Logotherapy In Maus And The Film Life Is Beautiful

Everyone should have a meaning in life. Having a meaning life motivates you to not only keep pushing, but it provides a purpose for our lives and self worth. People that have a set meaning for their life get through things easier; they won’t let situations get the best of them because they know they have to keep pushing towards their goal. For some people, their meaning in life can be their job, career, family or even a certain talent they have, such as art or music. For me, my meaning is life is my career; I want to be successful and have better for myself and future family. This idea of meaning in life is presented in Viktor Frankl’s concept of logotherapy. Logotherapy supports the belief that when we find a purpose in life, it helps us sustain oneself. Two texts which present logotherapy are Maus and the film Life Is Beautiful. These texts present how the concepts of logotherapy can be used to maintain optimism despite horrific conditions.
Logotherapy means therapy through finding meaning. It explains that our primary
“I won’t go to their gas chambers. And my children won’t go to their gas chambers.” (Spiegelman 109). Tosha didn’t think that the children and her life were worth the suffering. This is a common struggle for most of us; when things get tough, people who think it’s no purpose to their life, give up easy.
The movie Life is Beautiful also supports the belief of logotherapy. Guido and Dora informs their son that the concentration camp is a game and once they make it to the end, there will be a grand prize. In this way, Guido's imaginations is a way of escapism; a way for him to cope with reality. Dora is unhappy because she lacks love in her life. However, once she meets Guido and has her son Giosue, they become exactly what she was missing. Even when she has to deal with the most difficult experience of her life, her family gives her the bravery and determination she