Artie The Murderer

(R) The word murderer is defined by Google as, simply, “a killer.” This simplistic description absolutely suits Art Spiegelman. It appears that, in times of crisis when he is unsure of how to react, he lashes out with recalcitrant indignation. In fifty odd pages of literature, he manages to bestow this label on both of his emotionally scarred parents. His mother who committed suicide is a murderer for killing his relationship with his father, but, more importantly, some intangible emotive quality he could not describe. His father, on the other hand, was the killer of his wife’s entire written memory with questionably vague justification. What’s easily interpretable for me is that the devastating tragedy Artie has suffered has left a void of …show more content…
Why was a Hitler character absent from this tale? Vladek mentions him in the first chapter, and a quote of his precludes the book, so the choice must have been deliberate. Would someone please explain the relevance of Poles as pigs besides the fact they start with the same letter? Why is Artie’s family even mentioned if their presence has no bearing at all to the plot and they have negligible speaking roles? Why is a Hitler joke Anja and Vladek made about Artie when he was an infant included in this book; it seems inappropriate? Why do I as the reader care that Vladek has idiosyncrasies such as: separating nails by their length, dumpster diving, claiming being seated is “dirty,” breaking and entering after the war to retrieve memorabilia, aaand soliciting the use of restroom paper towels because he is the literal stereotype of a miserly old Jewish man. Why is Anja stoic when her parents and grandparents are taken away by Nazi troops, but the possible loss of her nephew is too much to bear? Why is Vladek worried that Anja looks “more Jewish?” And lastly, why is no one concerned by the fact that Vladek comforts Anja in Mrs. Motonowa’s basement by assuring her that they are surrounded by mice? Isn’t that equivalent to babies or