Ad Meliora

 As odd as it may sound, if given the option to pick between reading a graphic novel or simply just a novel, I would choose the regular novel. I've always felt like comics are not for me. This is the exact mentality that kept me from reading Maus before. It's safe to say that I was wrong. One of the things about Maus that sets it apart from other comics is the necessity to pay close attention to the small details. As an artist myself, I seemed to notice things that I may not have caught had this been just a novel. I think a lot of the metaphors wouldn't have worked as well if it wasn't in a comic form also. For example, the animal metaphors as well as the masks wouldn't have made as much sense, as well as the few portions of the comic in which the metaphor was broken. Seeing the images added more than just reading about them and it makes it so much easier to draw parallels to real life. Some of the panels are based on real life images and the photographs embedded wi...

In these panels, Vladek recounts how they had given Richieu to another family since they figured that what would be the safest option for their son's survival. Anja was almost completely against the idea since the family that would be taking Richieu in were complete strangers, which is evidenced by the way Spiegelman depicts her with large and shadowy eyes. Often times comic artists may choose to illustrate characters this way to depict how they are in deep emotional pain, which is true for Anja. Not only did she suffer from post-partum depression, one of her only motivators in life was her son, and to lose him would be to lose herself as well. Immediately following that panel, we are transported back to present day where Vladek is cycling. He tells Artie how they did end up giving Richieu away but also how he ended up not surviving anyways. When Vladek says this, he stops cycling for a brief moment. Cycling in this graphic novel signify the passage of time and the recollection of ...