawsthecharactersofhisbookasmice,cats,pigetc.?3.Maus4.WhatwasVladek like?5Vladekisanolderpersonwithaveryprécisedinwhathewantandhesonseethisasbeing annoying.Hefeelsyouneedtobeawareofeverything.Hedoesnottrustpeoplespeciallyhis secondwifeMala.Hehashearthproblemsandheisdiabetic.Sometimeheusedhissicknesstohis advantage6DuringtheHolocaust,heexhibitedaspectacularresourcefulness,workethic,and presenceofmindthatoftenenabledhimtosecurefood,shelter,andsafetyforhimselfandhis family.Hewasashrewdbusinessman,andinthemost...showmorecontent...

DoesthesepersonalitytrainsstemfromtheexperienceintheHolocaust?21.ManyofVladek's peculiarpersonalitytraitscanbelinkedtohisexperiencesintheHolocaust.In1978,Vladekis stubborn,irritable,andalmostcomicallystingywithhismoneyHisrelationshipwithhissecond wife,Mala,isstrainedandseeminglyemptyoflove.BeforetheHolocausthedoesnotexhibitsnone ofthesecharacteristics.Heiskind,wealthy,anduncommonlyresourceful,andhismarriagetoAnja isfilledwithcompassionandintimacyHisexperiencesintheHolocaustundoubtedlyplayedarole inthesedramaticpersonalitychanges.22.23.DoesVladekandhiswifesurvivetheHolocaust?24. Wasitprimarlyluck?25Whatwerethestagesofpersecutionwhichtheyendured?26Howdoes theirstoryofsurvivalcomparetothatofPrimoLevi?27.WhydoyouthinkArtSpiegelmandraws thecharactersofhisbookasmice,cats,pigetc.?28.Doyouthinkthis,andthecartoonformatin generalisaneffectivewayofdealingwiththesubjectmatter?29Whyorwhynot?30Whatare theproblemsSpiegelmanfacesinrepresentinghisfathers'experiences;howdoeshediscussthose problemsinMaus?31.AttheendofbookIArtcallshisfathera"murderer"fordestroyinghis mother'sdiariesafterhersuicidewhatdoeshemeanbythat?32.Whyitwasso

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AdolfHitlerstated,"TheJewsareundoubtedlyarace,buttheyarenothuman."(2)AdolfHitlerwas themanwhostartedtheNaziRegimewhichbecamethebiggestmassacreintheworld.The massacrewasknownastheHolocaustinwhichmillionsofJewswerekilled.Maustellsthestoryof fatherwhowasaPolishJewatthetimeoftheHolocaust.Mausisalsoportrayedvisuallywithhigh angleshots,lowangleshots,curvedlines,shadowsandruleofthirdsArtSpiegelmandrewhis graphicsinspecificway,whichwastograbthereader'sattentionmoretothepicturesratherthanthe wordsbecauseaphotocanexplainathousandwords.TherearetwounderliningstoriesinMaus. OnestoryistellinghowVladecksurvivedAuschwitzandtheotherstoryishowArt,Vladeck'sson, getshisstoryfromhisfatherandtherelationshipbetweenArtandVladeck.

Agraphicnovelisastandalonepictorialnarrativeoracollectiveofsinglecomicissuespublishedin abookformat.MausisagraphicnovelwhereArtSpiegelmantellthestoryofhisfather's experienceintheHolocaustthroughpictures.ArtSpiegelmandoesthisthroughtheuseofshadows, symmetry,lowandhighpointsandruleofthirdsAwellbalancedframegivesthereadersasenseof peaceandsecuritybutthroughoutMaustherearemanytimeswherehedoesnotwantustofeel peacefulorsafe.Thelastframeonpage32isaperfectexample.Theflagisthevocalpoint.The Jewsareveryscaredandworried.Theflagisalso

