CHARACTERS & RELATIONSHIPS Artie Spiegetman Key quotes is] just ike the racist caricature of the miserly old Jew." 161. frame 9 ‘Maybe EVERYONE has to fee! /ERYONE! FOREVER! 202, frame 4) We see Artie and the various visits he pays his father through the lens of the author, who is sharing his experiences with us. As a result, the Ate in Maus isa candid and thoughtful but pained man who uses the writing and drawing of Maus as a means to come to terms with his own relationship with his father. He also uses the process to explore the life of parents he never wholly knew. Most of the narrative of Maus fluctuates between Artie’ depiction of VladeKs wartime narrative and Spiegelman’s depiction of Artie's ‘onship with his father. t is a troubled el clearly wrought with guilt and exasperated by his father’s mood swings, and struggles to tolerate the emotional inconsistencies of a man who seems so haunted by his past that he is removed from his present-day reality. Artie plays a significant le in the “5 survival story ~ at times he corrects father and guides him along in his recollections, and is important. Kay point Attie is entrusted with the transm omes his Holocaust story too, a of important family history: In a vw "e see the profound effect it has on him ~ x Ss While Anie can often be seen acting distant and irritated with Viadek, he is also and his plight, takes a particul desk drawing the frames that he talks about in the dialogue within the frames. Art divulges that he has been grim and confronting depiction of the autho demonstrates his inse s the call be felt in constructing the novel. We also see Arties joduction to him, in the novel's prologue, where we see the child Artie going to his nds’ (p.6, frame 2), redibly reflective and sensitive about his father begi autobiographical turn when Ac ing of Chapter Two of Part Two, the story is seen at his s drawn sitting atop @ mountain of dead Jewish bodies and frame 5) lately, This, ing depressed! (p.20: personal frame of mind st as wel process that fe nature in our fi father for comfort after being left behind by Viadek’s response here is one of tough realism, suggesting that he has experienced things that realy test one's understanding of friendship. Itis ie lives in the shadow clear to the reader from the story's outset that of the Holocaust ~ while he did not experience it for himself, he does experience it second-hand, via his parents. Artie obviously feels guilt to Francoise, when he says 1 somehow wish I had been in Auschwitz with my parents so I could really 3s it’s some kind of (p.176, frame 3). know what they lived through! .. [ having had an easier life than they di Vladek Splegetman Koy quotes "To die, i's easy... But you have to struggle for life! Until the last moment we must struggle together!” (p.124, frames 7, 8 and 9) ‘And we came here to the concentration ca from here we will not come out anymore i the Jews!” (p.259, frame 6}, "WS not even to compare. The Shvarts ied from talking, Richieu, and rame 6} ‘enough stories for now .. {p.296,Vladek is Artie’s father, a survivor of the Jewish Holocaust of World War Vladek and learn more UI, We seeVladek through the storyt undertakes a series of taped about his time during the war. We receive two contrasting depictions of Viadek through the mul Viadek is repress by Viadek himself; the second is represented via the interviews and conversations with Artie. The Vladek in the wartime narrative is a fighter: his ‘survivor’ tale’ is a remarkable story of courage, wit and endurance. The Vladek we see during A and difficult, and complains constantly about many aspects of his life~ particularly his wife, Mala syered chronology of the narrative: in one, ed via the narration of wartime events provided interviews is cantankerous Key point the wartime chronology provide a clear justification for aspects of Vladek’s personality in the later chronology. We see traits in his later life that have developed as a result of the trials and suffering he has experienced. Frugality and saving things enabled Viadek to survive during the war ~ most notably, during his time in Auschwitz. Sacrificing food and setting aside rat in order to make bribes and deals on the black market in Auschwitz gets Viadek ahead of many and, arguably, saves hi that this frugality remains forever in Vladek’s psyche, as he seems beyond reason in his life after the war. Viadek wastes nothing, This is