Maus Ii

Maus II, by Art Spiegelman, continues the treacherous story of a Jewish Holocaust survivor from first hand memories. Artie Spiegelman is the son of Vladek Spiegelman and he is a graphic cartoon artist. He visits his father every so often and while he is there he makes sure to ask him about his experiences in Nazi Germany during the 1940’s. Vladek Spiegelman does not enjoy recalling his horrific memories but he agrees to do so anyway. Vladek begins telling his story to his son in Maus I and continues in Maus II, further into World War II. This passage is from chapter 2, towards the end of Vladek’s time in Auschwitz. He begins doing tin work again, when the German’s decide to have some of the gas chambers taken apart. Vladek works with a man that tells him about his work in the chambers. Vladek cannot stand to hear the horrific details about pulling the lifeless bodies apart and the crushed skulls of trampled infants. His co-worker continues to tell Vladek about what he has seen. This page gives the reader chills through the vivid and graphic images of the helpless Holocaust victims. The striking images in this section are important because of the feelings of despair and sorrow that the reader cannot even begin to understand. The screaming looks of terror in the eyes of victims being burned alive seems unreal, impossible; but this story is not fiction. These images force the reader to connect with the victims and see how this was not just a nightmare, hundreds of thousands were murdered for reasons I cannot even pretend to understand. The graphic image gives the reader a small insight to the pain and death that is impossible to describe in words. The drawings in this book are simple yet full of emotional expressions. The reader can almost feel the pain while looking into the eyes of the victims as their bodies burn. They are screaming from torture up to the last breath of air they will ever take. The panel makes me feel helpless, angry, desperate, sad and sick to