In Maus, the holocaust has affected Art mainly through his father, Vladek, who was a survivor of the

holocaust. Art is reliving the holocaust through his fathers viewpoint, which is what Maus is: a recount of Vladeks experience of the holocaust. Maus is also a story about Arts relationship with Vladek. The holocaust has resulted in a variety of traits in Vladek, most of these manifesting in ways that end up irritating Art. The holocaust also affects Art in a more personal manner. It has resulted in him feeling guilty, both about his relationship with Vladek and that he is hearing about the holocaust yet he has not personally lived through it. Art is basically reliving the holocaust through his fathers stories. Maus is a Survivors Tale with the survivor in question being Vladek. This means that there are bits where Vladeks recount may be sketchy or just missing. Spiegelman manages to convey the story in a way that covers this up, so that it is not an issue. In comparison, parts of the story are undoubtedly true and accurate, For [Vladek] was an eyewitness. (Pg 229) These things that Vladek lived through are made all the worse as they actually happened to someone that Art knew, giving them a very personal feel that others find it hard to grasp. The holocaust has affected Art in a direct as possible way without him having to live through it, by affecting someone who was very close to him-Vladek. Maus is a story much as about the holocaust as about Arts relationship with his father. The events that unfold in Vladeks recount of his experiences reflect those that happen between Vladek and Art. Early on in the book, Arts relationship with Vladek is stretched thin as [Art] hadnt seen [Vladek] in a long time-we werent that close.(Pg 13) In Vladeks recount, he has little to no attachment to the things and events that he would experience in the holocaust. As the two spend more time together, their relationship worsens with Art calling Vladek a murderer (pg 161). This is mirrored by the events that happen to Vladek in the holocaust, with him being captured and almost giving in to despair. Eventually, Vladek manages to survive the holocaust, while Art has managed to salvage some of his relationship with his father. Those events Vladek went through had left a mark on Vladek, which affect Art in mainly negative ways. Art is very much irritated by Vladeks traits, many of which are products of having to live through the holocaust. The most obvious of these is the fact that Vladek is very much a miser, always trying to save as much as he can, such as always [picking] up trash! (pg 118), saving everything from napkins to matches as well as trying to return opened food-stuffs. Vladek always manages to exhibit his miserly behaviour, which always ends up irritating Art to the point of yelling at his father. This is one of the bigger effects that the holocaust has on Art the breaking up of family. This is a major source of guilt for Art. Maus shows that guilt is a very serious problem that has affected Art. Art feels guilty from several things, of which his treatment of his own father is just one of many, which Francoise (Arts wife) implies to which Art replies Stop! I feel guilty enough already. (Pg 280) The process of reliving his fathers experiences of the holocaust has also resulted in Art feeling depressed (Pg 201) and completely messed up (pg 203). Furthermore, Art finds himself disturbed that relatively trivial problems have this effect on him compared to the horror that both his parents went through. These are all serious problems that are brought on by the holocaust through Vladek.

The effects of the holocaust on Art can be linked back to his relationship with his father, Vladek. In process of hearing his fathers tale about the horrors that he survived, Art has found that it still has effects on him, mainly through his father. While it has strengthened their relationship, it also brought to light many problems that Art had with his father, as well as with himself. Maus is a story about one persons experience of the holocaust, but it explores the holocausts effects on the connection between two peoples lives.