Ideas in Maus (M11) by Tjohnson https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus Examples of ideas and quotes from the text, Maus en-us 2017-06-15 02:10:23 UTC 2026-03-18 07:12:54 UTC hello@padlet.com Luke Hardwick https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/176505619 Individuals can become prisoners to their own mind and memories

Example 1
In the comic strip that Art made about his mothers suicide, he shows more about his mental state. When he is told that his mother is dead he starts to cry and he also sees illusions about his surroundings. This shows that Art is a prisoner to his own mind as he is seeing things that aren't there due to the depressing things that has happened to him. This is supported by him calling the comic strip 'Prisoner on hell planet'. By him naming the comic that it enphisises the idea that he is a prisoner to his own mind as the 'hell planet' is his own mind.

Example 2

]]> 2017-06-15 06:55:35 UTC https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/176505619 Tony https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/176505630 That family is the most important thing in time of desperation and need.

Example 1
When the Jewish police always came to Vladek's father in law house to get their grandparents.
In the top gutter vladek explains that "several times came the Jewish police to our house" and the dialog explains how they always tried to hide them until they couldn't any more, "yes my wife's parents they left without a word a month ago"

Example 2
Anja was very upset when most of her family was taken away, after their nephew denied going with anja and vladek. The use of graphic weight for the ones who feel as if helpless is used to show Lolek and anja who went hysterical after Lolek left.

Example 3
Page 38 - when vladek returned from the sanitarium his father in law told him how the bielsko factory his factory was robbed. When he reacted his father in law told him he would help build it up again them being so wealthy. Over three panels the tension is built up for vladek]]> 2017-06-15 06:55:44 UTC https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/176505630 Carla https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/176505631 Maus presents the idea that world war 2 was isolating for Jews and other minorities. 

Example 1.  In the graphic novel, Vladek mentioned that "He was even too scared to leave the house." This shows that war forces individuals to isolate themselves from others if they want to survive.]]> 2017-06-15 06:55:44 UTC https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/176505631 Ellessea https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/176505638 "Fear can be used as a weapon of control"

Example 1 : page 85  - panels 
- the closed panel on top of the gutter picture depict Vladek talking and 4 male mouses hanged. This shows how the hanging of the four men where used as an example to show the punishment for outlaw Jews. This fear is used to control Jews and to prevent further illegal activity.

Example 2 : page 81 - speech bubbles
- speech bubbles in the last panel of page 81 have a nazi solider saying "please. If you]]> 2017-06-15 06:55:48 UTC https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/176505638 John Bacus bacuj18 https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/176505662 The idea that individuals can become prisoner to their own mind and memories 

The attitude Spiegelman expresses towards the idea is that negative emotions can cause one to become a prisoner to their own minds and memories.

Example 1 -  The excerpt from Art's comic 'Prisoner on the Hell Planet'. Art Spiegelman felt trapped within his own mind due to feeling heavy guilt of his mother's death.

Example 2 - Vladek fell into depression after his wife's suicide and is know prisoner of his own mind and he always reflects on the memories of Anja Spiegelman. Valdek has photos of Anja all spread all over his desk like a "shrine".

- Heavy graphic weight 

]]> 2017-06-15 06:56:00 UTC https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/176505662 Bridget bridgetcorreia738 https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/176505670 Maus presents the idea that war creates awful memories that can lead to grief and guilt. 

1: Anja committed suicide in 1968, when Artie was a young man. Though Vladek’s stories suggest that Anja struggled with depression throughout her life, her death seems to have been completely unexpected. While Artie tries to confront the complex feelings attached to his grief.

2: Vladek tells Artie at he has spent years trying to rid himself of memories of the war and the Holocaust, but he recounts his story in remarkable detail, recalling the names and eventual fates of almost every person who crossed his path during those years.

3. Vladek has clear emotional reactions to many of the events about which he speaks — he cries when he remembers four of his friends being hanged in Sosnowiec for dealing goods on the black market, and talks with passionate sadness about his dead son, Richiue. Love and compassion are what make Vladek’s memories of the war so painful. ]]> 2017-06-15 06:56:06 UTC https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/176505670 Sophia cames18 https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/176505693 The idea that conflict ruins friendships.

