Art Spiegelman was born in Sweden and immigrated to the USA when he was young. His parents are both Holocaust survivors and, after his mother's death, he was compelled to tell their story. Read more about the author Art Spiegelman (http://lambiek.net/artists/s/spiegelman.htm).
In his process to record his father's story of his experiences in WWII and in Auschwitz, what ways does the author show compassion toward his aging father? In what ways does he demonstrate frustration? How has the Holocaust and its aftereffects shaped this relationship?
Please respond in 50-100 words citing textual evidence.
Thomas S
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Art Spiegelman made a goal for himself to try his best to illusrtate and to depict the horror and drama the his father (Vladek Spiegelman) suffered. Throughout the interview, we see the frustration Art goes through. We see it right off the bat when we find out the hostility between them. On pg 6 we see some minor confrontation. We also see the anger that he shows in the death of his mom in the eerie ''Prisoner On The Hell Planet''. Despite his inner anger, we see some compassion that he shows on pg 23 when he respects that the information that he gets from his dad must be a secret. The Holocaust left Anja and Vladek scarred for life. But for Art, he feels like he disrespected his parents even though he had a great life, and they did not have it so great. (142)
Gabriel Cabanas
ReplyDeleteMaus Blog Response
I believe that the author shows compassion whenever he helps his father during the duration of the book. During the book, Spelgimen constantly helps his father with everyday chores, and he constantly comes to his house to give him company and have a conversation with him. He shows that he is frustrated with his father when his father is in a bad mood and when his father argues with his new mother. I believe that the father argues with the new mother because he is still sad about his first wife’s death, and doesn’t believe the new one is a “suitable” replacement. (102)
Jose C.
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Maus Blog Response
One of the way the author showed compassion was by making this book. this book showed all the horror that his father had to go through. The book is one thing the other would be him helping around his house. The author gets frustrated when his father is in a bad mood and is cranky. the aftermath of the war was bad on the dad it messed him up mentally but it also took his loving wife away from him. (78)
Art is compassionate to his dad when Vladek gets depressed over the story of how he lost his dad to the Nazis (91). Art is obviously sympathetic (92). Most of that time, Art is frustrated with his dad, seen when his dad threw out his coat and insisted that Art wear the new one (68). Art is upset that his dad won't listen (69). The Holocaust has affected Vladek because the memories are so painful (108-109). Art has been affected by his mother's suicide that was a direct result of her experiences (100). (88) Karsten V. Block 3
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ReplyDeleteArt Speiglman wanted to write about the difficult time in his father’s life. His father, Vladeck, is a holocaust survivor who had a family. Art learns more about his father’s story through a personal interview. This interview drew me into the story so much that I thought that I was living it. Art can see his old father aging quickly and makes the audience feel sad for him. Vladeck is very frustrated with everything including his counting of his pills.(80)
I completely agree with Connor and his response to the question. He is very correct when he says that Art tries to portray his dads struggle during the Holocaust. Art gets to hear the story from the person who lived the story was survived to tell it. Art shows the reader, as best as he can, his fathers life up close and personal with the reader. He helps the reader connect to the story.{74}
Delete(Andrew J, SAHS Block #3)
ReplyDeleteAs Art begins to document his fathers experiences in WW2 and the Holocaust, it becomes apparent that the traumatizing events have caused them to have an unstable relationship. Art struggles to be patient with his father. He wants to elicit as much information as he can, but his dad loses track and begins ranting about problems with his wife or how much pain he is in. Vladek wants the best for his son, but struggles in showing affection. He sometimes get annoyed with all the questions Art ha, but tries his best to stay calm. (90)
(Andrew J, SAHS Block #3)
ReplyDeleteAs Art begins to document his fathers experiences in WW2 and the Holocaust, it becomes apparent that the traumatizing events have caused them to have an unstable relationship. Art struggles to be patient with his father. He wants to elicit as much information as he can, but his dad loses track and begins ranting about problems with his wife or how much pain he is in. Vladek wants the best for his son, but struggles in showing affection. He sometimes get annoyed with all the questions Art ha, but tries his best to stay calm. (90)
Art was a man whose goal was to do his best to illustrate the devastation and trauma that his father had been through. Artie's mother committed suicide at the first chapter in which it was the only information given to us. He had to do chores for his father day after day. Vladek had lost very important people in his life, like his wife Anja and his son Richieu.(68 words)
