As Maus includes REAL elements, so too does this blog, The image is from the Unites States Holocaust Memorial Museum exhibit titled Collaboration and Complicity. What does this image reveal to you about human nature? Are there any other images from the USHMM exhibit that you can connect to any of the stories that Vladek shares with Artie?
Respond with TEXTUAL EVIDENCE in MLA format. Indicate word count (75-100 words) after last word.
From reading about Vladek's discussions I realize that the nature of humans at that time was horrible and disgraceful. I am talking about the Germans actions of course. I believe the Holocaust brought out the worst in people. Since the Germans were awful and cruel to the Jews, it brought out a bad side to the Jews. For example in Maus 1, the Jews had to survive so they would give each other up and also try to steal from one another just to live.(Spiegelman 113) But there was also good in people. An example I have is in Maus 2 when Vladek asked for another pair of shoes and a belt for his friend so his feet wouldn't freeze.(Spiegelman 34) There are many examples of the Jews being afraid to stand up for themselves, Vladek even said they were too afraid to say or do anything. An example in Maus 1 is when the Germans just steal Vladek's furniture without paying him.(Spiegelman 79)
ReplyDeleteThe image from the United States Holocaust Memorial Mueseum reveals to me that a lot of people allowed these terrible acts to happen probably because they had human needs that had to be met. The German in the picture most likely had a family that he had to keep a job to support, and the neighbors who were buying stuff cheap from the Jewish people probably didn't have any other way to buy things. This picture showed me that human nature is people trying to get their needs met at the expense of others. There is an image that stands out to me. The image shows remains of Jews that were killed in a concentration camp. This image connected to Maus 2 and how Vladek said the Jews were just thrown into mass graves and burned dead or alive.(Spiegelman 72) (305 words)
In this image it clearly shows that during times of war the worst possibles qualities and characteristics come out in a person,it shows that humans are horrible to each other if given the chance they will only think of themselves and not others in maus vladek was telling Artie how the Jews were just corralled together like animals without any sympathy or mercy they were killed in the street in front of others and piled into mass graves and burned even if some were still alive i the pit with the dead they were burned.
ReplyDeleteHuman Nature during the time period brought the worst in people, people had a hatred towards Jews due to propaganda and role models that persuaded people to hate them. But people did think what was happening to Jews was wrong and people helped hide them just like when Vladek hid in a barn and a cellar with Anja. There was a sense of panic though when the person that helped hide them went into a panic thinking that the Gestapo would search her house for them, it really shows the fear of the enemy. The picture may be showing Nazis taking furniture that they want, just like in Maus where the Nazis also came to their house when they were going to take their furniture that they wanted. It really does show that most Nazis had no respect for Jews.
ReplyDeleteFrom Artie and Vladek’s discussions I learned that humanity around the globe was horrible, in the fact that mostly everyone was suffering especially the Jews (Spiegelman 83). On page 83 in the book Maus demonstrated how Jews were killed by the Nazis. WWII brought the best and worst of people. It brought the worst in the sense that Nazis wanted to conquer Europe and kill the Jews (Spiegelman 90). It brought the best of people when they tried to help each other try to overcome their situation. A situation in Maus where a man stood out for someone else was when Vladek told the Kapo that his friend needed a belt (Spiegelman 34). A moment where the Jews didn’t stand up for themselves was when Vladek explained that everyone was too tired and afraid to rebel against the Nazis (Spiegelman 73). The image from the USHMM exhibit reveals to me that the Nazis didn’t care of who they were attacking or the obstacle they had to through, they only cared of obtaining that goal with no matter of how many human beings were affected.