shown, comically, when he manages to convince the manager at the ‘Shop-Rite to take back his opened boxes of cereal in exchange for more groceries. It seems that Viadek struggles to connect with people; as Mala on various occasions. It appears puts it, ‘He's more attached to things than to people’ (p.95, frame 6). is made clear that to Viadek, people come and go, whereas possessions ental, especially toa person who has had can be meaningt everything taken from him. Vladek’s relationship with his second wife, Mala, of the first introductions we have to Viadek is in the context of him berating Mala, and ¢ in Chapter One of Part Two. Given that neithe signs of being content with each other, we might wonder why the pair romain together as long as they do. This raises the concept of survivor companionship and connection. We learn that Mala is also a Holocaust survivor whose family was devastated by the war. Presumably, this \was what once afforded the couple their connection, It would seem, profound displacement and ongoing sadness as a ing. One chastisement continues until she leaves him \dek nor Mala show however, thi ~ pethaps the shadows of their respective survival stories are too great ‘ to grapple with, them to live happily ever after. They each have demons from the war Anja Spiegelman (nee Zylberberg) Key quotes fon ... should be happy ... But | don’t care ive’ p33, frames 3 and 4) Ante you ove... me .. don't your? (9.105, frame 4 ‘et me alone! | don’t want to live” (p.124, frame 6) Just seeing you again gives me strength.’ (p.216, frame 7) Viadek’s wife and Artie’s mother. Born into a wealthy Jewish Polish family, Anja has grown up privileged and in want of ver the war begins. Anja is described as ively unattracti unlike the beautiful women that Viadek has associated with w hemeets her ~ so much so that Vladek is accused of marrying Anja for her money. Nevertheless, the two marry, and Vladek inherits part of the Zylberberg hosiery business. Anja is a quiet and emotional individual who struggles ‘most of the novel to igh happiness. Signs of Anja's depression are seen in Viadeks relationship with her: Viadek looks through Anja‘ closet when he fist visits her family and finds pls that friend later tele him are for Anja's being ‘skinny and nervous’ (p.21, frame 6) She suters Severe post-natal depression after she gives birth to the cou son, Richieu, and she often talks of ending her life ‘he couple are incarcerated in Auschwitz, Unlike Vladek, Anja looks Jewish and struggles to hide her identity when the couple flee or attempt {o hide. Once the war is over, the two ate reunited, with Viadek saying, ‘Me were both very happy and lived happy, happy ever after’ (.296, frame 4) — but we know that this is not enti rue, given Anja's suicide twenty-three years ater. Anja only features in Vladek’s retellings of his life, and we learn of her Suicide very early on in the war and the lead up to | The Anja that we witness during the » for this reason, fractured. Anja’s dialogue is scant an! her presence asa character minimal, Arte fs forced to cly on his father’s depiction of her, and the effect of person in the wartime st ‘One reason why we do not learn a great deal about Anja is because Vladek bu "her davies and papers, preventing Artie from reading ‘hem and finding out about the mother he never proper with great anger and ion that Artie proclaims his 161, frame 4) because his mother's memories have been destroyed by Vladek’s though son to ‘be interested by’ (p.161, is a mete shadow of a too, acknowledging that without her ‘sensi ‘balance’ (p.134, frame 4), ive" story his novel lacks ste inementntaeats ‘Yet by including his autobiographical comix, ‘Prisone- on the Hel rom his mot is disconnect Planet, Artie shows us the reasons effect her death has had on his psyche. imagery in the comix, seen in of a prison inmate, similar to the uniform worn by those in Auschwitz ~ and in the Hitler-esque representation of the doctor. By depicting himself as a prisoner, we see that the mental effect that Anja’s suicide had on ming. In doing this, Spiegelman communicates his own is 1e prof dress ~ that ignore the Holocau: Artie was impri holocaust story ~ his own turmoil and inability to escape. Richieu Spiegeiman Key quotes ink about him much when | was growing up ... He w ry photograph hanging in my parents’ bedroom. “But at least we could've made him go deal with Vladek. .. I's spooky, having ha