In Maus I & II by Art Spiegelman and “Metamorphosis” by Kafka, a heavy (and sometimes overwhelming) theme is alienation and dehumanization. While both texts discuss different topics and scenarios, their pivotal theme is what ultimately tie the stories together. Both authors use very different strategies to showcase the alienation and dehumanization based upon their story’s genre. Maus I & II is a very real and intense comic that gives a snapshot of what it was like to be a Jew in World War II through the eyes of a survivor - Vladek Spiegelman. Vladek is the author’s father which gives the story a much needed emotional aspect that Vladek’s shrewd commentary lacks. Spiegelman’s examples of alienation and dehumanization are shown through blunt
…show more content…
Bigotry’ scenario in which the people around a character show their bias and act without trying to rationalize or understand. In Kafka, Gregor’s father immediately upon seeing him, acts according to how he believes a giant roach should be treated. In the text, Gregor frantically has to figure out how to scramble away and hide in his room thanks to his father’s instinct to try and rear in Gregor to his room. Gregor’s father was even willing to use force if necessary. He treats Gregor much more like an animal than his own son (Kafka 1092). His fear against something he’s been trained since birth to hate propels him to do this. This idea carries over into Spiegelman’s works. In Maus I, “A Jew! A Jew! Help! Mommy! A Jew! (Spiegelman 149). While trying to pass for a Polish man, Vladek is spotted by a group of kids. Rather than calmly notifying an adult, the kids run off as if they’ve seen a monster - much like Gregor’s manager. Here, we the see effects of war propaganda. These children have been raised on horrible tales of monstrous Jews coming to take them away every night by those they trust most - their mothers. These mothers instill a prejudice in their children before they are even able to form their own opinion. These children know no other way than this. Thus, the hatred continues onto a new generation and no progress is …show more content…
Kafka’s “Metamorphosis” held an astonishing amount of retrospection for each of the characters, always pointing out to the past to better explain the present. This left the themes of the story subtle. While Spiegelman was forced to be more blunt in his approach to expressing his themes due to his choice of medium, he still portrayed the same theme as Kafka just as effectively. Each story deserves its own personalized narration to get the message to their targeted
Bigotry’ scenario in which the people around a character show their bias and act without trying to rationalize or understand. In Kafka, Gregor’s father immediately upon seeing him, acts according to how he believes a giant roach should be treated. In the text, Gregor frantically has to figure out how to scramble away and hide in his room thanks to his father’s instinct to try and rear in Gregor to his room. Gregor’s father was even willing to use force if necessary. He treats Gregor much more like an animal than his own son (Kafka 1092). His fear against something he’s been trained since birth to hate propels him to do this. This idea carries over into Spiegelman’s works. In Maus I, “A Jew! A Jew! Help! Mommy! A Jew! (Spiegelman 149). While trying to pass for a Polish man, Vladek is spotted by a group of kids. Rather than calmly notifying an adult, the kids run off as if they’ve seen a monster - much like Gregor’s manager. Here, we the see effects of war propaganda. These children have been raised on horrible tales of monstrous Jews coming to take them away every night by those they trust most - their mothers. These mothers instill a prejudice in their children before they are even able to form their own opinion. These children know no other way than this. Thus, the hatred continues onto a new generation and no progress is …show more content…
Kafka’s “Metamorphosis” held an astonishing amount of retrospection for each of the characters, always pointing out to the past to better explain the present. This left the themes of the story subtle. While Spiegelman was forced to be more blunt in his approach to expressing his themes due to his choice of medium, he still portrayed the same theme as Kafka just as effectively. Each story deserves its own personalized narration to get the message to their targeted