Mice in Graphic Novels

In Maus II, it seems as if Art Spiegelman is more involved than in Maus I. In Maus I, it looks like Speigelman is more interesting in how to create his book rather than what happened to his parents during those times. But of course, Maus II does introduce us into the hardest times Vladek had to face. As Vladek continues to tell his story (as well as his late wife’s), it seems like Art Spiegelman is more and more interested. The traumas of the Holocaust gets passed from father to son through Anja. Because Vladek destroyed all of his late wife’s journals and diaries, Spiegelman can only rely on what his father’s stories to remember his mother and narrate on her behalf. 

The graphic novel is an effective way to tell this tale because what we are reading are words told by Vladek. With so little details on elements such as what the Nazis were thinking and why the Poles did what they did, the answer is ambiguous — we don’t know anything about anyone outside of what Vladek is telling his son. 

Another reason why graphic novels are so effective in telling such a story is because the readers can better visualize what it is like to be in Poland and Germany as a Jew. The fact that Spiegelmen chose to use animals is powerful and allows his audience to really see what it is like being a Jew, hunted, chased, and trapped by Nazis. 

I don’t believe the story could have been more effective if it were written with plain words. Although the story would be told with more depth and less ambiguity, the story would be less effective and using animals to refer to different groups would be almost absurd.