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I believe that Maus has taught us how humans react and filter themselves in situations of high stress/suffering. The Nazi cats, filtered themselves in the category of the predator. If we think about the situation in Germany, we can see why one might think more highly of themselves when told that they are the perfect human being. In addition, being able to blame someone else for your country's financial stress would be much easier than seeing how previous decisions have affected their economy. The Jews are naturally filtered into the category of the mouse, aka the prey. This comes as a result that the Nazi war machine dehumanizes the ideals of the average Jew, and pictures them as a worthless and easily killable creature. (120 words)
ReplyDeleteFrom the discussion Vladek had with Artie, I realized that the nature of human beings, in the time of WWII, was cruel and brutal on the side of the Nazis. I believe that the Holocaust brought out the worst and the best in people. An example of the worst is in Maus I is when Vladek and Anja are on their way to Hungary on a train and the smugglers that were going to going to help them escape, betray them and led the Germans to them (Spiegelman 154-155). An example of the best or good in people is in Maus II when Vladek begs the kapo to give him a pair of shoes and a spoon for his friend Mandelbaum. (Maus II) An example of people being fearful is in Maus I when the Nazis go into Vladek's house and take his furniture without paying him.
ReplyDeleteThe image from the Unites States Holocaust Memorial Museum to me reveals that human nature was very abusive. An image that stood out to me from the USHMM exhibit that I can connect to the stories that Vladek shares with Artie is the one with the corpses on the ground with soldiers with guns in the background. This reminded me of the mass graves where bodies, burnt dead or alive, were that Vladek was talking about while building the gas chambers. (Spiegelman 70-72)(229)
I do not know why my name isn't popping up but this is Michael DiVita
ReplyDeleteAfter reading and comprehending the conversation of Vladek and Artie, i do not think the war brought either the full "good" or "bad" out of people, i think a fair amount of each was shown by the encounters Vladek had with the many people he had met. Starting with the beginning of the war, many were very friendly and hospitable towards each other to keep each other safe from being captured, but then a small amount had told a Nazi were some were hiding. this stayed pretty consistent until the majority were in concentration camps were the human nature then changed. Now while in the concentration camps many were still friendly, but some became stingy due to the lack of resources and items they were given. For the most part i believe that \many of the Jew's worked together while in the camps, but the real test of friend or foe was put to the test when Vladek executed his escape. At first when they were being transported to another camp, Vladek had successfully disguised himself while on the train, and asked a Polish man how he could escape. Rather than blow his cover, the man helped Vladek successfully leave as they waited for the train to come to a stopping point. Here is when Vladek met more people who were very passive about his escape, and this continued until he arrived to his safe house. this shows that many of the regular Non- Jewish did not agree with the Nazi reign, and allowed a Jewish man to escape. Besides the few occasions were some would be mean, stingy, or evil, the war brought many closer together, in efforts to survive the living Holocaust. (288)
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ReplyDeleteFrom the discussion between Vladek and Artie I learned that people and human nature wasn’t always a utopia, it could be cruel and and a world full of distress. In my opinion the Holocaust brought the worst out of people for example when Anja's parents were taken away from the ghetto in Maus I. (Spiegelman 87) There were a few examples of people going out of their way to care for their fellow man in Maus for example in Maus I a Polish Army Officer told Vladek to keep digging and start shooting, this saved him from being killed by the opposing Nazi. (Spiegelman 47) In the book there were many times when people were afraid to stand up for what is right for example would be in Maus II when Vladek arrived to Auschwitz. The Nazi's were screaming at the Jews and Vladek started to contemplate his future and even his own death. (Spiegelman 30)
ReplyDeleteThe image from United States Holocaust Memorial Museum reveals that the Nazi’s didn't care for the Jews, they just wanted them to be “exterminated.” I can connect this image to when the Nazi’s went to Anja’s parents house and took all of their furniture. Vladek couldn’t do anything or he would be killed. Maus II (Spiegelman 79)(213)