ReplyDeleteKaori McGowan
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I feel by recording his fathers story he felt close to him. In the book he showed compassion to him throughout listening to his story by just listening to the story his father had to say. Spiegelman was trying to portray the story in a different way than others have told it before and I think he did a great job at it. He seemed a bit frustrated in the book when his father brings up how art is a waste of time pretty much but you can tell it means a lot to the author. I also believe the Holocaust aftereffects brought there family together, as one. In my eyes if a family or even couple can make it through that they can conquer the world. (98)
Jose Rabago
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SAHS
During the process to document his fathers sorrowful story Art shows compassion towards his father when he reads the comic book about his wife's suicide. (page 99) Art tries to apologize to his father because he knows the book brings up horrible memories his father has, (page 104) One way Art shows frustration towards his father is when he interrupts his father and tells him to get back to the story. (pages 44 and 73) The Holocaust and its aftereffects shapes the relationship of Art and his father by making his father into a strict man. An example is when Art tells the story to Mala that when he was little his father always demanded that he ate everything in his plate. (page 43) (110 words)
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ReplyDeleteArt shows compassion towards his father by listening to his story and writing about his father's experiences and even animating them. He also demonstrates frustration during this process because his father kept going off topic and Art just wanted to record the story, not listen to his father complain about his new wife. Also the holocaust shaped his father because even at his old age he was very conservative and didn't like using money or wasting anything. One aftereffect was his mother's suicide, which deeply affected both of them.(89 words)
ReplyDeleteBy recording his fathers intricate and melancholy story, Artie sympathizes with him and comforts him by letting him know he cares about the stories he has to tell. Sometimes however, the age gap is very present. When Artie's father throws away his coat and makes him wear a very old and out of style jacket, this is present. This is where you can see come conflict between Artie and his father.
ReplyDeleteBy recording his fathers intricate and melancholy story, Artie sympathizes with him and comforts him by letting him know he cares about the stories he has to tell. Sometimes however, the age gap is very present. When Artie's father throws away his coat and makes him wear a very old and out of style jacket, this is present. This is where you can see come conflict between Artie and his father.(71)
ReplyDeleteI agree with David Acevedo on how he showed compassion to his father but really frustrated him at times. And how he came to him and talked to him everyday but again frustrated him on how he went off topic and etc. One way I think Art showed compassion to his father is when his father threw away his Arta coat and he Art got insanely mad and the father gave him an non good looking coat he still wore it even though he's thirty years of age he still listens to his father.
ReplyDeleteSebastian C.
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SAHS
Art Speigleman shows compassion to his father in a variety of different ways throughout the book. At times we also see an air of frustration between the two. Artie will often times look after his father and come visit him a variety of different times. During those visits Artie helps his father, but they also have conflicts. I personally attribute these to the generation gap between them.(76)
Janan Moein
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SAHS
In my opinion, Artie and Vladnek's relationship was extremely complex because it was eternally scarred by the horrors of the Holocaust. Artie definitely proved to me that he was compassionate towards his father by publishing the MAUS books. He lovingly documented and classified his fathers honorable story of hardship and survival. This definitive aspect proves to me, Artie's compassion for his father. There was also a great deal of friction. Vladnek was a bitter, detached, stingy, and unsupported person towards his son. Yes, some of Vladneks flaws could be traced to the hardships during the Holocaust, but a his stingy side was deeply rooted in his childhood. The Holocaust scarred many generations of Jewish people and Vladneks character flaws were amplified by the horrors of the war. These Holocaust both summoned tension and compassion between Artie and Vladnek. (100)
I found this to be true as well, Art showed a lot of compassion towards his father by always taking in to consideration what he had to say.
DeleteJ-Dagostino
ReplyDeleteMaus blog
Throughout the scenes with present Vladek and Art, it is obvious that they don’t get along. Most fathers and sons don’t, I know my dad is always at my throat, but unlike Art I keep my mouth shut. The first instance of Art’s quarrel with his father is on pages 68 – 69. Vladek throws away Art’s tattered coat because “it’s a shame my son would such a coat”. To which Art retorts “but I liked it”. Art does eventually shows compassion to his old man by offering to hire a handy man to fix the roof.
