Maus

I first read Maus in my teenage years as part of my school classes. After so many years, it is hard to remember my impressions in detail, but I remember being moved by the animalistic representations of people and the scale of the war. Maybe I was too young but I’m not sure I really grasped the scale of the systematic killing and suffering implemented by the Germans.

After watching a video by Shaun, I decided to reread the book and it was way more impactful this time. I, as an adult, cannot believe the amount of death and pain deliberately caused by mankind. Because I visited Auschwitz between both readings, the book helped to humanize the tragedy caused by the genocide.

The human story is what makes Maus so remarkable. Particularly, Vladek and his relationship with Art. Vladek is quite the character: smart, strong-willed and extremely resourceful but miserly, racist and stubborn. One could have expected that the Holocaust would have made Vladek a more empathetic person but no, he remains the same, only traumatized by the experience. In the words of Art himself: “Look, suffering doesn’t make you better, it just makes you suffer!” At the same time, it is clear that the Holocaust’s impact extends to Art, who suffers from second-order trauma, struggling to understand himself, how to deal with his father, and the trauma of losing his mother.

Maus is such a compelling story because of this human aspect and, in my opinion, is one of the best portrayals of the Holocaust. A lesser story would hide the flaws of its author and his father, idealizing the survivors, but not here. Vladek was a flawed man who was smart and lucky enough to survive, even if this came at a cost to him and his relationships. But, even if he did not grow from it, surviving is worthy enough.