snapshot” (p.175, frame 8) sibling rivalry {p.175, frame 2) before becoming Richieu has lence, his teresting to note that like An reminding us of his abso tte dialogue in the now death. Itis clear that Richieu’s presence remains in VladeKs life, as Artie observes. Richieu is often included in frames where Viadek is talking to members of his family, and when Vladek is frightened by the bodes of his Jewish trading partners hanging outside, Richieu is drawn playing dead son fondly, re frame 9), and at the novel's ('m tired from talking, Richieu’ ~ ending, of sheer loss and fatigued delusion (p.296, ha doll at his feet. Viadek remembers conclusion he tel rather profoundly, on a poi frame 6). . Antie's discussion of his brother is neither detached nor affectionate. Artie seems very aware that Richieu's death is a loss that does not affect,7 hhim personally, but he is scornful of the son that Richieu could have been. Presumably, this is not because Artie has any s dislike the brother he never met, is because of Artie’s parents’ treatment of Artie himse Richiew pleasing his parents in ways that Aric clea to become a der Richieu could be due to ~ again ~ the survivor guilt that plagues him throughout the process of writing the novel which he resisted Alternatively, Artie's disdain for Mala Spiegetman Key quotes our friends went through the camps. Nobody is ike him! (p.133, frame 6) 32, frame 8) “Its an important book. People who con interested’ (p.135, frame 3) read such stories will be Mala is the incredibly patient but aggrieved second wife of Vladek. She features throughout the later chronology, as she lives with Vladek in Rego Park and Florida, and is often a significant presence duri interviews that Artie conducts with his father. Artie tells us that Vladek and Mala do not ‘get along’ (p.13, frame 6), and this is made clear as Viadek continual ‘woes, from her she leaves him, refers to Mala as a burden, lamenting his many in cooking to her apparent theft of his money when It is unclear whether Vladek’s complaints are legitimate ~ and it is surprising that Mala remains in a relationship with a man who so loudly and flagrantly complains about her ~ but there is a gentle voice ‘of reason in Mala that cannot be ignored. She is clearly pained in many of her dealings with Viadek, and the reader, along with Artie, does nat blame her for leaving Viadek in Chapter One of Part Two. Mala, too, has her own story: from the snippets of conversations that Artie has with her, we learn that she also lost most of her family in Auschwitz, The reader cannot help but feel sympathy for the woman who puts up with Viadek’s neuroses, despite how negative he is towards her, when grapple with. By giving us parts of she also has trauma from the war Mala’s history, Spiegelman shows that all survivors have their own stories hundreds of thousands of individual of horror and loss; there are stories to be told. Frangoise Mouly Key quotes Nobody's now. (174, fame 8) eople, be such a r (p.259, frame 5). “How can you, of al You talk about blacks the way the Nazis talked about the Jew Francoise is Artie’s wife, and features prominently throughout the novel in the later chronology, while Artie visits his father to int Frangoise is Artie's sounding board and support over the diffic that Viadek presents in woman who converted to Judaism for Artie’ father, and wants Artie She is a reasonable and sen: to draw her as a mouse too. Francoise becomes angry when Vladek cchastises her for giving an African American hitch! represented as a black dog) a lift, flabbergasted that he can be sor he was the victim of profound racism and persecution during the war. It is through Frangoise’s presence in the novel that we are given as he often discusses his ideas, access to many of Artie’s and reflects on the process of compl also assists Artie in making sense of hi with her Frangoise ing the now her. Her character provides exposition at times, seen in dialogue such as ‘maybe Auschwitz madeort ‘ata Spiegetng Vinee second ‘wi Ar Spleyeinna, Father ot vlad ode Spegetuun Vlad et “sis, the Kombinatr dito schon ‘and inane tie Iviend uf Vladek thom before the Mus Kavlcs Helps Vladek and Anja ide fromthe ‘Germans awed An Spiced Wile ol Arg bot 3 = $ a ‘aay 104 tydonsney>, se yapeyy zz 3 22 a 988 0} 198u0} way qui deys 4 Sdyay ys Sy}2451e- oyp v1 '9p20 ut paLiew anty pue ays avojaq sie z os zigzag F225] 3 Fizee eeeeahe Bei Sa2ze $araii¢: gbeg232 Bek eae es 222273 Fosha Zytherhen Mout oe ‘Anya’ sister tab nda a in Fane ww thy Poi tice cy take-urt suns . thn Scanontin o ‘ kt an a mls su & ee awl being Kile E bythe Crane ers of later Ari Spiegelman " faa Som al VER nd 4 * si ta siner of . oats Wise . 