The Art Of Survival In Maus By Art Spiegelman

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Recommended: Effects of the Holocaust on survivors

David Cash
Professor Yezbick
World Masterpieces 2
4/29/2014
The Art of Survival
In Art Spiegelman’s comic book, Maus, the reader begins to question and is left to determine if the true definition of survival is based on an act of will, simply mere chance, or dependent upon both. One of the main characters, Vladek, had physically survived the atrocities of the holocaust, but the lingering effect it had on his mental state disputes whether or not he truly survived. The second main character, Art, was forced to care for his father, that caused him mental anguish but his determination developed into a different type of survival. In this comic book, survival is not solely defined by achieving existence after a tragic event, but by the continuation of a mentally fulfilling life.
Throughout the story, there are several instances of Vladek’s strong will to survive. He was fueled by his opportunist personality that provided him with the determination to overcome the circumstances he endured on a daily basis. His opportunist personality and resourcefulness worked for him and against him. Vladek, speaking to his wife Anja after the discovery of the death of their son, replies that “to die, it’s easy but you have to struggle for life. Until the last moment we must struggle together” (122). After the death march, Vladek and many other Jewish people were herded into trains. The remainder of the Jewish people in captivity were placed on these trains and were scheduled to return to Germany to be put to death. During this train ride, Vladek had managed to survive by rigging a hammock to the ceiling so he could grab snow off the roof to eat. Many of the Jewish people had died on the trains, but not Vladek. Even in the darkness of the train he m...

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... mental state displays that he may not have completely survived the holocaust. On the other hand, Art is also struggling to maintain a state of mental stability. The holocaust resulted in the death of his mother, and the lack of a father figure. He had managed to mentally survive the holocaust, without physically being affected by it. This sends a message that survival is not solely defined by existence after a traumatic event, it is also defined by mental stability after a traumatic event.

References
Spiegelman, Art. Maus: A Survivor's Tale. New York: Pantheon, 1986. Print.
Spiegelman, Art. MAUS: A Survivor's Tale, II: And Here My Troubles Began. New York: Pantheon, 1991. Print.
"Holocaust Encyclopedia." United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. United States Holocaust Memorial Council, n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2014.

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