"Janina lives over there. Richiev's governess always offered she would help us. We came to her house near town... Open up, Janina! Quick! W-who's there? My God it's the Spiegelmans! You'll bring trouble! Go away! Quickly! *SLAM*" - page 138

The idea that conflict ruins friendships is evident through page 138 where their old friend, Janina, wouldn't take them in to look after even though she always said she'd help them. She most likely turned them down due to fear regarding her and her family's safety. 

The idea that conflict ruins friendships is expressed throughout MAUS as Anja and Vlodek are repeatedly losing friends and loved ones through separation. Constantly Jewish people moved around to avoid the Nazi's and so new friendships are repeatedly lost and made. When moving away from friends, one is unclear as to the future awaiting their friend. This brings anxiety and fear to the Jewish people.]]> 2017-06-15 06:56:18 UTC https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/176505693 Shaan https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/176505719 The idea that Nazi's strongly dislike the Jewish people

Spiegelmen expresses the idea that the Nazi's (Germans) strongly disliked the Jewish people. This is shown in various parts of the novel.

Example 1
When the Germans hung Nahum Cohn and his son, in which they hung them to make an example of them. Page 85. This uses graphic weight to emphasise the causalities, but to also emphasise fear as Vladek felt fear after he had seen the atrocious scenes.

Example 2
When the Nazi's marched the forest and killed all the Jews, all 600 Jewish people. Page 63. They make it a larger frame to show emphasis on the amount of casualties of Jewish there were, to create fear of the Germans.

Example 3
On page 35 it Illustrates the Nazis mocking and physically hurting the Jewish people. As in one scene they are drawn to look they are abusing the jew. In another scene they have a banner that states, 'This town is Jew Free'. In both scenes, Art uses a heavy graphic weight once again, as heavy graphic weight demonstrates a traumatic, painful and grieving situation.

]]> 2017-06-15 06:56:34 UTC https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/176505719 https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/176505737 Q]]> 2017-06-15 06:56:45 UTC https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/176505737 Nicolina https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/176505745 The idea that the experience of the Holocaust has harrowing affects on the survivors and continues to today.

Example 1 - When the Nazi's hung the Jews in the street. Page 85. Vladek says "It still makes me cry". This statement shows that the sinister acts during the holocaust, is still a fresh image in the minds of the survivors.

Example 2 - When Anja commits suidide. Her sudden death leaves her family questioning why, but comes from her willingness to end her suffering and pain she endured during the war. "Sometimes I think about running into the wires to end it all" this statement indictes the extent to which the jews and other P.O.W.s were dehumanised.

Eample 3 - The motif of Vladek's point of view of friends and who you can trust. This is a reoccurring theme throughout the graphic novel which decribes the scale of the war. Friends turing on friends just because they were the minoity being pursectuted. Everybody acting in their own best interest, to save themselves.

]]> 2017-06-15 06:56:51 UTC https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/176505745 J0$H PRiCE https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/176505746 The Nazi's strongly disliked the Jews. 

Example 1 - Page 35
Example 2 - Page 85
Example 3 - Page 111]]> 2017-06-15 06:56:52 UTC https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/176505746 Cameron https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/176505751 The idea that freedom was taken away from Jewish people in WW2.

Example 1: "The Germans looked to grab such furniture, because in stores it wasn't anymore to get" this quote is explaining how the Nazis had the right to go through the Jews house and take whatever they wanted.


Example 2: "please, if you want to stay alive go back inside"]]> 2017-06-15 06:56:55 UTC https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/176505751 Daniel! https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/176505754 "The idea that fear can be used as a weapon of control"

example 1: When the Nazis started hanging Blackmarket Jewish vendors, they used dead Jews to scare the rest of the Blackmarket vendors.

Example 2: In Maus, the Nazis used concentration camps to assert their power among Jews and the enemies to make them feel scared as the Nazis thought of themselves as superior.

]]> 2017-06-15 06:56:57 UTC https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/176505754 Shaun https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/176505773 The Nazis did not like the Jews 
E.g. 1
Pg 85 where the nazis hung the Jews publically  
E.g.2
Pg 110 where the nazis smashed the Jewish kids against the wall because they were screaming. 
E.g. 3
Putting Jews in concentration camps, starving them, using them as slaves and killing the,]]> 2017-06-15 06:57:10 UTC https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/176505773 Travis Fee https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/176505784 The idea that Natzi's believe Jews are inferior to them.

