Reflective Essay On Maus

The Holocaust was a major event that shook the world with its devastating and horrific actions towards Jewish people. Its history is taught continuously throughout our lifetime to honor the victims and ensure that history won’t repeat itself. It’s necessary that the information we are provided is accurate and genuine. The truth about what really happened is not only important to learners, but it’s extremely significant and righteous for the victims. Therefore, when talking or writing about major events like the Holocaust, it is imperative that a set of implicit rules are followed. These rules include and ensure that: the facts aren’t altered or changed, jokes or puns are never made out of respect, the text always reflects the author’s mindfulness of the reader, and most importantly that the author is always truthful to assure the reader that they are credible. Maus, a memoir of a survivor of the Holocaust, written and illustrated by Art …show more content…
I do see how telling this story through a comic could help different crowds of people, like kids, relate and become more interested in learning about the Holocaust, but I believe changing the material harms the seriousness of the event. Maus is supposed to be a memoir of Vladek Spiegelman. The reader wants to be able to relate to the real Vladek, not a cartoon version. McCloud makes an interesting fact about portraying characters as cartoons. He explains, “If who I am matters less, maybe what I say will matter more” (McCloud, 37). This is a compelling thought, but we’re supposed to be reading a book on Vladek. Vladek matters just as much as his story. Spiegelman shouldn’t have dehumanized his father in hopes to make his story more impactful. A memoir is meant to idolize and admire the person not just their