Maus

The relationship between Vladik and Artie is not very father-son. I felt as if their relationship was confusing throughout the novel and Artie was just recording and taking in everything about his father’s past as a reporter. In my eyes, the more Vladik tells Artie, the closer they become. Maybe if Artie knew the physical and emotion struggle his father went through for him and his family then he would have a better understanding of why his father is the way he is. I feel as if Vladik’s tormenting past is the main reason he is as protective as he is in the novel. Art deals with a lot of guilt in this novel. He has feelings of guilt over not being a good son, guilt over his mother’s suicide, and after hearing what his parents and relatives went through guilt over the holocaust. We see right from the gecko that Art and his father do not get along well and even though they live pretty close to one another they still do not see each other as much as family should. Even when Vladik is asked to talk about his past and the holocaust Art starts arguments. In my eyes I feel as if Art’s mother’s death is the main reason Art does not come around as much as he should. He is filled with guilt.