I think that that he was very compassionate towards his dad and that he thought of his old age and took it at his speed. If Art was not compassion towards his dad then honestly he wouldn't of been able to wright this book . His fathers old age has alot to do with how Art approged his dad and continued at his pace with out going to fast. He and his dad i thought got along very well and set a good tone from what i read. (80)
ReplyDeleteThere were times that Art Spiegelman portrays compassion for his father but he mostly felt frustration. Artie seemed compassionate after Vladek was on the exercycle and Artie tells his dad "maybe you should lie down for awhile" (92). However, he writes about how upset he is about how his father treated him when he was young and how cheap his father is about everything. When Mala calls Artie to tell him that his dad is climbing on the roof he starts ranting and tells his wife "he loved showing off how handy he was...and proving that anything I did was all wrong" (97). (103)
ReplyDeleteI agree with your thoughts on the compassion that was showed.
DeleteConnor Barry-Block 3
ReplyDeleteArt Spiegelman illustrated/showed the adversity that his father faced through the Holocaust from his perspective. His father's patience is tested by Art's series of questions he has for him. It showed what that meant to Art by including it in the story. Art always showed the utmost respect to his father, regardless of the situation. (56)
I agree with this because although they had their differences, Artie still respected what his father had to say and what his father wanted to happen. I also liked that it showed what was going on outside of just Artie writing the things his father said, it gave a look into how the family acted now, after the events they went through.
DeleteFrom the introduction of the book i could tell that the author and his father had a complicated relationship. Plus, there had to be a reason why in the very starting point of this book when Artie decides to see his father in Rego Park it was his first visit in a long time and he specifically says that him and his father "weren't close". But to get bad on topic the author shows compassion toward his aging father by listening to all his fathers stories about the war and his past. Artie let his father end where he wanted to end each day, instead of forcing certain information out of him and making him finish parts of stories. it seemed as if Artie understood that it was a rough subject for his father and didn't want to pressure him to much. However, the author did have a little frustration when his father left out details about his experiences that the author found important. and another incident when Artie gets frustrated is when his father gets off topic with his stories and tells him that he doesn't want details of his personal life outside of his Holocaust experiences to be put in the book. (204)
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you say here. It's clear that Artie and his father have an odd relationship.
DeleteThe first chapter is about art arriving home and then getting js father to tell him stories of when he lived in poland during the war. his father starts out by talking about a girl that he never though he would have a chance of being in a relationship with because she was very pretty but she was poor.eventually arts father and her get married
ReplyDeleteLogan Berry
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In the novel "Maus," we see the experiences of a jewish man by the name of Vladek Spiegelman as he tries to survive the holocaust. His son, Artie, is talking to him about what he went through. Artie and his father have an interesting relationship. Artie's dad is very set in his ways and traditional and I would say OCD. So anything Artie does that Vladek doesn't approve of, it ends in an argument. This irritates Artie; for instance, Artie has an old coat that he wears. His dad threw it out without him knowing before they started talking.(68)This shows a small form of the frustration that Artie deals with when dealing with his father. They may have there downs, but there are times when Artie is compassionate with his father. For example, instead of pressuring his dad to continue speaking, when his dad says he's done for the day Artie respects that.(40) The holocaust has caused Artie's father to be a bit colder in his views of the world than he was before. When Artie was little he told his dad that somethin happened with his friends at school, and his dad tells him that if they were locked together in a room with no food, who would really be a friend in that situation.(6) The Holocaust also led Artie's mom to commit suicide from the horrors she faced.
Dawnelle Wetzel
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In this novel, we see how the relationship between Artie and his father truly is. They can get along yet sometimes they seem to not be able to stand each other. The relationship they have, in my opinion, is very different. For example, in the beginning Artie tells us just how much it bothers him when his father goes on and on about how annoying his second wife can be. Stating how horrible she is at everything, and pointing out almost every one of her flaws. (52) This always causes Artie to become frustrated with his father. They also argue a lot due to Vladek getting upset when his son did something wrong or in a way that he did not approve of. But, as much as they argued, Artie still respected his father. He would do what he was told and he also would give his father a break when requested. Whenever Vladek wanted to be finished telling the story for the day, his son would oblige and not force him to go on. (40) The horrible things this family went through during the holocaust definitely takes a toll on how the relationship is between them. What they experience effects their character and how they act with one another.
