Graphic Memior Analysis

With Volume 1 published in 1986, with Volume 2 consequentially released in1991, Maus is a memoir of Art Spiegleman interviewing his father, Vladek, about his travels through World War II and surviving Auschwitz, a German World War II concentration camp. The writing style was impressive, with stark visual storytelling that flows graciously and contextually a various levels. Maus has been hailed as the best GraphicMemior of all time, and here are a few of the reasons why.

The writing was honest and relate-able. Art did only retell the story of his Father's trails and tribulations living in Poland during World War II, but also his struggle of writing a memoir, and trying to figure out who he and his father were. He painted his father in many lights, including heroic, a good father, a husband, and an impossible old man who can drive you up the wall in only 5 minutes. This layering of the character made him much more interesting to read, and a believable character. The honesty goes from the character, to the recounting of events themselves. From writing down notes, recording conversations, to just remembering what transpired, all is clearly shown how reliable the dialogue is.[vol.2,pg.37] This makes the entire memoir more fulfilling as it seems to be a very true representation of his life.

The art itself is a perfect representation of the subject matter. The Anthropomorphic characterization of different Nationalities works both to group people together, and shows you race does not dictate evil people, everyone is capable of kindness and hatred. Despite Mice being the victims of the graphic memoir, the mouse who sold out Vladek's family[vol.1,pg.113] shows anyone is capable of evils. Not all the Germans where portrayed negatively, like those who helped him in Auschwitz. The black and white rendition of the story heightened the mood and significance. The coloured covers, are nowhere near as powerful as the page layouts within.[vol.2,pg.35]. Visually, my favorite chapter in the book is the session with his therapist. It starts off with Art as a human, wearing a mouse mask, having trouble with continuing the memoir. The bottom panel [vol2.pg.42] shows Spiegelman hunched over desk, which is on top of a pile of dead Jewish mice. This page so powerfully displays what this book represents, and the feeling he must have felt while writing the book. Further more, it shows the weight the holocaust still holds over Jewish people who survived. So many years with the threat of death and oppression, and for only because of who your parents were.

The entire story is entrancing, from start to finish. I could not put it down through my first reading, and having re-read it already, I know I will do it again. Its a story not of heroism, but of survival, as it does not shy away from the randomness of it all, and the sadness that comes from the evils humanity commits.