Example - when the Natzi's (cats) were hanging the Jews (mouse) in the text and killing them as they thought they were not worthy of living.]]> 2017-06-15 06:57:14 UTC https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/176505784 John My https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/176505821 The idea that fear can be used as a weapon of control.

Example 1: Page 85 where the mice are hanging outside Vladek says "I was frightened to go outside for a few day".

Example 2: Page 157 where Vladek and Anja are caught by the Nazis and they have are marched through the street.

Example 3: Page 159 where Vladek and Anja have been captured and place in a train

]]> 2017-06-15 06:57:33 UTC https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/176505821 Matt https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/176505856 The idea that jews were put in extreme horrors during WW2

Example 1: Page 111 
Example 2: Page 85
Example 3: Page 82]]> 2017-06-15 06:57:49 UTC https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/176505856 Charisse https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/176505866 The idea that fear can be used as a weapon of control.

P. 30 - When Anja had a package to hide and she gave it to the seamstress. The seamstress was innocent but was still thrown in prison as a method of scaring other citizens. The seamstress was used to set an example of the penalties that people can face for their crimes. The seamstress was in prison for 3 months. It caused other citizens to fear going against the rules set out for them and causethem  to "stay in line".

P. 35 - Vladek was hearing stories from other people detailing the horrible things that Jews had to deal with. "Another fellow told us of a relative in Brandenburg - the police came to his house and no one heard again from him". The police abused their power to scare others. The fear that they caused, resulted in everyone else feeling afraid to rebel against the laws.

P. 85 - Four Jews were hanged and remained there for a week to make an example of them. The Jews were caught dealing goods without coupons. The Germans made an example of them for any Jew that had heard of them or had walked past their bodies hanging. This was another way that the idea that fear can be used as a weapon of control. Seeing four Jews being killed would scare other Jews into staying proper and doing what they're told. It controlled everything they did.]]> 2017-06-15 06:57:53 UTC https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/176505866 Sean https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/176505907 the idea that during the war, Jews had to go through the extreme horrors during holocaust. Spiegelman reveals certain attitudes ]]> 2017-06-15 06:58:16 UTC https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/176505907 Ben https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/176505919 The idea that fear can be used as a weapon of control.

Example 1: When the Germans hung Vladek's friends in the town square for dealing without coupons. They did this in order to set an example to others. Pg85

Example 2 - Vladek is walking around the ghetto when he is approached by a German soldier known as the shooter who points his gun at Vladeks head and demands identification papers.]]> 2017-06-15 06:58:24 UTC https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/176505919 Nic https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/176505987 The idea that individuals can become prisoner to their own mind and memories 

Example 1: Spiegelman express the idea by stating that Vladek is haunted by the death of his son and his wife.

Example 2: Art writes a comic showing that he is a prionser on a hell planet 

Example 3:
Vladek says that he still remembers many things from the holocaust that were devestating


]]> 2017-06-15 06:59:04 UTC https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/176505987 Aaron Toth https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/176506263 The idea that money is not a 'suit of armour'

- Page 38, Anna's father has told Valdek that his textile business has been looted and Art thinks that the nazis did to as an anti-Semitic activity. This panel is a moment to moment shot. The sunken wrinkles under Art's eyes symbolise his stress and frustration towards the events that happened while he was gone.

- page 117, This panel shows Anna's father crying and wailing in a window, with the text "he was a millionaire but even this didn't save him his life". Through this Maus is able to portray the rich as weak as everyone else. 

- through out the story Valdek who was a wealthy man before the German's took over. And he was eventually forced to give over his business to the Germans and work in German occupied businesses]]> 2017-06-15 07:01:51 UTC https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/176506263 Paulo https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/176506342 The idea that guilt can manifest an individual by making them become ]]> 2017-06-15 07:02:22 UTC https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/176506342 Andrea https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/176506983 The idea that the dictatorship of Hitler put the Jews in horrific circumstances.

Example 1: page 35]]> 2017-06-15 07:08:27 UTC https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/176506983 Sarah https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/176507453 2017-06-15 07:13:37 UTC https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/176507453 Alana https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/176556552 The idea that money cannot guarantee safety, security or happiness.