In the Graphic novel Maus we see a very conflicted relationship between both Art Spiegelman and his father, Vladek. right off in the start of the book we see that Vladek cares about his son by telling Mala to give him a wooden hanger instead of a wire one. He calls him a "honored guest." throughout the book we see that Artie respects his father by obliging to stop when he is tired. The conflict starts between them when he gets annoyed with his father nagging about his second wife and how she cannot get anything right. An example of this is when Artie gets ash on the carpet and he yells at him saying that Mala wont clean it for weeks to come and he is to sore to bend over. You can also fell the tension between them about Artie's mother's death. In the end we see that it is a typical father and son relationship with a dark history of a stressful time.
DeleteIn the book Maus the Author showed his care for his father when his father spilled his pills and he willingly told his father that he would count the pills for him. His dad seemed angry about his wife, maybe because he wasn't very pleased with his new wife. He also doesn't like talking much about the Holocaust, he seemed uncomfortable when he would talk about his past and would often get frustrated easily.
ReplyDeleteBradley Dunn
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Artie know that his father has been through a lot. Artie has supported his father by doing anything he has asked. Through chores, and even by making this book. He show his frustration on pg 159, when Artie find out that his father has burned all the memories of his mother. So now it is a long distance relationship, on pg 11 it show that they don't talk or stay in touch that often. The Holocaust has put a toll on Artie's father. So I can see how he can get angry and want to be left alone most of the time. (97 words)
Throughout the story you could clearly tell that the life changing events that occurred in the holocaust effected Vladek in the long run. He was mentally UN stable about the topic and at times grew frustrated or flustered with Artie because there was a sensitive topic that Vladek did not want to speak on. That also correlates with their relationship in general,its very unstable. Sometimes their having a normal conversation and next thing you know they cant stand each other. for example early in the book Vladek thought it was okay to throw Arties jacket out in the trash because he felt like it wasn't up to style. The relationship they have is built on weak communication. 78. Tysean White
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ReplyDeleteNicholas Reichert
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I think Artie shows a lot of compassion for his father when he ask him if he can write the book about his fathers past. Although his father seemed hesitant at first he agreed to allow Artie to write this book. Artie started with simple questions about his father's past and I think Artie shows a lot of compassion for his father when he ask him if he can write the book about his fathers past. Although his father seemed hesitant at first he agreed to allow Artie to write this book. Artie started with simple questions about his father's past. Artie shows frustration when His father doesn't want him to put certain parts of his story in the book. For example when he speaks about his ex that was very clingy, he asks Artie to just leave it out because he thinks that it isn't very meaningful. This really affects the relationship with Artie and his father because they were very close and this must have brought them even closer. The Holocaust is a very large part of Jewish people's past and it is only fair that they share those memories together in order for Artie to really understand.
In the Graphic novel Maus, we see a very conflicted relationship between both Artie and Vladek (his father) In the start of the book, we see that Vladek cares about his son by telling Mala to give him a wooden hanger instead of a wire one. He calls him a honored guest may times in the book we see that Artie shows compassion and respect for Vladek his by obliging to his request to stop when he is tired. The conflict starts between Artie and Vladek when Artie gets annoyed with his father nagging about his step mom and how she always messes up things. An example is when Artie gets ash on the carpet and he yells at him saying that Mala wont clean it and he is to sore to bend over. You can also fell the tension between them about Artie's mother's death. Overall, this is just an average son and father relationship, just with a little bit of a more serious feel.
ReplyDeleteTyler Bouthillier
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Holocaust and Genocide Studies
In the Graphic novel Maus, we see a very conflicted relationship between both Artie and Vladek. In the start of the book, we see that Vladek cares about his son by telling Mala to give him a wooden hanger instead of a wire one. He calls him a honored guest a lot times in the book we see that Artie shows compassion and respect for Vladek his by obliging to his request to stop when he is tired.
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