4 sum of Vb % find ik Any hes Se Maal spegel 4: Gy ot \, Polish Jew who + Spiegel ol ‘pens time tnd we ivatwetwite survives the crncentrtion marred tc bu la amare, sonny Haack 7 Hille ells the chr des el An py nb Ss, Aone Asis tmenistsan, meinen - At > between Viacet: i ae ‘and Ania . 4 ff ‘Mts Motonowa, ils Vladle ie Anja In hee eellar fo sna ine vit Russian Jove wo runs atin wertshogs in Asch Vlad wrk tondelbans: Gone nf Vlado’ be Friends in Auche i Vladed in + resourceful + loving + aresping + weumatisns {obetarganed and unfoeing todierogard Wiad Lo Because of the way the book is written, most of the cheracters exist inselation to others. The reader is continually encouraged to see them through others’ eyes, Vladek Spiegelman Viadek is the central character in the book, There are two Viadeks presented to the reader’ the one of the past and the one of the present The readeris invited to compare the diference betwaon the two of them. The Viadek of the past is educated and resourcetul, His ability to ‘make decent money betore the war is highlighted, as is the fact that he is seen to be good to marry. He is 2 man with a secure place in his society. Even though he has a long relationship with Lucia, he abandons her for his future wife, Anja, While it could be seen that this, shows his callousness — an impression reintorced by the title page of the first chapter (p. 11) itis probably more likely that he loves Anja, ‘The love Viadek feels for her is one of his central attributes; the reader is encouraged to see this as one of Viadek's positive attributes. 1's portrayed as one of the things that keeps him alive in Auschwitz, es his motivation to keep on going. Once he is under Gorman control, Viadek's resourcefuiness is further highlighted, He becomes adept at cultivating relationships with people who can help him survive, from the Kapa in Auschwitz to the Frenchman in Dachau. He is resourceful - ruthlessly so ~ in his attempts to survive. Examples of this are when he tries to help Mandelbaum by getting him a belt and better-itting shoes (pp. 193-194), as well as when he makes a hammock for himself on the train leaving Auschwitz at the expense of other prisoners (p. 245) He then uses his position in the train to barter for sugar in exchange for snow (p. 246). The reader is not invited to judge these acts as selfish. since Viadek’s individual survival is central ta the narrative He is also not a particularly unpleasant person. The selfishness is 3 manifestation of a universal human desire to survive ‘As mentioned earlier, Viadek's other motivation for survivalis his love for Anja. They remain together the whole time they are trying to evade ‘the camps. Even though it comes at a great cost, Viedek manages to ‘see her in Auschwitz, He has to expend considerable bartering power ‘beforehand and is subsequently beaten for it. Despite this loss of food and goods, and the physical pain he endured, itis never seen as, ‘a waste ar something he should not have done; he doas not regret it. Viadek’s attitude shows how his relationship with Anja is central to who he is. He feels a great love for her and sees @ degree of his, ‘own personal success through her This love is perticularly evident 2 Mean amertetu Enlish ewe following Anja's death, which is shown to have a very profound 2ffect on him - aven mare so than when he discovered Richieu had been killed. Many of Viadek’s previously admirable attributes are skewed in the present of the narrative. His resourcefulness manifests itself a5 iserliness, from his insistence that Spiegelman eat all the food on his plate, to his hoarding of things that are of no use. such 4s old ‘menus (9. 