When reading Maus, I was pleasantly surprised as it was much different than the typical Holocaust story. As a Jew, I have pretty much read and watched every holocaust book or movie that I have ever come across, it was beaten into my brain since I can remember.....
My favorite part of any Holocaust story is not the violence, betrayal, hatred etc. It is the stories of family reunions. This is what drew me immediately to the end of the story, when Anja and Vladek are reunited.
Anja and Vladek defied all odds when they met again. Countless numbers of families simply could not find their relatives after the war was over, they did not have homes to go back to. Vladek going back to Poland to look for Anja exemplofies the way that love and family are the things that got the Jews through this ordeal. Vladek thought about Anja everyday, and would not agree to live without her. In the end, he found her in Poland, and they lived out their lives.
This reminds me of stories my granparents used to tell me. I am lucky enough to not come from European descent, as most of my family would certainly have been killed if they did live in Europe at the time. My family comes from the Middle East, and lived in Iraq during the time of World War II, it was not the best place for Jews, but certainly better than Europe at the time.
My Father's Father was jailed in 1941 for teaching neighborhood kids how to read and write Hebrew. He was sent hundreds of miles away to what was then Palestine. He didnt do anything wrong, just bad luck and discrimination he used to say. During his time in prison, middle east politics became a volatile issue. My grandmother spent every day wondering if she would see my grandfather, and the thought of her and his children kept him strong in prison. When his year was complete, he had no way to get back to Baghdad. He ended up having to walk most of the way through the desert, and humorously enough, rode camels. eventually he made it and got back to his family. My father was not alive yet at the time, so I credit my existence to my grandparents strength and perseverence through a period of time in history where Jews were nothing more than a nuisance and a parasite.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Bunkers in Maus
I have always been interested in learning about the Holocaust. I briefly learned about it in my high school history classes. We always just learned the general history of it. I find it much more interesting to learn about the details and peoples actually experiences in history. I feel that this always makes learning about history much easier and in some cases more personable. I enjoyed reading Maus because of the story line and because of the unique style of writing. Having the book set up as a comic made it an easy read. I especially liked the illustrations. One part of the book that caught my attention was when Spiegelman was describing the bunkers that Jews hid in when the Gestapo were looking for them. The reason I decided to write about this topic is because no matter where or from what source I learn about the holocaust the idea of Jews having to hide comes up. There were a few parts about this scene in the book that caught my attention.
First off it wasn't uncommon that Jews had to hide in unsanitary places that were usually small areas with little to no light. Similar to the bunker in the book which was in a cellar and unfortunately had worms crawling around. I think it is amazing how the will to survive can make a person do virtually anything. Many families broke up in order to save at least the lives of their children. One topic from the United Jewish Federation is about children during the holocaust. Many children were hidden, sent to boarding school or sent to orphanages. Many had to change their names, change their religion and never speak of their past or their families. They knew that doing this would save their lives. Some children like the well known Anne Frank were able to go into hiding with their families. One might think that she was lucky but even with her family they were cut off from the world for years. I could never imagine being taken from my family at such a young age and told never to speak of them. If I were like one of these children I would be considered lucky. I would at least be alive. Of course many of these children who were able to be alive every day had to worry that their family would not come back alive.
Another part of this scene that made a point was Gestapo and their search dogs. I can't believe how the Gestapo, humans who looks like anybody one would see on the road could have such a drive to find the Jews. It doesn't make sense to me how any sane mind could see the logic in what they were doing. The only person that could see that this is okay is a person who is brainwashed. I believe that many of the Gestapo who were out to find and kill Jews were brainwashed. To me, that could be the only reasonably explanation as to how somebody could act this inhumanly. In an article about Nazi brainwashing Peggy Larson states, "...the Nazi party used to mold the German youth through popular youth organizations, special activities, propaganda, and appeals to support their fatherland." The power of brainwashing is incredible but to brainwash people to do such harm doesn't make sense to me. In their eyes what they were doing was the right thing and I still don't understand how one can believe that.
