A Waste of Life: A Literary Analysis of Vladek’s Evolution in Art Spiegelman’s Maus I
How does a man go on with life after surviving the oppression of the Nazi regime? Maus I by Art Spiegelman shows the character of Vladek’s life from his happy early years through WWII to his old age. The graphic novel starts with Vladek’s son Artie asking Vladek to help write a book on WWII. While Vladek tells his story, the reader also sees the present and Vladek’s current unhappiness. He starts his story from when he was a young man and continues to his life in the war and abuse by the Nazis. He completes his story and with the knowledge to complete his book Artie leaves Vladek. Afterwards Vladek is left lonely and sad with no one he can talk to. Throughout Maus I, the character of Vladek changes from a happy young man, to a persecuted Jew, to an unhappy adult with no good relationships, showing the negative effects of a harsh environment on regular people.
Initially, in the beginning of the novel, Vladek is a happy young man with a good life, portraying how his surroundings cause him to be an untroubled individual. An example of Vladek’s good circumstances is in the first chapter where Vladek is telling the story of when he was a young man. Vladek tells, “People always told me I looked just like Rudolph Valentino” (Spiegelman 13). This comparison portrays how handsome Vladek was, explaining why it was easy …show more content…
Vladek starts as a content person with an easy life because of his wealth and wife. His life then changes with the start of WWII wherein Vladek becomes very afraid for his family’s safety and is willing to do anything for them. Lastly, the effects of the war have left Vladek unable to move on or make connections with people. In conclusion, Vladek’s past has made him unable to ever move on with his
How does a man go on with life after surviving the oppression of the Nazi regime? Maus I by Art Spiegelman shows the character of Vladek’s life from his happy early years through WWII to his old age. The graphic novel starts with Vladek’s son Artie asking Vladek to help write a book on WWII. While Vladek tells his story, the reader also sees the present and Vladek’s current unhappiness. He starts his story from when he was a young man and continues to his life in the war and abuse by the Nazis. He completes his story and with the knowledge to complete his book Artie leaves Vladek. Afterwards Vladek is left lonely and sad with no one he can talk to. Throughout Maus I, the character of Vladek changes from a happy young man, to a persecuted Jew, to an unhappy adult with no good relationships, showing the negative effects of a harsh environment on regular people.
Initially, in the beginning of the novel, Vladek is a happy young man with a good life, portraying how his surroundings cause him to be an untroubled individual. An example of Vladek’s good circumstances is in the first chapter where Vladek is telling the story of when he was a young man. Vladek tells, “People always told me I looked just like Rudolph Valentino” (Spiegelman 13). This comparison portrays how handsome Vladek was, explaining why it was easy …show more content…
Vladek starts as a content person with an easy life because of his wealth and wife. His life then changes with the start of WWII wherein Vladek becomes very afraid for his family’s safety and is willing to do anything for them. Lastly, the effects of the war have left Vladek unable to move on or make connections with people. In conclusion, Vladek’s past has made him unable to ever move on with his