95}. The reader is meant to see this 2s 3 manifestation of the trauma he has undergone, His ingenuity that was once the source of his wealth and survival is now seen as a mania. His relationship with money is also affected. He is unable to see the wealth he has ‘and what it can provide him in the present. He is unable to see how secure his situation is in 1970s America: this produces many of the arguments between himsell and Mala, and also some of Viadek’s previous arguments with Anja. He is perpetually concerned about the possible loss he might once again experience, Viedek's love for Ania is also emphasised in the present. Wh seems to have sustained him in the past, he is unable to cope after she commits suicide, The immediate aftermath of this is seen in the Prisoner on the Hell Planet comic, where hes in the full throes of grief sleeping on the floar and lying on her coffin crying. the comic is not a completely trustworthy representation of what happened at this time, this grief continues throughout the book, to the point that Viadek regularly states that he always sees Anja, and has numerous photos of her on his desk, even aftor he is married to Mala {p. 106}. His tdevation to her is shown as ancther event he cannot move past, since even in her continued and permanent absence, she is stil present for Viadek, He is stil in love with her, but is also dependent on her for his, sense of self She was a key motivating factor to keep him going in the camps, but he feels empty once she is gone. Nothing or no one ccan replace what she gave him. The impact of Viadek's past experiences on him is traumatising. He ‘comes close to breaking down afterhe has told Spiegelman about his, father being taken away, stating "it's enough for today” (p. 93). While itis clear that Viadek is physically tied after exercising on his bike, this statement is also @ reflection of his emotional state, both in the past and the present He also finds it difficult to let go of what skills he used to survive in the Holocaust. His insistence on saving money is not dissimilar to many older people who are concerned about such matters, but is, ‘compounded by his desire to hold on fo physical things. This refusal to let go of objects is contrasted by his desire to destroy any remnants, of his postwar past. While he does hold on to some items, such {as the photos and ather belongings kept in the safety deposit box they are pre-Holocaust artefacts, His reasons for holding on to them are largely to do with his attempt to wipe out the memories thet 2 Thee: iota struggle or spasme ofConcepts rigs Matas: + caring FOCUS QUESTIONS "Why is Anja's post-war life left blank in the book? * How much does the reader trust Spiegelman's assessment of his ‘mother as manipulative? Richieu Richieu is Vladek and Anja’s first son who, instead of being taken away to the camps. was intentionally poisoned by a relative when he was six. He fulfils two roles in the narrative. The first is thet he 's emblematic of the horrors of the Holocaust. The fact that he and others like him are intentionally k {hem indicates the appalling fate they would otherwise face. Being led by a carer is held to be better than dying in the camps, The seader is meant to fee! shocked at the system and understand it would Probably be their own response if faced with the samme problem Zhe second role Richieu has in the book is to highlight the anguish felt by his family. Not only do they grieve when they find out he has died, but his absence continues to occupy an emotional space for the Fest of their lives. This is something they Even in the last speech Viadek has with Spiegelman, he confuses Spiegelman with Richiew Richieu's continued presence in his parents life make Spiegelman feel like he is competing with his brother FOCUS QUESTION Why was Richieu included in the story if he was not cental to it? Mala Mala is Viadek’s second wife. She is seen as slightly mote proactive than Anja in that she has a stronger sense of control over her life than ‘Anja. While Mala also experienced the camps, she claims it did nox affect her in the same way as it did Vladek, For her, the camps were 3 tragedy, but she has found a way to cope with the experience with Much less trouble than either Viadek or Ania, Mala despairs of Viadek and provides 3 counterpoint to him. She, like the other Holocaust survivors, is also victim to obsession: 1n Particular, sho obsesses over money, and Viadek claims she tried to get him to change his will to her advantage. itis difficult to work out whether Viadek’s claims thet she is only interested in his money are true; however, it is assumed that there must be some basis in fact This obsession can be explained as a manifestation of the trauma she experiences, Although she leaves Vladek, she returns to him by the end of the book However, thei relationship is not based on lave lke that between Anja and Viadek. While it appears to be much less powertul for Viadek. there is @ degree of common understanding and some emotional connection between the both of thern, Focus QUESTION * Whose interpretation of Mala does the reader believe: Viadek's, her own, or Spiegelman's?