http://www.ujf.net/page.aspx?ID=148359
http://www.rickross.com/reference/brainwashing/brainwashing49.html
http://www.rickross.com/reference/brainwashing/brainwashing49.html
Maus and my family experience
The book the Maus was a very interesting and new look at a historical but tragic event. We have all learned year after year about the events and hear countless stories about the Holocaust. The entire book was interesting, and many different parts stuck out to me for many reasons. But one event in particular stuck out to me. On page 21, the Pop was telling his son about how his personal life before Holocaust. In this page after the father tells his son about a woman he was “dating” after he then says that he does not want his son to put this information in his book. The son ask why not and the father response because it has nothing to do with the Holocaust. The son then replies that he would like to use it because it is good material and it makes everything more real. The father responds that it is not respectful and proper to talk about the privet things.
This struck me personally because it reminded me of my great uncle. My great uncle was a fighter pilot in WWII. He was shot down and was held captive for two years, and they did not inform the U.S. that they had him. So for two years he was missing in action. After he was released he came home and went on with the life that he had, he got married, had kids etc. The reason this passage stuck out to me was because the Pop mouse in the book did not want his personal life written about, because he though it was not proper or respectful. This is somewhat like my great uncle; he will not talk about what happened and what he went through while he was in the army. The only people he talks to it about are his former army friends. Although we all know about what happened to my uncle, it is understood that we do not ask or talk about the event. It is out of respect for my uncle, who is a very quite and modest man. We understand that it is not something that he wants to talk about.
As a society we know what is proper and respectful to talk about. People tend to not like to talk about painful events, and as friends, family members, we know the unspoken rules about what we can and can’t talk about. In my case, as a family even though sometimes we would like to talk or ask my great uncle about what happen we respect his choice to not bring up what he went though.
This struck me personally because it reminded me of my great uncle. My great uncle was a fighter pilot in WWII. He was shot down and was held captive for two years, and they did not inform the U.S. that they had him. So for two years he was missing in action. After he was released he came home and went on with the life that he had, he got married, had kids etc. The reason this passage stuck out to me was because the Pop mouse in the book did not want his personal life written about, because he though it was not proper or respectful. This is somewhat like my great uncle; he will not talk about what happened and what he went through while he was in the army. The only people he talks to it about are his former army friends. Although we all know about what happened to my uncle, it is understood that we do not ask or talk about the event. It is out of respect for my uncle, who is a very quite and modest man. We understand that it is not something that he wants to talk about.
As a society we know what is proper and respectful to talk about. People tend to not like to talk about painful events, and as friends, family members, we know the unspoken rules about what we can and can’t talk about. In my case, as a family even though sometimes we would like to talk or ask my great uncle about what happen we respect his choice to not bring up what he went though.
The story of the Holocaust and my life
For me, the story of Maus humanized the struggle of a families survival in the time of the holocaust. This story made me connect with all the characters on a level that a history book could never do. I really couldn't imagine being a Jew at the time of the death camps, but I can relate to some of the hardships Vladek's family endured.
The story of Vladek and Anja's family really intrigued me because my Grandmother is suspicious that our family was in danger during the holocaust. She told me that my mother's maiden name Mataska had been changed. It was originally Malachowski, which leads her to think we are linked Jewish heritage. I am still curious to this day about why my Great grandparents decided to change their last name. Was it for safety, or for mere convenience?
There were particular parts of Maus that really bothered me. One part of the story that really struck me was when a notice was sent in the mail ordering all Jews over 70 years of age to report to Czechoslovakia for a transfer. At this point in the story the family was a bit gullible. They thought they were going to be sent to an old age home. They were ever so wrong. They started hiding Anja's grandparents because they all wanted to stay together . This worked for a while until the Germans came to there doorstep. The grandparents were forced to transfer. Later the family would learn they were gased. Vladek told his son that he learned about the gas chambers right away.