While the Holocaust was a terrible time bringing out the worst in many people, there are examples of the Holocaust bringing out the best in people. For example Mancie was willing to risk her own life to exchange information, letters and food between Anja and Vladek. Mancie would have been killed if the German army discovered she was doing this. (Spiegelman 52-54) But she felt it was worth the risk for her to help this separated family. Mancie also got Anje jobs in the kitchen where Anja could eat and collect scraps of food. Anje distributed that food she collected to others who were starving. (Spiegelman 56). The Holocaust brought out the best in Anje, herself withering away, but willing to share the scraps of food she could take from the kitchen. But Vladek told Anje not to share food and instead to save the food for herself, indicating the Holocaust did not bring out the best in Vladek who was looking out only for his wife. (Spiegelman 56) The Holocaust also brought out the best in the Frenchman who was allowed to receive care packages because he was not Jewish and chose to share them with Vladek. (Spiegelman 93) Mancie, Anje, and the Frenchman all put the well being of other suffering above their own and the holocaust did bring out the best in them. The image reveals that people were afraid to throw anything away and held onto everything fearing another Holocaust. (244)
ReplyDeletePatrick Lloyd
ReplyDeleteThe holocaust was a terrible time for the Jews, but after reading Maus I realized,because it was told from true events, that it brought out both good and bad of people. It just depended on what kind of person you were. Maus taught me about human nature by describing how tough it was for the victims to stay positive, which meant they would do anything to be saved.in Maus II i realized an example of the good in someone coming out was on page 56 of Maus II he would give his scraps to his friends that were waiting outside(Spiegelman 56). This picture above tells me about human nature that some people would work together and others would have no sympathy for others. i believe that this was very cruel that the Nazis would not do anything for the jews and that all they thought was to kill them because that is what they were told to do. (163)
From Vladek's discussion I learned many things about human nature. One example, is that the enemy may go to such extremes to get their point across, just like the Nazis did. On the other hand, the Holocaust some times brought out the best and worst in people. When the Holocaust brought out the best in people was when the Jews would show hope. Then when they brought out the worst was when Richiue was killed by his women protector. People also went out of their way to help others just like Vladek sometimes gave rations of food to others and when he taught the person to speak English. On the other hand, people were also afraid to stand up because they could all be killed right on the spot. On the picture provided, it shows how the Gestapo searched for any Jewish people in hiding because they are scourging through all belongings and drawers. On the other hand, when I clicked on the link in the prompt, I saw a picture that has Jews crowded together which is shown throughout the Maus books.(191)
ReplyDeleteFrom the discussion that Vladek held, I discovered many things about human nature. An example that I inferred was some people take things too far just to prove that they are superior, such as the Nazi's. The holocaust was a battle between what's right and what's wrong. Some guards took their jobs way too seriously. They put Jews lives in their own hands. The movies The Pianist and Schindler's List clearly depict how not all Germans did not hate Jews as strongly as others.The picture also shows the Gestapo and how they are searching for jews that are seeking refuge from the NP and SS soldiers, while Maus shows groups of jews merged together throughout the book.
ReplyDeleteHuman Nature during the time period brought the worst out in people, alot people had a hatred towards Jews due to propaganda and also citizens just saying things about the jews to give people a different perspective if them then wht they really are. alot of people did not think that it was right what as happening to the jews so they offered help and shelter to hide them like when Vladek hid in a barn and a cellar with Anja. it would be kinda panicy whenever the germans would dhow u to the houses of those who hid jews. they would panic that they would search and find the jews and then kill everyone. it really showed the fear that they had of the enemy. The picture may be showing Nazis taking furniture that they want, just like in Maus where the Nazis also came to their house when they were going to take their furniture that they wanted. It really does show that most Nazis had no respect for Jews.
ReplyDeleteFrom the discussion that Vladek held, I discovered many things about human nature. An example that I inferred was some people take things too far just to prove that they are superior, such as the Nazi's. The holocaust was a battle between what's right and what's wrong. Some guards took their jobs way too seriously. They put Jews lives in their own hands. The movies The Pianist and Schindler's List clearly depict how not all Germans did not hate Jews as strongly as others.The picture also shows the Gestapo and how they are searching for jews that are seeking refuge from the NP and SS soldiers, while Maus shows groups of jews merged together throughout the book.
