In Maus II, Artie struggles with feelings of vulnerability and isolation. This is particularly notable in the scene above where he visits his psychiatrist. Drawn as a small mouse sitting in a chair that is far too big for him, Artie is barely able to make his outstretched legs reach the edge of the seat.1 This inability to rest his feet on the floor could suggest that he does not feel grounded in himself. Artie’s parents are now both dead, and grief may have caused him to feel severed from the world around him. In addition, his tiny size makes him appear child-like and in need of protection from the pain he feels. The psychiatrist’s much larger size, in contrast, suggests that he is the adult in this situation. He is perhaps providing support