This upset me because I think about how harmless the elderly are and I can't imagine the fear they must have endured during their death. I can't help but think about my own Grandma. She is innocent and does no harm to anyone. If I lived during this time she would have been sent before me to this "transfer in Czech." This is probably where the families trust was broken. Anja's innocent grandparents were murdered all for the reason of being Jewish.
I was really disturbed that the Jews were constantly lied to about certain things too. The Gemeinde told all Jews that they must register at Dienst stadium. The Germans acted like this was routine. "..there's no cause for alarm-it's only a matter of inspecting your documents and stamping them. This will protect you as a citizen of the region!"
I'm sure people still had some trust left and thought it'd be no big deal, they are just checking out papers. Although, other's knew exactly what would happen in that stadium. These people had no choice. They probably felt so out of control during this time. There was nothing they could do really...
This brings me to a time when I felt out of control in my life. It doesn't at all compare to the murders, but death is something that really makes a person feel out of control. There was a time in my life where I had 3 grandparents die within a year. I felt helpless.. It's like a feeling of despair that never goes away. It led me to evaluate my own life and realize that one day I would die. I had to accept the face of death and move on.
The story of Vladek and Anja's family really intrigued me because my Grandmother is suspicious that our family was in danger during the holocaust. She told me that my mother's maiden name Mataska had been changed. It was originally Malachowski, which leads her to think we are linked Jewish heritage. I am still curious to this day about why my Great grandparents decided to change their last name. Was it for safety, or for mere convenience?
There were particular parts of Maus that really bothered me. One part of the story that really struck me was when a notice was sent in the mail ordering all Jews over 70 years of age to report to Czechoslovakia for a transfer. At this point in the story the family was a bit gullible. They thought they were going to be sent to an old age home. They were ever so wrong. They started hiding Anja's grandparents because they all wanted to stay together . This worked for a while until the Germans came to there doorstep. The grandparents were forced to transfer. Later the family would learn they were gased. Vladek told his son that he learned about the gas chambers right away.
This upset me because I think about how harmless the elderly are and I can't imagine the fear they must have endured during their death. I can't help but think about my own Grandma. She is innocent and does no harm to anyone. If I lived during this time she would have been sent before me to this "transfer in Czech." This is probably where the families trust was broken. Anja's innocent grandparents were murdered all for the reason of being Jewish.
I was really disturbed that the Jews were constantly lied to about certain things too. The Gemeinde told all Jews that they must register at Dienst stadium. The Germans acted like this was routine. "..there's no cause for alarm-it's only a matter of inspecting your documents and stamping them. This will protect you as a citizen of the region!"
I'm sure people still had some trust left and thought it'd be no big deal, they are just checking out papers. Although, other's knew exactly what would happen in that stadium. These people had no choice. They probably felt so out of control during this time. There was nothing they could do really...
This brings me to a time when I felt out of control in my life. It doesn't at all compare to the murders, but death is something that really makes a person feel out of control. There was a time in my life where I had 3 grandparents die within a year. I felt helpless.. It's like a feeling of despair that never goes away. It led me to evaluate my own life and realize that one day I would die. I had to accept the face of death and move on.
