Introduction to Survival in Maus
The name of first chapter of the novel shows the theme of survival in Maus through its title “Mouse Hole”, which gives an impression that the characters are trapped like mice in the holes, which was exactly what happened to Valdek in that village. The scene described in these pages is that of the escape of the hero, Valdek, who is a courageous man, making efforts for his family’s survival from the Nazis, who are on the lookout for the Jews to exterminate them. The scene takes place in a ghetto, where they all have been imprisoned to be segregated. Anja, the wife of Valdek is hysterical before they leave this place. These comics show how they leave this ghetto to Sosnowiec, presenting theme of survival in Maus.
Escape of Valdek is Survival in Maus
This page gives a full picture of the escape of Valdek for his survival in Maus. All the panels on this page are arranged in a sequence except the first two where the first one is a bit smaller than the second one, which is a bit larger than all of the rest. Almost all the panels have borders, separated with a gutter, and descriptions in captions given with some as in the case of first five where the dialogue is clear “Anja and I did not have where to go.” The dialogues are clearly given in the speech bubbles as in the sixth panel “It was nowhere we had to hide.” However, there is no tier as it is on some other pages in the novel. The captions are very short as supposed to be to give voice to what Valdek says in this episode.
Images of Survival in Maus
As far as the images are concerned, the characters are the same Valdek and his wife, Art himself and Miloch, while Art’s father appears in the last penal, showing theme of survival in Maus. They are also engaged in survival from this ghetto. They are trying to find a way out. The images resemble the characters throughout the novel. However, the Nazi symbol given in the second last panel, shows that wherever they may go, everything is under the feet of the Nazis who are constantly in search of them.
Narrative of Survival in Maus
As far as narrative elements are concerned, first page tells a story of a desperate escape. The context of this story is that the Nazis are bringing all the Jews to Auschwitz to put them into gas chambers. This is the village of Srodula where the ghetto is located. Valdek along with his wife and fifteen others are imprisoned over there. Some have been killed in their attempt to flee this prison. Pesach tells the other members that they have bribed guards to flee, but that is not easy. This page opens with Valdek saying that they are only a handful, and there are no guards, but they need to leave it. Therefore, they would have to arrange clothes and IDs for them to escape. Miloch meets them on the way to where Valdek leaves a letter to fix the next meeting place. It also shows that one of them, Avram and his wife, were deceived, when their money was finished, while Valdek and his wife Anja did not find any place to go.
Dialogue and Survival in Maus
The dialogues in this narrative are beautiful and tell the whole story, while the rest is done by the captions which fill the gaps. The dialogues are not only short and crispy but also full of meaning. They show that they are desperate in search of some safe place, some shelter but they find nothing to go. Specifically, the situation of Avram and his wife tells us that even friends cannot be trusted. The second last image shows the image of the Gestapo police of the Nazis, which shows how they were spread in all directions to hunt for the Jews. This is a symbol of cruelty and barbarism. The overall theme of this page is escape from oppression and barbarism which is amply clear from the dialogues.
Conclusion
In short, the page shows a full picture of the cruelty committed against the Jews in Auschwitz, showing their survival in Maus at stake. It shows how they are hunted down by the Nazis in their own villages. The images of the characters in animal faces, the dialogues, and the symbols create a powerful impact on the readers and the audiences about the barbarism committed against the Jews during the Holocaust. Captions also contribute to this acute sense of oppression the Jews had to go through these troubling times.
Works Cited
- Hutcheon, Linda. A Poetics of Postmodernism: History, Theory and Fiction. New York, Routledge. 1988. Print.
- Spiegelman, Art. Maus. New York: Penguin, 2001. Print.
Relevant Questions about Survival in Maus by Art Spiegelman
- How is the theme of survival in Maus portrayed differently for Vladek and Art Spiegelman, shedding light on their unique perspectives on surviving the Holocaust?
- What specific survival strategies and coping mechanisms are exemplified in survival in Maus, and how do they shape the characters’ resilience in the face of the Holocaust?
- In what ways does survival in Maus delve into the emotional and psychological aspects of survival, offering insight into how characters like Vladek and Art navigate the enduring impact of their traumatic experiences?