Maus Essay

Maus Essay

As a result of not having experienced the horrors of the Holocaust like their ancestors did, second generation Jews often sense they must demonstrate their respect and appreciation towards their elders. Indebted to the previous generation, these Jews search for ways to honor those martyrs who lost their lives half a century ago. The ways in which this generation pays homage are quite diverse. Many have developed their own shrines to the memories of their ancestors. Yet another way, is writing a narrative like Art Spiegelman does. MAUS is an impressive graphic novel, drawn and written by Spiegelman himself, that narrates his father's life during the Holocaust. His memories come to life in the pages of the book, although they are intertwined with another account. This trait separates MAUS from other Holocaust narratives whose limits can only offer one side of the story, one view of the event, one version of the pain. Another medium through which the Holocaust is represented is the French documentary Night and Fog. It was made in collaboration with two survivors and aimed to show every visceral detail about the concentration camps. The footage shown in the documentary is so raw and your sense of sorrow and horror is overwhelming. This medium is very good for visuals and the overall scope of the Holocaust.

Spiegelman's obsession with saving Vladek's story for succeeding generations is met with some opposition by his father, especially in the opening sequence. Neither Vladek nor Spiegelman are able to understand what the other is feeling due to their inability to relate. Spiegelman wonders why his father is so hesitant to allow his life to be the subject of a novel; he is unable to put himself in Vladek's position. He is often frustrated due to this limitation, and often presses his father for answers he is unable to provide. At times he shares this frustration, which is sometimes met by sympathy from his father. Spiegelman is dumbfounded by this particular piece of...