Maus
There were many parts of Maus that were striking and moving but a part that particularly stood out to me was towards the end of the book when the family was waiting for a van to take them to Auschwitz. Vladek noticed his cousin, Jakov Spiegelman in the courtyard below through the window of the large room where they were being kept. Vladek begged for help and offered a gold watch in return. Haskell, another cousin, offered to get Vladek, his wife, and her nephew out of the crowd waiting to depart to Auschwitz. Part of what made Maus a captivating literary work was the alternating story lines between recollections of the war and the emergent relationship between the author and his father, Vladek. At this point in the book the son interjects stating, “Wouldn’t they have helped you even if you couldn’t pay? I mean, you were from the same family…”the father responded, “Hah! You don’t understand at that time it wasn’t anymore families. It was everybody to take care for himself” (114). I found this part moving because as a listener it is hard to understand the exact characteristics of this time period. Everyday courtesies and obligations did not outweigh the importance of self preservation. I am currently reading a memoir titled, “Man’s Search for Meaning.” The author, Dr. Viktor Frankl, survived the many horrors of Nazi death camps and from his experience developed a new approach to psychotherapy called logotherapy. He discusses man’s ability to find a meaning to life even in the most horrific and inhumane conditions. At one point in his memoir, Dr. Frankl mentions a particular cook who dealt out soup equally to all prisoners and did not favor his personal friends or family. Those individuals, who were subject to more responsibilities on account of being more liked by the Nazis or other arbitrary reasons, could possibly afford their friends, as in the case of the cook, more soup. Vladek used his family connection to delay his departure to Auschwitz. Dr. Frankl does not offer an opinion on whether the cook who handed out soup equally was more respectable or not. Dr. Frankl elaborates, “But it is not for me to pass judgment on those prisoners who put their own people above everyone else. Who can throw a stone at a man who favors friends under circumstances when, sooner or later, it is a question of life or death? No man should judge unless he asks himself in absolute honesty whether in a similar situation he might not have done the same” (68). I believe this is relevant to this particular part of Maus because Haskel, while he saves Vladek and his wife, does not take the risk to save Vladek’s wife’s parents. Vladek refers to Haskel as a “kombinator” or crook.
Another aspect of Maus that I really liked was the language the author used to portray his father. The majority of the book was in English, however, when Vladek spoke the English was not always perfect or grammatically correct. I thought it added authenticity to the story and made the reader really feel like they were listening to a firsthand account of Jewish life in occupied Poland.
Another aspect of Maus that I really liked was the language the author used to portray his father. The majority of the book was in English, however, when Vladek spoke the English was not always perfect or grammatically correct. I thought it added authenticity to the story and made the reader really feel like they were listening to a firsthand account of Jewish life in occupied Poland.
Maus
I found the book Maus to be an awesome piece of literary work. I read the entire thing in one sitting and found it hard to put the book down, the story line was captivating and having it formatted into a cartoon was particularly intriguing and a great idea. I found the book as a whole moving, but there were a few parts that stuck out particularly to me. To be quite honest, I did not really know much about the Holocaust, I learned some things about it in high school but reading this book broadened my knowledge and hearing Spiegelmans actual experiences was touching and eye opening.
The first part that I found shocking was that the Nazi’s (cats) could just go into a Jewish (mice) owned business and take control. It clearly is unfair and unjust and it’s so shocking that 60 years ago such insanity was going on and the Jewish people could do nothing about it. Anja’s family was very wealthy and usually when you think wealth you associate power with it. However, in the case of the Holocaust being wealthy could only get you so far for so long, eventually you’d run out of money/goods to sell and end up in a camp like Anja’s family did.
Another part of the book I was taken aback by was the treatment of elders and children. I remember a part of the book where Spiegelman mentioned that when the Nazi’s were taking the children away if they cried or misbehaved they would “swing them by the leg into a brick wall and kill them.” I was completely shocked by this and also how they would immediately send elders to the gas chambers upon arriving to the camps. However, not all children were killed many of them were brought to the camps and forced to work, similar child-labor happenings still exist in the world today. The fact that children were taken could be related to what is happening in Uganda today where children are being kidnapped at as early as 4 years old and being forced into rebel armies. Another interesting fact regarding children in this book was when Art was walking and the children started harassing him screaming ‘Jew’ and saying to ‘hide before the Jew eats you,’ etc…
The last part that struck me was the fact that people Spiegelman trusted gave him up and is the reason he and Anja ended up in a camp. Throughout the whole book he turned to people he knew to help him out, whether it was hiding for a few days, getting him a job, leaving his only child with, and then for them to finally get caught was heartbreaking. I know that today when I have a problem I immediately turn to my friends and family for advice, guidance or help. I could not imagine turning to them to help save my life and them turning their backs on me.
