The Reputation Of Family In Maus By Art Spiegelman

When condemned in a state of division, segregation, and chaos, look for lingers of promise and cling to faith. For Art Spiegelman's father, Vladek Spiegelman (a Holocaust survivor), he turns to family as both a beacon of inclination and a social advantage. When asked about family during this time, Vladek makes a statement saying “it was everybody to take care for himself”, despite the underlying privilege and help to which his family provides him. He fails to recognize the reputation, connections, and determination tied into his story, with family being more than mainly responsible for his survival.

Firstly, one’s will to survive is deeply rooted and reliant on family. To explain, Vladek’s interest lies within his family, especially his wife, Anja, believing wholeheartedly that “until the last moment (they) must struggle together!” His trust in their fate was very much so correlated with his love, “need” for her. Notably, his drive in comparison to Anja, is completely opposite. Anja endures the deaths of and outlives several of her family members, including her own son, Richieu. Even so, Vladek perseveres and strives to motivate his wife through
But, the statement does highlight and challenge the definition of family amid the Holocaust. Where in modern perspectives family may imply obligations and fulfillment due to morality, Vladek’s remark suggests that family is nothing more than a network of connections. Moreover, his ideology is shaped by his experiences with family, including those who only assist him when given compensation, still, indifferent to do so. Understanding the amplitude of the Holocaust and how it’s repercussions continue to cause distress, Vladek’s personal history showcases how detrimental genocide is to civilization, with the power to divide