ReplyDeleteHuman Nature during the time period brought the worst in people, people had a hatred towards Jews due to propaganda and role models that persuaded people to hate them. But people did think what was happening to Jews was wrong and people helped hide them just like when Vladek hid in a barn and a cellar with Anja. There was a sense of panic though when the person that helped hide them went into a panic thinking that the Gestapo would search her house for them, it really shows the fear of the enemy.
ReplyDeleteDuring this time period the worst in people was shown more than the best. People were so afraid and worried that any moment would be their last so they did whatever they had to in order to survive. Many people would just stay quiet or would turn away there fellow man. "Well there's a pit in the it's none of my business if you want to lie it." (Spiegelman 109) This seems like he is going to help them out, but a day later he told an officer that they were hiding back there. All the man had to do was stay quiet but instead he decided to, no pun intended, rat them out. There are some times where another person stuck there neck out for another person. "Look I got you your own spoon and here's a belt not just string a real belt" (Speigelman 34) Not the whole time during the holocaust were people being selfish, but it happened very often due to fear. The image appears to show Nazis taking furniture that was jewish owned. This is very similar to Maus in the sense that the nazis did whatever they wanted, in whatever way they wanted to.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the discussions between Artie and Vladek, and observing their actions, I believe the Holocaust brought out the best in people. It taught the Jews how to not only care for themselves, but to also try to keep the others around them alive also. Even though the people in the holocaust barely had anything, they were willing to share the little they had to help others. An example of this in “Maus II” was when Vladek would give some pieces of his own food to other mice waiting outside. (Spiegelman 56). Another example of the mice willing to help out others was when Mancie would help pass letters and food between Anja and Vladek (Spiegelman 53). She was risking her own life doing this because if she were to be caught, she would have been killed by the Nazis.
ReplyDeleteThe image reveals to me that many people in the world are to do whatever it takes to provide for their families. Even if it goes against their morals and beliefs. I think some of the members of the Nazi Party joined because it was where the money was. And if they were making lots of money, it would be easier to provide for their families. The German in the picture probably had a family to support and this was a main reason why he was watching Jews work until their death. (233)
From reading the discussions between Vladek and Artie human nature is I think is to find a way to survive. That people will do anything in their power to live with their labor or money. The Holocaust brought out the worst in people for example in the book when Vladek was hiding from the Nazis. Another Jew gave away their hiding space right after Vladek and his friend helped him by giving food. Also that when Vladek wanted to escape from the country they paid smugglers to get them out but they would betray them to the Nazis.
ReplyDeleteA time when a person took care of their fellow man was when Vladek helped a woman persuade a group of men not to tell the Nazis that she was harboring Jews. Some Jews wanted to rebel because they are just as equal to the Germans but they were afraid to get killed on the spot. The image reveals some things about human nature like that the Germans would remove all belongings of Jewish home and take for themselves is cruel and horrible. No I don't think so I thin that the story connects most of it pretty well. (197)
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ReplyDeleteI believe that our human nature came out to be violent. That we not naturally at peace with each other. The Holocaust brought out a little bit of good and bad from people. I think mostly bad because of all the murder and war going on. It was terrible for millions of people, especially the Jews. They were treated so terrible and they had to work so hard just to survive. An example of people going out of their way to help out others is when some people let Vladek and his wife Anja to stay the night and give them food. Examples of people not standing up for what is right was when the smugglers turned in Vladek to the Nazis.(122 words)
ReplyDeleteThe people in the camps stuck together and helped even through their horrible conditions. Vladek told Artie that he had been given bandages and ointments for his injuries. (Spiegelman 92) HE had friends who helped him through his sickness. (Spiegelman 97) The Holocaust brought out the best in people because they were all in horrible circumstances but stuck together through the tough times. In the image the Jews are working together while being surveyed by a Nazi. Another image at the USHMM exhibit is a picture of Jews standing side by side in columns. This connects to the stories from Vladek of the Jews being in close quarters and not having much freedom. (113)
ReplyDeleteI agree with Kenneth Berg and Samuel Bernal. From Vladek's discussions with Artie, I learned that people like Vladek were not willing to rebel or do anything related to escaping. They did not have any intentions to enemy's and they just wanted to leave the place that they were in. They helped each other and did what they could to stay alive so that they might be able to see their family again.