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Jew'sthatlivedinGermanyorPolandinthelate1930'sand1940'slivedunderconstantfearfor beingfound.AJew'slifeduringthistimeconsistedofhidingfromtheruthlessNazicampaign. ThesegrimtimespressuredmanyJewstochangetheirappearanceandlifestyleinordertoblendin withthenon–Jewishcrowd.Thisactofconcealmentwasdisplayedparticularlyeffectivelyinthe ArtSpiegleman'sMaus:ASurvivorsTaleInthisgraphicnovelSpieglemanportrayedhisfather's survivalstoriesoftheholocaustwithmiceasJews,catsasGermans,pigsasPoles,andmore animalsfordifferentracialbackgrounds.Asdepictedonpage136,themicewouldsometimeswear pigmaskinordertodisguisethemselvesasPoles,andinthiscasetheyshowmorecontent EventhoughVladekiswearingthemaskhestillneedstogooutatnighttobuyfood,whichshows thatthedisguisesdonotworkaswellinfullclarityandlight.Alsoonpage138,Vladekrunsinto anotherJewwearingapigmask,andthisJewhadbeenhidingforoverayear.WhenVladekruns intotheotherJew,theotherJewseemsalittlesurprisedtoseeanotherJew,andthisseemstomean thathehasbeensuccessfulathiding,buthasnothadmuchcontactwithotherJewsThenonpage 140,Vladekusesthedisguisetosneakonatraininplainsight,andhechoosesaGermancarovera Polishcar,because"inthePolishcartheycouldsmellifaPolishJewcamein."Thetrainscene againprovesthatthepigmasksarenotfoolproof,buttheymustbeusedcraftilyatcertaintimes withcertainpeoplewhowillnotbefullyengaged.Conformingtothecontemporaryworldmight havebeenexceptionallydistastefulforJews,butwiththemercilessNazimilitaryafterthemthee Jewsmustbewillingtoadaptinordertostayalive.Eventhoughdisguisingthemselvesunderother cultureswasnotthemostfailsafeplan,whenthisworkeditcouldaddmonthsoryearsoflifeto many

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Inhisgraphicnovel,Maus,ArtSpiegelmantellsanaccountoftheHolocaustinthemostdaringof ways.Spiegelman'schoicetotellabiographicalaccountincomicbookformisboldinandofitself, buthischoicetoportrayallofhischaractersasanimalsisthemostaudaciousandcontroversial choiceofall.InMaus,everyethnicgroupischaracterizedbyitsowndistinctanimal:Jewsaremice, Germansarecats,non–JewishPolesarepigs,andsoon.Thisdeliberatechoicealludestothe extremeessentializationofidentityduringtheHolocaustJustasinMauspeopleareveryclearly labeledasmice,pigs,cats,etc.,duringtheHolocaust,peoplewereverystrictlygroupstogetherby whethertheywereJewish,Polish,orGerman.Eachgroup'sidentitywasverydiscretelydefined,and therewasmeanttobenooverlapbetweengroupswhatsoever.DuringtheHolocaust,whoyouwere waspredetermined,andyouwerestuckwithyourassignedidentityandtheconsequencesand/or privilegesthatcamewithitAtkeymomentsinthenovel,however,Spiegelmandivertsfromthis strictessentializationofidentity.Attwodistinctmomentshedrawshischaracterswearingmasks, outwardlyportrayinganidentitydifferentfromtheirinherentidentity.InMaus,masksareusedas measureofdeceptionandaffiliationThroughtheuseofmasks,thecharactersinMaushavea choiceofidentity.Masksallowautonomyoverone'sidentity,anautonomythatdidnotexistduring theHolocaust

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ThecomicMaus,byArtSpiegelman,isanAnimalFarm–esquestory,usinganimalsasmeansof communicatingthroughcharacters,totellthestoryofHitlerandtheHolocaust.TheHolocaustis oftenreferredtoasthemostprominentexampleofracialdiscriminationandhatred.By Spiegelman'suseofmice,cats,andpigstotelltheygrimtruthtohisfather'shistoricaltieswiththe Holocaust,heisallowingthereaderstoexperiencethedismalpastwithclearunderstandingThis comic,printedfirstin1980,wasthefirstofitskindtogivesuchcomprehendiblereadingtoyounger orlesseducatedpeople.Thisisimportant,asithelpsrefrainpeoplefromcreatingasimilarlifestyle.

Thebookalsoputsgravedetailintothefactofhowmiserable

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