Maus

 Central to Maus is Vladek’s relationship with his loved ones and the effects of his past experience on those relationships and his character in general. Some might argue that Vladek was so traumatized by his past experience that his character changed in fundamental ways and that this has an adverse effect on his present relationships with Art and Mala. Others might argue that his past experience only magnified pre-existing character traits, and that those traits were actually beneficial to his and Anja’s survival during the war, but that they now have a detrimental effect on his relationships with his family members. Analyze Vladek’s character and his relationship to Art (and Mala).  4 pages