‘Act Spiagolman son followed, He feels that the best way to deal with the Holocaust is, Femove all traces of it from his life. While Spiegelman draws hims as upset at what Viadek has done to Anja's diaries, the book itselt does not advocate for any particular response. Spiegelman does not judge these actions as negative or positive, they are just presented as they are, FOCUS QUESTIONS = Does the reader forgive Viadek? Is he a sympathetic character? * How close to each other are the two versions of Vladek in the ast and present? Which one is more reflective of his tue self? Art Spiegelman Despite the fact he drew the comic, Spiegelman is not the protagoni af the book. He's presented as a man traumatised by his background, particularly the events his parents experienced and their reactions to them. Spiegelman is portrayed as an imperfect individual. He can be quick to lose his temper and seem pigheaded, An example of this is when he did not tell his family he was living in New York once he had returned from the West Coast. While he gets - in many cases - justifiably angry at his father, there are suggestions particularly in the Prisoner on the Hell Planet comic, that his mother ‘was as controling as Viadek. Even though he grew up an only child, he \was his parents’ second child, and he feels like he is perpetually ving inhis dead brother's shadow. He wants to compete with Richieu, but is unable to do so. The Prisoner on the Hell Planet comic alsa implies that Spiegelman has suffered a nervous breakdown partly because of his family. Despite his attempts to escape fram the control and power of his family. he does love them. This is demonstrated by his reaction to his mother's death and the fact that he keeps returning to his father to help him Similarly, the second book, Maus i, is dedicated to Spiegalman’s ‘which shows that he does care for his family, even though they often make him anxious and upset, While Spiegelman is the narrator, he is not necessarily 1rustworthy. He uses over-the-top images to make his point about his father's suffering after Anja’s death, particularly in the Prisoner on the Hell Planet comic. Spiegelman picks the warst moments of this gtieving Period as a stylistic and artistic choice. This is not to suggest the ‘events did not happen; rather, they are there to emphasise a point about his father’s, or his own, attempts to cope with Anja's death, lis worth noting that Spiegelman himselt is probably quite different, tohis cartoon version of himself In the book he is presented as a man looking for answers and release from his problems, in a way, which 28 Mean amertetut Rio nate ht not be reflected in Spiegelman himself. The distance between 's created self and real self 1s 3 manifestation of the control he now ‘nas over the book and the story within, Through the book, Spiegelman 1s able to exert his own degree of control over his life and how it is remembered. He uses his authority to metaphorically re-write his lif. His perspective offers few solutions to the problems he encounters, ‘ther, he tries to explain them. Even though he is relatively even- handed in his reprosontation, it must be remembered that he is stil ‘writing from his own paint of view. FOCUS QUESTIONS = What appears 10 be Spiegelman’s motivation for producing the book? "Hows the reeder encouraged to interpret Spiegeiman’s actions? © Dos Spiegelman reprasent himself negatively? Anja ‘Anja is Viadek's wife, and Richieu and Spiegelman’s mother Even though she was so central ta Vladek and Spiegeiman’s understandings smseives, she is absent as a character from the present of the narrative, Despite this physical absence, she still exists in the life of both men Anja is @ relatively passive character in the text. This is in contrast to Viadek’s powerful sense of cantral aver his life. She has nervous problems that manifested themselves before the war, when she was, ‘sent to 8 Sanatorium for @ period of time. Even though she does not have the same drive as Vladek, she is still strong in her will to survive. Her life in Auschwitz, reported secondhand, shows her trying hard to cope in the women’s barracks, ‘Apart from the Prisoner on the Hell Planet comic there