‘Maus’, the graphic novel written by Art Spiegelman is a memoir of his father’s experience with the Holocaust. Therefore, in order to correctly depict and portray the events of the Holocaust, Spiegelman introduces the use of symbolism. The impact of these events and symbols on characters’ identity is also explored throughout the novel. Two important uses of symbolism can be seen through Spiegelman’s use of Swastika’s and also the use of a simplistic animal metaphor, as symbols in order to represent stereotypes. However, the animal metaphor and the symbolism regarding Spiegelman’s use of masks also played on the idea of identity. In addition to this, the impact of particular symbols such as the exercycle on Vladek’s character is also important
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This is true of Art’s father Vladek. Spiegelman’s symbolism regarding his father’s exercycle represents how physically and mentally exhausting it was for him to relive his experience in the Holocaust. The contrast between Vladek in the past and Vladek in the present clearly show’s how the events of the Holocaust and the events after the Holocaust such as Anja’s death have changed his identity. One clear difference is Vladek’s parenting style of Richieu compared to Art. An example of this is in the first few pages of the novel, where Art’s friends ‘skated away without [him]’. Vladek responds to this by implying that Art will never know who real friends are until ‘you lock them together in a room for a week with no food’. Showing that the Holocaust has had a lasting effect on Vladek thereby effecting not only his identity but also his parenting style. Whereas Vladek’s parenting style towards Richieu was filled with much more affection and joy, ‘I could not tell you how the big joy in our house’. This difference in parenting shows how the Holocaust had changed Vladek’s morals and ultimately his identity. However, the way in which Speigleman introduced imagery and symbolism also played a key role in his ability to portray the events of the
This is true of Art’s father Vladek. Spiegelman’s symbolism regarding his father’s exercycle represents how physically and mentally exhausting it was for him to relive his experience in the Holocaust. The contrast between Vladek in the past and Vladek in the present clearly show’s how the events of the Holocaust and the events after the Holocaust such as Anja’s death have changed his identity. One clear difference is Vladek’s parenting style of Richieu compared to Art. An example of this is in the first few pages of the novel, where Art’s friends ‘skated away without [him]’. Vladek responds to this by implying that Art will never know who real friends are until ‘you lock them together in a room for a week with no food’. Showing that the Holocaust has had a lasting effect on Vladek thereby effecting not only his identity but also his parenting style. Whereas Vladek’s parenting style towards Richieu was filled with much more affection and joy, ‘I could not tell you how the big joy in our house’. This difference in parenting shows how the Holocaust had changed Vladek’s morals and ultimately his identity. However, the way in which Speigleman introduced imagery and symbolism also played a key role in his ability to portray the events of the