Example 1 - (pg 189) An example that portrays this idea is when Vladek describes the effect of the war on his friend Mendelbaum. Mendelbaum was a rich man, but in the war his wealth was not able to keep him happy. Vladek tells Artie "In Sosnowiec, everyone knew Mendelbaum. He was older as me...nice...a very rich man." In the next panel, he goes on to say "but now, in Auschwitz, Mendelbaum was a mess". By showing that Mendelbaum was a 'mess', Spiegelman emphasises that when it comes down to life and death matters, money cannot help you. Spiegelman also uses facial expressions in the panel to show the effect that the war had on Mendelbaum. Mendelbaum has a sullen look on his face, with his head hung low and his sunken. By showing that Mendelbaum lost himself even in the POW camp even though he had a lot of money, Spiegelman portrays the idea that money cannot guarantee happiness.

Example 2 - (pg 145) An example that portrays this idea is when the Gestapo inspect Mrs Motonowa’s house, and she forces Vladek and Anja to leave her house, even though they had paid her to hide them. She says to them that they ‘must get out now’. Through illustrating Mrs Motonowa telling the couple to leave, even though they had paid her to stay there, Spiegelman highlights the idea that money cannot guarantee safety as Vladek and Anja had to go someplace else anyway. Spiegelman also uses graphic weight within a panel to reinforce the idea that money doesn’t guarantee happiness. In the panel where Mrs Motonowa tells Vladek and Anja that they must get out, Spiegelman uses heavy graphic weight and shades both of them in solid black. The solid black represents darkness, which in turn represents a loss of hope, and thus Spiegelman highlights the despair that they went through. Furthermore, he emphasises that money cannot guarantee happiness as the Spiegelmans had to endure the harrowing emotion of hopelessness, even though they were rich.

Example 3 - (pg 117) An example that portrays the idea that money cannot guarantee safety or security is when Anja’s parents are left in the prisoner of war camp even though they paid to get out of it. Spiegelman describes how he paid an official a lot of money to smuggle Anja’s parents out of the house, and yet they were still left there to die alone. Spiegelman states with reference to Anja’s father, “He was a millionaire, but even this didn’t save him his life”. By explaining that Anja’s father still died despite his wealth, Spiegelman exemplifies the idea that money does not always guarantee safety and security. Spiegelman also uses facial expressions within the panel to highlight the pain that Anja’s parents went through. In the panel, Anja’s father has a pained facial expression, with his head thrown back in agony because he knows that he is going to be killed. He has bags under his eyes and his mouth wide open. By illustrating a pained facial expression, Spiegelman reinforces that Anja’s father was in a lot of pain despite his wealth, because his wealth could not buy him a ticket to freedom. Therefore, by utilising the graphic convention of facial expressions, Spiegelman portrays the idea that money does not guarantee safety or security.
]]> 2017-06-15 14:12:52 UTC https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/176556552 Olivia https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/176560505 The idea that the holocaust brought out the "every man for themselves' attitude in all those involved. Within the novel the character of Art isn't understanding of this as he didn't grow up in that environment.

Example 1:
An example will be will Vladek and Anja were trying to leave the country to go to Hungary but one of the smugglers took their money and reported them. In order for the smuggler to survive he tricked innocent people. 
Page 156

Example 2:
Another example would be in the two panels on page 144 where Vladek told Mrs Motonowa he would pay her tomorrow while also asking for food. Instead of providing him with food she lied and said she didn't have any. This shows how financial gain and survival was most important for Germans (as well as Jewish in terms of survival) and they only helped others when it benefitted themselves. The expression created through a higher graphic weight used on Mrs Motowa's face shows her distrust and unwillingness to help as she was no longer profiting.

Example 3:
On page 117 a panel depicts the back Vladek's head staring from a buildings window down to the ground in a high camera angle. The narration reads 'Haskel took from me father-in-Law's jewels. But, finally, he didn't help them.' This shows how Haskel, Vladek's cousin, was willing to gain financially which would allow him to survive than to help his own family.
]]> 2017-06-15 14:37:54 UTC https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/176560505 https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/437285132 2020-01-28 21:49:37 UTC https://padlet.com/tjohnson66/ideasinmaus/wish/437285132