From Father to Son

The horrors of the Holocaust, specifically the guilt felt for having survived such horrors, are passed from father to son throughout the novel. Vladek obviously feels some kind of guilt for having survived the Holocaust, though he did what he had to do to survive, and throughout the novel he continually pushes some of that guilt onto his son. As Art gets more and more in depth into his father's story he begins to share some of the guilt his father feels. Art feels guilty for having survived when Richeu didn't. Art sees Richeu as an idealized person, exemplified by his picture in his father's room. The picture can do no wrong; there is still so much potential for Richeu. Art feels he will never live up to Richeu's potential had he survived the Holocaust.

Art shares more in the guilt of surviving when he is sitting at his writing desk, which is set atop a pile of dead mouse bodies. Art believes he is getting a profit on the back's of Jewish suffering during the Holocaust. Like Vladek's guilt, Art's feelings of sadness and depression are definitely unwarranted. The feelings are irrational and, for Vladek, are probably a symptom of PTSD.

Vladek also passes the traumas of the Holocaust to Art by his use of guilt-tripping. Vladek fakes a heart attack to guilt Art to answer his phone calls. Art, and probably Vladek, feels guilt for Anja's suicide. It seems as if Vladek is trying to keep Art around so that he can share in the moments they never had. Though they have an estranged relationship, Vladek appears to be trying to form a bond with Art.

The graphic novel is an effective way to tell this tale because the reader gets to experience the horrors that Vladek experienced. The reader can relate to Vladek and can somewhat grasp Vladek's feelings and actions, which are all a result of what he experienced during the Holocaust. Maus becomes a more personal tale because Art throws you by Vladek's side and puts you in the center of every conversation.