Bleeding History: Art Spiegelman's Maus

In one of the most tantalizing and unique memorials to one survivor of the holocaust, a mass-murder of an unknown number of lives, Art Spiegelman's Maus utilizes the medium of comic art to portray his father, Vladek's, story. This story, although unique to the individual life of Vladek Spiegelman, is much like the countless others that survived, and died, in the Nazis' brutal slayings. The holocaust was not limited to mortal death; it transcended all boundaries and left those who survived soulless and empty. But the question remains: did anyone really survive the holocaust?

Vladek, before the war, lived simply buying and selling textiles in a small city. He was handsome, being often compared to Rudolph Valentino, and was the object of many girls' affection. Lucia, a girlfriend of several years, noticed how neatly Vladek maintained his apartment. She suspected that he had a girlfriend that cleaned for him. He did not, but his obsession with cleanliness may have saved him on many occasions. Sometime later when his cousin was visiting him, Vladek was introduced to his future wife Anna Zylbergerg. Although not as attractive as Lucia, Anja was intelligent and sensitive. They soon married and had their first son, Richieu. Some time afterward Anja began to have attacks of hysterics and depression. On their way to a Sanitarium to help Anja, Vladek caught his first glimpse of a swastika. At this point Vladek's life began to change. He was drafted into the Polish Reserves and rushed to the front to fight after only a few days of training. He was captured by the Germans and taken to a Prisoner of War camp. To stave off infections and sickness, Vladek bathed and exercised everyday. He volunteered for manual labor and after five months of being a prisoner, Vladek was released fulfilling a prophetic dream. The goods he saved from Red Cross packages and also sympathetic friends and strangers aided him in his escape and return to his family.

Even after the war, the survivors did not survive. Their battle did not end with their freedom from the camps, for they had to rebuild the lives destroyed by the Nazis. After reuniting with Anja and escaping many perils, Vladek worked his way into a partnership selling hosiery. With some luck and some time, the two attained their visas to the United States to begin rebuilding their lives. Here Art is born and Vladek supports his family by dealing in diamonds. Anja, after some time, committed suicide and did not leave any note or explanation on why she did so. Vladek met a woman named Mala, also a survivor. They married and lived together to the end of Vladek's life.

Vladek's life after the war was affected mostly by the remnants of his personality. What was left was a tired old man consumed by memory and obsession. Plagued by diabetes, heart attacks, one glass eye, and a growing cataract in the other, Vladek was miserable and ready to die. He was glad to have Art to tell his story to, knowing that time was wearing thin. Despite the story-telling and the release of the past, Vladek's actions and feelings eroded Mala and Art's nerves. Vladek's obsessions with material things is the most notable trait of his. He does not waste anything. Even when Art is over thirty years old, Vladek still tells him to finish what is on his plate. From here, Art tells Mala about how, when he was a child, his father would save what he didn't eat until he ate it or he would starve. Obviously this stems from Vladek's days without food while living in the camps. Yet there are contradictions in his behavior. He throws out Art's coat, which he believed was not good enough to be worn, and gives Art his old coat. Vladek seems very careful about saving, especially when it comes to money, yet he will sacrifice it for what looks presentable. Mala asserts, "it causes him physical pain to part with even a nickel" (133). But on the other hand, he is like a hermit. He collects worthless objects and never throws anything out. While looking for his mother's diary, Art finds old menus, stationery from a hotel, and savings bank calendars from 1965. Mala even points out to Art that "he's more attached to things than to people." After he is done rooting through the junk and readies himself to leave, Mala bursts out and tells him to "put everything back exactly like it was, or I'll never hear the end of it" (95). This hoarding of things could be traced to Vladek's saving of items for trading. Even though he didn't smoke, he traded cigarettes for more worthwhile goods while imprisoned. Mala breaks down and talks to Art about how Vladek is driving her crazy. She realizes that she doesn't know how much longer she can take his craziness. Mala eventually leaves Vladek and Art and his wife go to stay with him for awhile. During their first morning with Vladek, they find that he has unpacked and organized their clothing in the dresser in the room. Later, while driving done the road, Art's wife stops to pick up a hitchhiker. Vladek becomes angry due to past experiences with colored people. Art's wife tells Vladek that of all people he should not be racist. But he did not care. He told her that when he first came to the United States, any time he would sit something down, a colored man would take it, so he never trusted them. But this is only another example of what the holocaust did to the survivors. The ones who died quickly were lucky for they did not have to live with the memories.

This work invoked many emotions in me. As I read, I felt as if I was also living life along with Vladek. I sensed the danger and the fear. I understood the frustration of Mala and Art. I cannot put into the words the extent of the horrors of the holocaust. I still can see the piles of mice bodies and the hangings; the smoke rising from the stacks and the horror of the train rides. It amazes me that anyone could possibly survive with their sanity, which in most cases they did not, but to continue to live after such a traumatizing experience proves a power of will in the survivors that I could never possess. Art Spiegelman's Maus is one of the most memorable works that I have ever read. I am glad that I had the chance to experience its uniqueness and depth.