Analyzing Maus A Survivor's Tale

This one review made me question myself about my own opinion because i couldn't have disagreed more with the reviewer. He said “it was difficult to relate to the book and the holocaust because the author made the characters as pigs, cats, mice.”(mouse#1). So basically the reviewer is saying that he couldn’t see the connections that were trying to be made with the use of the animals as the characters throughout the text. I would have to say that i disagree with the point that the reviewer is trying to say, because the author used these animals as characters to show symbolism between the characters and humans. The cover of the book is a great expamle from the book to show how these characters symbolize humans.(spieglemen Cover.) The picture shows a nazi symbol with a cat (germans) in the middle and two mice scared down below, it symbolizes that during the holocaust the jews (mice) were scared and defenseless throughout the book and the germans (cats) were the bigger and more leatheal to bully the

     The book uses animals instead of human characters and this is personification. The book has three main types of animals that each symbolizes the different cultures during the Holocaust. The Jews are symbolized as mice, the Nazi Germans as cats, and the Poles as pigs. The reason why Spiegelman uses animals instead of humans is because he wants to give the reader a better understanding of what type of animal symbolizes the different types of social classes that are being addressed.

The dedications are an essential part of the text as their meaning extends beyond the book. Spiegelman uses them as a way to remember those that were close to him. This is noticed in the dedications to his mother, to Richieu the brother he never knew and to his children. The book is a legacy to those that experienced the terror of the holocaust and is “A Survivors

After the Holocaust on May 8th, 1945, a book called Maus was released which is revolved around survival. The author, Art Spiegelman intended the story was to reflect upon his past and express his feelings world how he had to deal life was at the time.The book is a story of Art’s father named Vladek, he tells his point-of-view to the world to show multiple struggles he had to withstand. The theme of Art Spiegelman’s book Maus is survival; Art Spiegelman shows the theme of survival by using tone, mood, and point-of-view throughout the graphic novel. Vladek is the main character of Maus and shares his point of view. Vladek tells a true story about how he survived the Holocaust and the things he had to accomplish to make it through alive. This book is based on a true story of what had happened during the Holocaust.

The books Maus I and Maus II, written by Art Spiegelman over a thirteen-year period from 1978-1991, are books that on the surface are written about the Holocaust. The books specifically relate to the author’s father’s experiences pre and post-war as well as his experiences in Auschwitz. The book also explores the author’s very complex relationship between himself and his father, and how the Holocaust further complicates this relationship. On a deeper level the book also dances around the idea of victims, perpetrators, and bystanders. The two books are presented in a very interesting way; they are shown in comic form, which provides the ability for Spiegelman to incorporate numerous ideas and complexities to his work.

Vladek arranges to be reunited with his wife and son by working with the Polish. Spiegelman shows Vladek wearing a pig's mask to convey his polish

Second, the choice of a comic format serves as a vital aspect in the reader’s understanding of the visual society and making awareness through generations as more attuned to the image than to the word. In Vladek's world, being and living as a human meant living in fear. Vladek escapes the fear of death for a time through the intercession of an S.S. officer who wanted to learn English from him and in return provided him with some protection (78). This

But Hans learns to hate the rabbit and feel no compassion about it. The professor tells Hans the rabbit is weak and bad and deserves to be treated terribly because he is not Natzy. In other words, the Rabbit represents the symbols of submission and obedience and the represents the hatred, and power of the system. This is the correct Natzy way of thinking about other races against

The form is effective in communicating meaning as the novel has injecting scenes which recount events which are traumatising to Art, yet a fact of life for Vladek. The graphic novel uses visual aids in order for the reader to be able to distinguish between present and past, an element which would be lost or far less significant within a novel or play. The font is regular when there are

