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Maus Analysis

During World War 2 many lives were changed through destruction, and pain. Those who survived were strong, but that did not make them winners. Surviving requires more than simply being alive. The sacrifices, and offenses placed upon those who survived took something away from them, and although they survived, winning the game of life for now they must live with haunting memories for the rest of their life. In Spiegelman’s Maus, those who survived, such as Vladek were not necessarily because he lost his family, possessions, and some sanity. In war nobody is a complete winner, and there are only losers. Vladek, a survivor is constantly haunted by events in his past life. Survivors cen be subjected to all types of mental stress, such as guilt, flashbacks and depression. It is not easy to survive a war, and often what determines who survives is random. Vladek was fortunate enough to survive, and have an audience for whom to tell his story.

Surviving does not come without consequences. Physically, Vladek suffered through sickness, and starvation. “I got too sick even to eat… I got very hot fever, and I couldn’t sleep. Typhus!” However the psychological effects were much worse. T

Of Vladek’s family, he was the only survivor. Through loosing his family on account of the war, he was transformed from a successful, happily married father to a lonely man without purpose or joy. And without Anja, the love of his life Vladek was at a loss. “Of course I’m thinking always about her (Anja) anyway.” With the loss of all he loved, Vladek became somewhat detached from other people. With Mala he showed disrespect, and to Art he never listened. It was as if he had lost faitl in people. “He’s more attached to things than to people!” This may explain why Vladek salvaged everything, and was very careful with money. Along with this conservative change, Vladek also lost his spirit for life.

Like other victims of war Vladek also became very apprehensive and paranoid, always preparing for the worst and saving everything he could. “I’m making into daily portion my pills… and maybe 25 or 30 vitamins.” Vladek was conscious of money before the war however after the war he was ever increasingly cheap. “… Ever since Hitler I don’t like to throw out even a crumb.” Vladek saved everything from wire to cigar boxes as if the war was still taking place inside his head. For Vladek, telling Art and the reader his story would finally end the war and at the same time prove something to Art. “Maybe your father needed to show that he was always right - that he could always SURVIVE.” Art is the only real family Vladek had left, so it was important that Art know his father’s story.

hrough World War II the Nazi’s practiced extreme prejudice towards the Jewish.

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