Maus "Surviving the Survivors" by Sarah Ransom

Overview

sarahrransom14 — 2024-10-04 02:56:44 UTC

For my Padlet I chose to write about the 2 volumes of the book Maus by Art Spiegelman. I will be focusing on the theme of the survivors guilt felt by many of the characters, specifically on that of the author, who plays the character of the narrator in the books. Finding direct quotes about the theme, as well as pointing out the theme in parts that prove this theme is carried out throughout the entire books

Quote 2

sarahrransom14 — 2024-10-04 02:58:54 UTC

The most direct mention of the authors survivors guilt is seen in book 2 chapter one where the author is talking to his gf about his brother, which turns into a conversation about how he sometimes wishes he was actually in Auschwitz. “I know this is insane, but I somehow wish I had been in Auschwitz with my parents so I could really know what they lived through! . . . I guess it’s some kind of guilt about having had an easier life than they did.”

Quote 1

sarahrransom14 — 2024-10-10 20:45:37 UTC

In the beginning of Book 1 Spiegelman shows the conversation he had with his father about writing the book. While this scene doesn't directly portray guilt, it does have aspects of it. His father doesn't want his son to waste his time writing about his life. He quite literally says "no one wants to hear about it". He doesn't feel like his story is worth it. He may be harvesting some guilt about being able to even be alive to tell his story.

Citations

sarahrransom14 — 2024-10-10 21:22:18 UTC

Spiegelman, Art. Maus I: A Survivor's Tale : My Father Bleeds History. Rev. pbk. ed. New York, Pantheon Books, 1991.

Spiegelman, Art, author. Maus II: A Survivor's Tale: and Here My Troubles Began. New York: Pantheon Books, 1992

Qoute 3

sarahrransom14 — 2024-10-10 22:03:10 UTC

Book 1, Chapter 4 Spiegelman is talking to Vladek (his father) about the family members lost in the war. Vladek seems to list off member after member with a lack of emotion, while simultaneously the comic shows his facial expression with a lot of sadness and guilt. The photos he goes through all show his family in a happy and healthy point of their lives, before they were killed. He feels guilty while they don't need to feel that guilt, as they never survived.

My Take on Maus

sarahrransom14 — 2024-10-10 22:09:50 UTC

Spiegelman wrote Maus with a lot of themes and underlying messages, but I personally feel survivors guilt is one of the most prominent. He highlights each characters way of dealing with this guilt. Vladek becomes obsessive about things, especially when talking about emotional parts of his story, and shows his guilt through this. Spiegelman shows his guilt in his relationship with his father, trying to get him to live a comfortable life, so he can feel less guilty about his own comfortable life.