SurvivalThe way Art Spiegelman wrote his novels seems at first glance disarming and light-hearted. Yet, soon after delving into these lively works, the reader feels the weight of the sober questions addressed therein. Maus Book I and Maus Book II 2 depict both the will to survive the Nazi concentration camps as well as the struggle to exist afterward with the burden of the heinous memories burned into the main protagonist. They are both subtitled “A Survivor's Tale” to encourage the reader to question the term. In thinking about survival, the reader needs guidance. The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines survival as “the state or act of continuing to live or exist, especially in spite of difficult conditions.” Survival applies not only physically, but also mentally. You can survive an experience physically unscathed, but mentally decimated. In Art Spiegelman's Maus, the main characters Anja and Vladek "survived" the holocaust, but remain mentally disturbed forever. There comes a time when physical survival becomes too unbearable. Although it is basic human nature to struggle for the will to survive, at what point does physical “survival” become too pernicious? Additionally, the physical survival of a person who has been emotionally devastated impacts the lives of others around them. The answer to this question can be discerned by examining Anja and Art's relationship with Vladek. “Survival” is a seemingly simple notion, but Art Spiegelman shows in Maus a much more obtuse notion. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay At the beginning of Maus, Vladek immediately introduces the theme of survival. Art describes to his father how his friends left without him, and Vladek retorts that "(your friends) if you lock them together in a room without food for a week, then you can see what it's like, my friends!" In this way, Vladek reflects on how survival can be both a dependent and independent notion. It reinforces the theme of “every man for himself”. Even in the first chapter, Vladek's innate sense of survival seems to be honed, with him being both cunning and resourceful with others. In this way, he attracts many friends and lovers. His sense of survival and self-preservation is also reflected in his business dealings, profiting from the black market in textiles even when the Nazi occupation prevents normal business. When he's stuck on the wrong side of a Nazi-occupied country, he also uses his nifty survival skills to transport himself and his family. In Maus II, Vladek is very cunning in the camps. He thus strives to remain essential to “survive”. and to effectively prevent its own “elimination”. In the wagons, Vladek shows his durability in terrible conditions by creating his own hammock. In all of these cases, we see young Vladek struggling for physical survival and self-preservation. As the reader observes Vladek in his interactions with his son, he witnesses some of the profound emotional effects of his physical survival of the Holocaust. Although his body persists physically, it seems devoid of life emotionally. He is portrayed as a bitter person filled with anxiety. Vladek goes from a loving and caring individual in the past to a miserly and distrustful old man in the present. Despite having enough money to live well, Vladek chooses to scour the trash for reusable items. His relationship with his son seems continually strained. Despite the efforts made to..