HL essay example C: student work

The effects of the holocaust on Vladek and Mala’s relationship in the graphic novel Maus by Art
Spiegelman

Maus volume I and II where books written by Art Spiegelman in a meta-literary fashion about

Vladek’s (Art’s father) experience going through WWII. As well as re-telling the events through flashbacks

we are also shown how these interviews and visits to Vladek’s house are conducted, giving us an easy

comparison between both time frames: WWII and present time. A relevant comparison to be made is Anja

and Vladek’s relationship, one of seemingly unbreakable love and survival, and of present time Vladek

and Mala’s relationship, a loveless marriage fueled by resentment. This essay will seek to analyze the

behaviors of both Vladek and Mala as holocaust survivors and the effect this has on their relationship. It

will be proven that the main defining characteristic is an anxiety for their future, leading to a fear of

loneliness, which would demonstrate to be the core of their marital issues.

Throughout the book we see how Vladek manages to survive the holocaust. Even though it is true

that luck is a defining factor, Vladek survives mainly on his ability to think on his feet, plan and quickly

develop skills. He learns, during the holocaust, that hoarding, and penny-pinching are skills that will help

him survive. We can see that these skills acquired during the holocaust last until the day of his death,

causing problems with his current wife Mala. The experience Vladek went through transforms him into

the “caricature of the miserly old Jew” (Maus Vol.1, 1980) as Artie says, where he develops an obsession

with saving money and insists on rejecting Mala as heir of his savings. He says about his estate that Artie

has to “take everything out from the safe. Otherwise it can go only to taxes. Or Mala will grab it” (Id). Artie

even asks why he doesn’t he just “enjoy his estate while he still can” (Id). Vladek seems to find pleasure,

or at least necessity in ensuring not only his future but his son’s as well. His way of enjoying life becomes

the penny-pinching and hoarding because it makes him feel safe, like he is still fighting for his life, and if

not his own, his son’s life. Much like the Nazi’s taking Jewish property, Mala, according to Vladek, wishes

to seize everything for herself. We can evidence this perspective in the choice of words when Vladek says

Language A: language and literature assessed student work 1

“grab it” and not inherit, which gives in the reader the image of expropriation and not of legal acquisition.

In this way, Vladek found himself a new enemy, and thus, a new purpose. This clearly connects to his

inability to forget the past and constantly repeating actions from the holocaust in the present. About

Vladek’s time in WWII Artie says that “in some ways he didn’t survive” (Maus Vol.1, 1980). This is

particularly relevant, because a part of Vladek remains in the holocaust. We can see this clearly in the end

of the book when Vladek says “I’m tired from talking Richieu, and it’s enough stories for now” (Maus Vol.2,

1991). Not only is Vladek consistently referencing the holocaust but at this moment, he confuses present

and past by calling Artie by his dead brother’s name, Richieu. This anxiety for his future, the future and

Artie’s future are a prime fuel for his not only animosity but rivalry towards Mala.

But if this rivalry exists and Vladek seems to despise Mala, why stay married? We can evidence in

many instances Vladek has a fear of loneliness. Vladek lost most of his family members except his younger

brother to the holocaust, including his son and indirectly his wife. When Mala runs away with the car and

part of his money he says to Artie and Francois that he has “so much room. You and Francoise can come

and for no rent, live here by me…” (Maus Vol.2, 1991). The fact that he offers for them to stay “for no

rent” is particularly relevant. Money for Vladek is a main issue in his life, so offering them to live rent free

is his way of appealing in Archie what in himself is a determining quality: money-saving. This shows how

desperate he is for company but also how proud he is. Instead of asking it as a favor, he tries to make the

offer seem alluring to Artie in the best way he knows how. Another important aspect of his personality is

his need for keeping the people around him close through manipulation. Francois says that it is very

“claustrophobic [to be] around Vladek” (Id). Claustrophobic is a relevant word because it is a concept that

is repeated a lot. Mala says how Vladek “trapped him” (Id) once they get back together. It seems Vladek

tends to psychologically trap people for them to be near him. In relation to Vladek and Mala’s relationship,

Vladek, after Mala says she wants to go to the hairdresser, says that she would “have more fresh air from

the garden than from a hundred hairdressers” (Maus Vol.1, 1980). The mention of the garden is pertinent

Language A: language and literature assessed student work 2

because it seems that Vladek doesn’t like Mala leaving the house. Money doesn’t seem to be the only

issue here, but a fear of Mala leaving and a fear for abandonment. Vladek constantly punishes Mala for

not spending time with him while at the same time showing nothing but despise towards her actions. It is

not only psychological entrapment, but in some ways, a physical one as well by controlling Mala’s finances

and whereabouts, keeping her inside the house.

Mala’s actions also portray a certain anxiety for her future that can only be attributed to her

experience as a survivor. Let’s not forget that many times it is mentioned how differently everyone coped

with the holocaust, going as explicit as Mala mentioning about Vladek that she “went through the

camps…All [her] friends went through the camps. Nobody is like him!” (Id). Vladek is constantly

mentioning how Mala makes him change his will several times. He says that “when [he] came out from

the hospital, right away she started again that [he] change[s] [his] will. [He] was still so sick and tired, and

to have peace only, [he] agreed. To make it legal she brought right to [his] bed a notary” (Id). Mala doesn’t

seem to really care for Vladek at all, but if not, care for the financial security he can eventually bring her.

Going as far as bringing a notary to his husband’s potential death bed. But Mala does take good care of

Vladek and takes him back after running away, so it certainly wouldn’t be correct to assume she is money

driven, but instead, stability driven. Thus, concluding she has a pressing anxiety for her future, but not a

desire to become wealthy, even if that is an indirect consequence of the former. Even so, it doesn’t seem

to be the only reason why she stays with Vladek. Mala also appears to feel guilty when not taking care of

him. This could easily be attributed to her experience during the holocaust and the surrounding death of

the experience. We can evidence this when she says after taking him back that “he’s as difficult as ever.

But now he’s more confused and dependent… what can I do? He trapped me” (Maus Vol.2, 1991). There

is no physical or legal reason why Mala is trapped but more of a moral one: how can she leave someone

confused and dependent. She never even asks Artie to take care of his father, which would force us to

conclude she thinks of that as her responsibility even though we would be led to believe she owes Vladek

Language A: language and literature assessed student work 3

nothing. In this way, it is guilt that drives her to stay with Vladek, not endearment or stability. In fact, her

life with Vladek is not glamorous nor easy, even mentioning how she pays for her own personal items with

money she saves up. In this way, she is also afraid of loneliness. Mala does not seem capable of letting go

of the life she has gotten to know, which is her own way of achieving the stability she lost during the

holocaust.

In conclusion, Mala and Vladek’s relationship is greatly influenced by their experience as survivors.

The main reason being that both develop an anxiety for the future. Vladek shows a clear anxiety for Artie’s

well-being and a need to protect his assets from Mala. He takes this sentiment to an extreme, causing him

to restrict Mala’s financial life. Vladek also shows signs of a fear of loneliness, which leads him to physically

and psychologically trap Mala in a rivalrous dynamic. Mala as well shows an anxiety for her future, which

would explain her need to ensure her financial stability after Vladek’s death and her staying with him

enduring abuse, feeling a guilt-fueled need to take care of him.

Language A: language and literature assessed student work 4

Bibliography

• Spiegelman, Art. Maus: a Survivor's Tale. Pantheon Books, 1992.

Language A: language and literature assessed student work 5