are few clues as to why Anja commits suicide. It is implied that she may have done this as a result of the trauma she suffered, but this is never confirmed. The fact that her motives go unstated makes her action evan harder for Spiegelman and Viadek to understand and cope with Anja’s story essentially stops once she and Vladek are reunited since her key role in the text is 1o show what she means to Viadek {as a confidante and source of emotional sustenance. This makes her absence throughout the nartative's present more obvious and relevant, ase Shieh snow cometnng ‘oles: + levng + dopendent + depressedFrangoise Frangoise is Spiegeiman's wife. She only appears in the present of {be narrative. While she does not engage much with the plot, she [2 82d 28 a counterpoint to the actions and attitudes in the book. It 's assumed that she is from a relatively stable background, and can £28 fairy well with some of the problems Viadek and Spieyelmon face. She converted to Judaism for Spiegelman, showing hor looc JF. and devotion to, him, Her relatively open attitude towards others {helps to highlight Viaciek’s acism at times. This is best shown eres Ufacek is horrified that she picks up the black hitchhiker Frangereee ses pyaullude acts as 2 touchstone for many characters’ foslings and prejudices Focus question * Why and how does Frangoise judge others in the book? Pesach/Haskel for instance, favouring fami Viadek and Anja, they are still seen as crocked. While Sip ludges them, the reader is encouraged to see these men oe 2 difficult situation, Their position forces them to make unpleecan Ghoices, so their attempts to help others could be interpreted as thon gang thelr best. Their decisions are also read in ight of the fact trot they are themselves trying to si Focus qussrion * Ate these characters less sympathetic to the reader than Viadek? Representational Characters Since most of the other named characters are only briety referred to Treat nexamining the different animals Spiegelman uses to signify different groups of people. Mice Tne, mice are the most pervasive metaphor in the book. The fact life, which is mirrored in the book by their place in pre-Nazi Europe, Mice are generally viewed as a pest and the most common response {0 seeing one is to kill them. Despite this, the physical act of killing mice as reoresented in the book. when Jews are being gassed and subsequently burnt, is quite distressing for the reader The reader is ‘meant to sympathise with them and their plight. Even though they appear to be helpless, mice are also quite resilient and their skill in evading capture is quite strong, as is their ability to hide. These attributes are reflected by the Jewish characters in the book, They are seen as having a certain drive and power within them that helps them survive, Spiegelman is not necessarily arguing that only Jews possess these attributes: the reader is being encouraged {0 See these attributes in these characters. Focus QUESTION * What does the presence of real mice while Viadek and Mala are hiding (p. 149) add to the book? cats While the Jews are represented as mice, the Germans are shown 88 cats, Since cats are natural predators of mice, the reader is encouraged to see the power the Germans have over the Jews in the narrative. Cats can be ruthless in their pursuit of prey and regularly tease and taunt mice: This highlights the possibilty for cruelty by the Germans in the story. The power that many Germans have over the Jews under their control is emphasised by the typical power dynamic between the two animals, Focus question * How are the less brutal Germans represented in comparison to the other ones? Pigs |n many ways this is the most awkward representation in the book {or readers. While many can see the logic in making the Germans cats, the representation of Poles as pigs is largely @ negative one. While pigs in popular culture are sometimes represented as cuddly, mammals. they ate more typically seen in a negative light, usually as dirty and greedy. Pigs have little affinity with separation from the Jews in attitudes towards them. They clearly live different lives, particularly once the Germans arrive, The negativity associated with pigs is reflected by the negative actions taken by many of the Poles in the story. While the contemporary reader may be shocked by this interpretation, it is worth noting that the story ‘s essentially a true representation of