ReplyDeleteI felt like WWII brought out both the best and worst of people. Vladek did things for others whenever he could such as getting his friend wooden boots and a new belt. People such as the priest who told him he was going to have an immense blessing supported him back. Unfortunately, the war brought out the worst of the Nazi people. (135)
The discussions between Vladek and Artie I learned that people shine in dark times and some people stay back and watch the darkness overflow what is right. The Holocaust can bring out the best and the worst in people. Many people in the Holocaust are heroes by giving some of their food away when some other people would die if they didn't have it and others would try and bring positivity to the camp by doing great deeds and giving their own possessions to people who truly need it. Also, some people become greedy and sneaky and try to take things for their own benefit, which is the bad part of people who are in the Holocaust. Vladek gave food to the people that were waiting, which shows that Vladek was very giving and brought a lot of positivity to every dark situation (Spiegelman 56). When Anja's parents were taken away from her in the ghetto, no one stood up knowing that a person will be without the helpful guidance of their parents and might never see them again (Spiegelman 87). The image shows me that people are very thirsty for power and once the power comes to the thirstiest person, the well becomes dry and people are in poverty. Hitler was a man who was thirsty for power and once he got it he destroyed rules, destroyed cultures and destroyed what it meant to be a human. (238)
ReplyDeleteOops, sorry Ms. MacVay that last comment was me (Alec Padilla)
ReplyDeleteIn full, everything is always a question of morality. In Vladek's crucible he met some who aided him through his struggles though many did not. The Holocaust brought out the best in some Jews, who continued to practice their faith (Spiegelman 57) even during persecution. Their fortitude and reverence, molded by the shrinking innuendo of survival, helped to form them into some of the strongest on Earth. The fear of retaliation and the ease of collaboration truly brought out the worst in those around the persecuted Jews. Neighbors would doom the Jew two doors down for an extra loaf of bread or some rare goods, as shown in the picture. German citizens, who before had no strong prejudice towards Jews, were now continent-wide mockingbirds of the Nazi Regime's rhetoric. But some Non Jews stood up against the rising tide by harboring Jews (Spiegelman 110) in their homes and hiding them from the crushing fist of the Waffen SS. (158)
ReplyDeleteVladeks discussion with Artie teach us that human nature is fickle as one person can go from being self-centered or self-indulging people to humanitarians in a matter of seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years. An example of this is how Vladek never shares anything with anyone even his family in the present and how when he was at Auschwitz he shared his spoon (considered to be a prized possession) with a friend (pg 29). The Holocaust brought out the best and the worst in people as can be seen in Maus II pgs 33-34 when Vladec dedicates his time and effort to gain something for himself and for his friend. An example of the worst is how the prisoner supervisors and the Germans treated the Jews. An example of people caring for their fellow men is on line 3 (The Holocaust brought…), and an example of people to afraid to fight for what is right is demonstrated on page 73 when Vladek says that did not fight back because they would be severely punished. The image on the blog revealed to me that human nature can be extremely diverse as there will allways be people standing atop others and others that are begging. (205 words)
ReplyDeleteSorry i could not get my name on the post and this post is mine: Jorge Martinez-Martin
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ReplyDeleteThroughout the novels, both Maus one and two, World War Two, along with the Nazis, highly affected Europe. It brought hunger, famine, death, and depression to the general population. It was a dark time for Europe and the world that affected many young and innocent lives. There are two main kinds of people apart of human nature, your either good or bad. If I were to say the Holocaust brought out the good or bad from people, I would have to say it pulled out the good. Some may be surprised by my response, but because everyone was going through traumatic times, they wanted to unite and care for one each other. However it also brought out some bad in people. For instance when Vladek and his friend were hiding from the Nazis, another Jew they gave food to, ratted them out. An example of a people going out of there way to do good in this story is when Vladek is in a working camp. While there he was able to beg the Kapo for both a spoon and a pair of shoes for his friend, Mandelbaum. He knows there could be some risk involve, Vladek know he would need them and remembered his caring personality.