The Holocaust was truly a horrible time in history but one that should never be forgotten. I really can’t wait to go to Auschwitz and get a true appreciation for the suffering that took place and to gain a great deal of knowledge on the Holocaust.
The first part that I found shocking was that the Nazi’s (cats) could just go into a Jewish (mice) owned business and take control. It clearly is unfair and unjust and it’s so shocking that 60 years ago such insanity was going on and the Jewish people could do nothing about it. Anja’s family was very wealthy and usually when you think wealth you associate power with it. However, in the case of the Holocaust being wealthy could only get you so far for so long, eventually you’d run out of money/goods to sell and end up in a camp like Anja’s family did.
Another part of the book I was taken aback by was the treatment of elders and children. I remember a part of the book where Spiegelman mentioned that when the Nazi’s were taking the children away if they cried or misbehaved they would “swing them by the leg into a brick wall and kill them.” I was completely shocked by this and also how they would immediately send elders to the gas chambers upon arriving to the camps. However, not all children were killed many of them were brought to the camps and forced to work, similar child-labor happenings still exist in the world today. The fact that children were taken could be related to what is happening in Uganda today where children are being kidnapped at as early as 4 years old and being forced into rebel armies. Another interesting fact regarding children in this book was when Art was walking and the children started harassing him screaming ‘Jew’ and saying to ‘hide before the Jew eats you,’ etc…
The last part that struck me was the fact that people Spiegelman trusted gave him up and is the reason he and Anja ended up in a camp. Throughout the whole book he turned to people he knew to help him out, whether it was hiding for a few days, getting him a job, leaving his only child with, and then for them to finally get caught was heartbreaking. I know that today when I have a problem I immediately turn to my friends and family for advice, guidance or help. I could not imagine turning to them to help save my life and them turning their backs on me.
The Holocaust was truly a horrible time in history but one that should never be forgotten. I really can’t wait to go to Auschwitz and get a true appreciation for the suffering that took place and to gain a great deal of knowledge on the Holocaust.
Holocaust Experiences
During my spring break this year my cousin and I got the chance to visit the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC. The museum was very moving and I was surprised by how much I learned, despite being a history major and having studied the topic for a while. One of the many things in the museum that surprised and angered me was how the Nazi’s took everything from their victems. In the museum are hundreds of suitcases, umbrellas, shoes, and other items that were taken from the Jews as they entered the concentration camps. One section contained the shoes that were taken from prisoners; they were different sizes and styles. Looking at these shoes I could not help myself think of the people who once wore them and the fate that befell them. It seemed that no one was safe from the Nazi’s rampage as men, women and children were treated with equal hatred and disdain by the Nazi’s. In the book, Maus by Art Spiegelman, these scenes are depicted based on Vladek Spiegelman, Art’s fathers, experiences at a concentration camp. There was one particular scene that shocked me where after everything is taken from the Jews, the Nazi’s shave off their hair in order to sell it and use it in wigs and bed stuffing. It seems as if the Nazi’s wanted to take everything from these people and degrade them at the same time. In the Holocaust Museum there was a section where real hair that was shaved off of prisoner’s heads during the holocaust is displayed. I remember standing there wondering how those prisoners must have been terrified not only for themselves but worried about their family and friends. I also thought and hoped that these people hopefully got to survive and live, but then reality hit me and I realized that many did not. Another part of the museum had photos of those who were taken and killed by the Nazi’s. Looking into their faces I realized how they were normal people like you and I, and not the evil beings the Nazi’s made the out to be. Even children were shown and I can not imagine the horrors they witnessed and experienced. I chose the scene in Maus because I feel like today many wish to forget the horrors experienced during the holocaust. However I feel like people need to remember and realize that these stories are not just stories but in fact were real events that occurred. People need to remember that these horrible events did occur and they can happen again if people are not aware of history and what can occur when racism and hatred exists.
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