As we made our way through the second half of ASTU 100, we came across yet another graphic novel to study. This time, we explored themes of culture, racism, and trauma in the first part of Art Spiegelman’s “Maus: A Survivor’s Tale” through Artie and his father (Vladek)’s personal accounts of World War II and the Holocaust. As these experiences were primarily expressed through the Jewish perspective, they were regarded as unforgettably traumatic. With powerful descriptions and illustrations, it may be suggested that these narratives are authentic. However, to what extent may an individual modify their stories to disguise a reality or for entertainment purposes, and is it moral to do so with sensitive subjects such as historical oppression?
Cover page of “Maus: A Survivor’s Tale: My Father Bleeds History” by Art Spiegelman
In the first half of Maus, Artie began interviewing his father to gather content for a book he wants to write. Though it made for immersive flashbacks, it became evident throughout the novel that Vladek often felt uncomfortable about reliving his past. This is seen early in the book when he casually attempted to redirect Artie’s interests away from writing about their family history (Spiegelman 12). This relatively calm scene distinctly contrasts with many of Vladek’s recollections that vividly illustrate the raw and occasionally aggressive ordeals experienced during World War II and the Holocaust. While this scene is not necessarily consumed by terror or violence, it nonetheless possesses a sense of tension between Vladek and his son as he may not have wanted to reflect on the years he spent as an oppressed Jew. This is also supported when Vladek revealed later on that he burned his late wife’s diaries as they brought depressing memories to him (Spiegelman 159). As he could not completely escape from certain truths, he was able to articulate much of his past to Artie. Perhaps Vladek was motivated to do so for Artie to experience survivor’s guilt, as found in the novel’s prologue (Spiegelman 6).
Whether or not these accounts are accurate, they have undoubtedly made an impact on Artie’s life. Some element of events, including time and place, may have been misrepresented due to the storyteller’s forgetfulness or exaggeration. Such alterations to the plot may be done in various ways as the speaker can differ in a graphic novel. Firstly, the character of Vladek may be the speaker who skews his own life story in a manner that appears legitimate to him. Moreover, the speaker may be the narrator (that would mostly be Vladek in the case of Maus). Finally, the author, Art Spiegelman, has ultimate control of the story’s content. When analyzing Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi in the previous term, we also reflected on how having these varying degrees of speakers has an impact on a graphic novel. Having a fitting variety of voices not only provides a unique flow to the story but it may also assist the reader in interpreting a scene from different perspectives. Overall, it is difficult to draw the fine line that separates truths from falsehood in a memoir, especially when authors blend minute details together to evoke a broader theme. Regardless of how genuine this narrative is, reading it certainly gave me a greater appreciation my current life circumstances.
References
Spiegelman, Art. Maus: A Survivor’s Tale: My Father Bleeds History. Pantheon Books, 1992.