ReplyDeleteThe image that was shown looks as if it was Jewish belongings. This shows how much was taken from people in the holocaust and how Vladek some many examples of these and experienced it himself.
The Holocaust definitely brought the worst in people and we see this happen to Vladek. After the war Vladek really does appear to only care about the material things in life. He says "Ever since Hitler I don't like to throw out even a crumb." (Spiegelman 81) When Vladek says this himself it shows his concerns with material things. I think the image above shows how humans try to look towards the light in the face of adversity. Always looking forward and trying to be positive in a trait humans have. (87)
ReplyDeleteI agree that the holocaust brought out the worst in people.
DeleteDuring the holocaust it brought out the worst emotions of man kind. The Holocaust imposed fear upon the Jews along with pain, hopelessness, and torment. The Jew were literally dehumanized during the war and seen only as pest that needed to exterminated. All of this can place a huge wight upon the human mind making people lose confidence but not only that but to also forget what it meant to be human. After the war with the survivors of the pain there would be more humble than before, not only that but be stronger than before. Yes there would still be lots of pain to come but they could have a much larger self confidence, because if there have been able to survive the holocaust then they can survive anything else that can happen to them.(136)
ReplyDelete-sebastian garcia
During the holocaust, it showed us many people’s emotions. It brought out the best and worst of people because some stood up for what they believed in. Even though they knew they were going to get killed, some stood for what they believed and tried to fight back. Some couldn't do anything, thus bringing out the worst in some people. The Jews were mistreated, and dehumanized. They were seen as a nothing who needed to be exterminated like bugs. The remaining survivors showed dedication and persistence. This is brought out the best of them. They were able to stay strong through the worst possible event. The book and the picture shows us how caught up humans can be. They can be easily manipulated and cruel when wrong is brought up. Also, when Vladek tried to get the Jews to stand up, they had no energy to do so or to do what they needed, thus bringing the worst out of them.
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DeleteI agree that many emotions were shown throughout the novel. From anger to sadness, starting out with a bit of happiness. it evolved throughout.
DeleteDuring the Holocaust it showed us the worst and the best of how people act for sure. I do think however that it should be taken into consideration that most people would act horribly if put into these horrible situations. These people were horribly beat and punished. An example of somebody going out of their way to be kind to another person is when Vladek helped to calm down the man who could not stop thinking about the nice dinner that his wife would be making him. Vladek gave him his bread because he knew that he would not be around for much longer if he continued to complain. An example of people not standing up for what was right was when Vladek was talking to the German guard who would always talk to Vladek but one day was taken away. When the guard came back he never said a word to Vladek ever again. I think that the image shows that people can be very evil nature and that most people are to fearful to stand up for what was wrong.
ReplyDeleteThe Comment Above was by JOEY PARKS
ReplyDeleteWhen reading this novel, it showed me how horrible events can most definitely bring out the worst in people. They did whatever they could to fend for themselves and survive. He had to keep himself as healthy as he possibly could. The human nature was horrid, the Germans had huge hatred toward Jews for an unnecessary reason. There was a flaw in the human race in their eyes. There were multiple examples in the book of where Vladek stood up for himself, and others where he fended for the safety of others.
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