Throughout the story of Maus II: And Here My Troubles Began, cats and mice are used metaphorically to represent Nazis and Jews. Pigs and frogs are also used metaphorically, however, due to their lack of relationship with the cat and mouse metaphor, they do not add on to the effectiveness in relaying the theme of identity being shaped by adversity. (Spiegelman 93-94) These pages are the only ones that the frog appears in with only a minor role in which he offers to share Vladek a box of food. The brief interaction does not add any significance to the cat and mouse metaphor seen throughout the graphic novel because the frog has no impact or change on Vladek, thus making the animal metaphor less effective. Another reason why the animal metaphor is also less effective is how misrepresenting the stereotypes can be. The pigs for example are usually stereotyped as self centered and lazy animals. However, (Spiegelman 92) the pig doctor who helps Vladek’s injured hand directly contradicts the stereotype that pigs are self centered. Spiegelman’s use of stereotyping and lack of other animals hinders the effectiveness of animal metaphor in the theme. One could argue that the lack of images in Night could possibly allow readers to miss information, however, pictures aren’t everything into understanding what is going on. “Dragging himself on all fours.”(Wiesel 101) This quote offers the reader a visualization on how animalistic the Jews have become, ultimately proving that Elie Wiesel's use of animal imagery is more effective than Spiegelman's animal

There are many characters of allegorical nature in this novel, though two of the most important are Hans Hubermann, as well as Viktor Chemell. Hans Hubermann as an allegory represents the resistance against the S.S. forces. From the start of the novel, Hans clung to his morals for dear life, never wanting to let them go, even when it caused him to be drafted into the S.S. army. His is the emobdiement of the German resistance, and therefore courage and hope for all, as he did everything he could to suppose those he saw that needed help, even helping a random Jewish man that looked sickly, even close to death, so “Hans Hubermann held his hand out and presented a piece of bread, like magic” (Zusak 394). For this, Hans and the Jewish man were both punished by being whipped, and Max even left their house in order to protect the family from being caught, as Hans was already being called “a Jew love” (Zusak 395), and there was a lot of fear of the army searching their house for evidence against them, so that they could be sent to the camps as well. As for young Viktor Chemmel, he and his friends show resemblance of Hitler and his main group of followers. They knew who was poor, and therefore who did not have access to food, even if he himself was extremely rich and needed nothing else, and even acts like he deserves everything, saying “We must take what is rightfully ours!”

The sketchbook provides him with an outlet to cope with his circumstances. Max is often found in the basement alone with nothing but his thoughts. He is able to produce this art “in the loneliest moments in the basement” (277). He wanted to write a story explaining everything he had been through leading up to where he is now. However, the thoughts all came out as something different, sketches. He found the collection of his thoughts had “felt true”(277). To Max they feel more true because they were random thoughts which he feels meaning in them. He knew that he would eventually want to share his views of the cruel world with Liesel when she is old enough. Losing everything, Max finds great significance in this sketchbook which helps him relieve emotions. Max’s use of drawing while he is in the basement helps him subsist with his unforutante turn of events. He was figuring out ways to express his feelings during this time. Illustrating and writing a story called “The Standover Man”, is how he spends most of his days. For Max the art is used as a way he can express his story to Liesel. He often finds himself still in pain from his past and scared of “standover men” in his life (225).

    I believe The book uses animals instead of human characters for a personification feel. They use these types of animals to make up the different cultures during the Holocaust. The Poles as pigs the Jews are the mice, and the cats are Nazi Germans. I feel that Spiegelman uses animals instead of humans  because it gives us a better understanding of what type of animals make up the different types of activity that are being talked about.

A powerful and provocative graphic novel, Maus, generates a Jewish individual’s life of grotesque and horror. With its ability of perception and interpretation, it tackles the main points of the ominous Holocaust and delivers a spooky aura to the absorbed audience. In comparison to Schindler’s List, the graphic novel shines brightly than the pale movie due to its realism and humor that is constantly present throughout the storyline. The novel has the ability to connect to the audience; thus, it gives an in-depth look and overall comprehension of the massacre that Spiegelman is trying to communicate. The graphic novel, Maus by Art Spiegelman, brings an honest account of the Holocaust to a wide audience because of its historical truth and intriguing viewpoints and characters that shows the effect and process of the genocide.

Many characters’ lives are enveloped by a mental issue and they are a representation for these issues. Art covers these multiple issues. The Holocaust affected millions of people and of these millions, Vladek, Anja, and Mala all were left with