Vladek's Relationship In Maus By Art Spiegelman

Between 1933 and 1945, more than 11 million men, women, and children were murdered in the Holocaust. Approximately six million of these were Jews. In the graphic novel Maus written by Art Spiegelman, Vladek was one of the fortunate ones that survives. He tells his survival story of the Holocaust to his son, Artie. Throughout the story the author reveals how the hardships of the Holocaust affects Vladek’s relationship with Artie and his second wife, Mala. The novel displays how Vladek still absorbs the ideas from his past. He developed the traits distrustful and hoarder from the detrimental war which caused chaos in the Spiegelman family. One of the big conflicts that Vladek encountered was distrust and betrayal. When Vladek heard that the

In the novel Artie knocks down his fathers pills and Vladek gets upset. Artie’s father yells "No! You don't know counting pills. I’ll do it after…I’m an expert for this.” Vladek doesn't even trust his son to count his pills. He is very careful with his health due to the doctors in the war. Sometimes the doctors did not take proper care of the Jews when they were examined; in addition, the Jews would die. With this in mind Vladek puts a toil on Artie and how they get along. Vladek often exasperates Artie with the thoughts that he still has from WWII that is told through the novel. Overall, Vladek’s trust issues affects his relationship. In the same fashion, Vladek causes vexation for Mala and his son because of his collection of rubbish. Vladek’s obsessive hoarding is displayed throughout telling his experience. Vladek responds to Artie as they're walking “Telephone wire. This it’s very hard to find. Inside it’s little wires. It’s good for trying things.” During the war people constantly had to look for necessities during the war to help them somehow. There were little of everything, and Vladek always learned to save his items for later use that will benefit him. This conception that Vladek adapted to stays with him as the story is

Artie and his wife goes to the grocery store but both gets embarrassed quickly. “No way! I’m not going in to return a load of open boxes and partially eaten food.” Artie and Françoise are both feeling awkward in this situation and is stunned to think that Artie would exchange eaten food. They both fail to realize that Vladek's food supply was always limited. The Jews struggled for food each and everyday; correspondingly, Vladek is not going to be comfortable wasting food carelessly. Vladek was also always able to exchange food with what he wanted with the Jews eaten or not. He demonstrated that skill at the store and it's shown that he is still stuck in the war mindset. Artie's ignorance and Vladek's behaviors result in struggling for a connection. From the start Artie tells the reader “I went out to see my father in Rego Park. I hadn’t seen him in a long time—we weren’t that close.” Artie comes and sees his father so he can write his novel. Throughout the book it is showcased that Artie mostly cares about his father experiences and nothing else. The lack of interest in his fathers life is also a result of why Artie and Vladek do not get along. Artie can’t tell that his fathers actions are from his past