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1. To what Extent are Vladek’s Annoying Character Traits a Product of the Holocaust?

   The Holocaust is one of the most traumatic government sponsored series of crimes against humanity that has ever occurred in recent history. It has not only led to adverse health, physiological, and psychological effects on the Jewish community as a whole, but also on individual Holocaust survivors along with their families (Yehuda, et al., 2000). Maus is a story that was written by Art Spiegleman. It documents the treacherous journey his father, Vladek faced through the Holocaust. Vladek is depicted as an antagonistic character. He is seen as being annoying, stingy, distrustful, cynical, greedy, and selfish. This paper illustrates that Vladek’s annoying character traits are, to a large extent, a product of his experiences during the Holocaust and to a smaller extent as a result of the enhancement of pre-existent negative character traits.

   As the play commences, Artie is seen roller-skating along with his two friends Howie and Steve. At the point when they had decided to skate to the schoolyard Art’s skate came loose. They, however, called him a rotten egg and commenced with their journey. Art went home crying and gave a narration of what had happened to his father. His father then said; “Friends? Your friends! If you lock them together in a room with no food for a week…then you could see what it is, friends” (Spiegelman, 1987, p. 5). Vladek made this comment without considering the fact that what Art’s friends had been said to have done could have been part of the game they were playing as pre-teens since even before Art’s skate came loose they had already indicated that whoever comes last is a “rotten egg” (Spiegelman, 1987, p. 5). The comment Vladek made at this instance proved that he was generally distrustful and cynical. This arguably is traced back to the events that led to his capture by the Nazis. Vladek and Anja paid smugglers who had been recommended by Mrs. Kawla, a close friend of theirs (Spiegelman, 1987). The smugglers were to take them to Hungary. However, they turned against them and handed them over to the Nazis. As a result of this experience, among others, Vladek can be said to have developed a deep sense of distrust for people. It is, therefore, arguable that this annoying character trait is a product of the Holocaust.

   Vladek is also portrayed as being stingy and money-minded. This is shown by reference to the maximal efforts he utilizes in a bid to save money. It is important to note that so long as he saves money, the losses incurred by someone else are of no consequence to him. For instance, Francoise notes that because gas is included in the rent, Vladek leaves the burner lit all day so that they can save on matches (Spiegelman, 1987). He essentially scrupulous about saving, even if his methods are disadvantageous to others. Similarly, Vladek speaks to the fact that on several occasions, his mother Anja had to beg his father for money for several days before Vladek could finally let go of it. This is regardless of the fact that the money was to go towards buying school supplies for Artie. It is arguable that this character trait can be traced back to Vladek’s experiences during the Holocaust wherein he had to save a great deal so as to get the tools or items he would need to survive. Essentially, Vladek had nothing during the Holocaust and during the instances when he acquired money or goods that had money’s worth, the resources were useful in saving him from more aggravating conditions during the Holocaust (Spiegelman, 1987). For instance, Vladek had to save bread so that he could exchange it for cigarettes which he could use to bribe the guards (Spiegelman, 1987). Vladek noted that whereas Jewish households were apportioned rooms that they could live in, his household got more space than the apportionment of the other Jewish household because his father-in-law had a little influence (Spiegelman, 1987). From such instances, Vladek learnt that saving and having resources at one’s disposal is important.

   Vladek is also depicted as being extremely selfish. This can be seen by reference to the aforementioned utterance by Francoise to the effect that Vladek could leave the banner lit all day so that his household could save on match boxes since gas was included in the rent. This was notwithstanding the fact that the cost of lighting a banner all day is not proportionate to the cost of a few matchsticks. It is also seen when Vladek wants to buy Art a new coat, but he does so not because of the love he has for his son but because he is interested in preserving his own image (Spiegelman, 1987). To this effect, was he went to purchase the coat he indicates thus; “it’s a shame my son would wear such a coat” (Spiegelman, 1987, p. 7). Further, when he finally purchases the coat and realizes that is nice and warm, he decides to give his son his old jacket that is ‘as good as new’ so that he can have the new jacket for himself. It is important to note that an individual’s socialization and circumstance play a huge role forming and shaping a character or enhancing a deep-seated character. In this regard, Vladek’s selfish inclination was learned during the Holocaust since everyone was working towards their own individualistic self-preservation. Essentially, his legacy as a selfish individual is as a result of his experiences during the Holocaust. For instance, Vladek climbed onto someone’s shoulders so that he could hang a hammock to lie on so that he could prevent himself from being trapped or worse still killed when people were being shoved into a train so that they could be taken to a concentration camp.

   As noted above, socialization not only has the effect of shaping an individual's character but also enhancing a pre-existent deep-seated character trait. In the present case, for instance, where it has been illustrated that Vladek’s selfishness, as well as, love for money is as a result of his experiences during the Holocaust, it is important to recognize the fact that his experiences to an extent merely served to shape a pre-existent desire for money. This can be illustrated by reference to the fact that Vladek chose to marry Anja and not Lucia Greenberg because he was of the impression that the former was wealthier. His choice even before the Holocaust was self-serving thus his experiences during the Holocaust also served to enhance a pre-existent character trait.

   Vladek’s annoying character can clearly be depicted by reference to the manner in which he treats his son and his wife Mala, as well as, his deceased wife Anja. Vladek is depicted as being less sentimental. He is blatantly insensitive in his utterances and is completely not cognizant of the feelings of others (Spiegelman, 1987). For instance, whereas both Vladek and Anja went through inhumane treatment at the concentration camps, it is apparent that Vladek is bitterer about it and his bitterness is portrayed in the way he lives his life and in the manner he treats the people around him. As a result of that bitterness, it can be seen that both of his children are not that close with him (Spiegelman, 1987). This is largely as a result of his experiences during the Holocaust. It is important to note that a common denominator that is shared by most holocaust survivors is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Kuch and Cox, 1992). Many individuals who have suffered from PTSD often exhibit antisocial behavior (Resnick, et al., 1989). Vladek’s annoying character is, therefore, largely as a result of his experiences during the Holocaust. It is, however, not entirely excusable since as noted by Anja, many of their friends went through the same experience but they do not exhibit the significant antisocial behavior.

   In conclusion, in Art Spiegleman’s Maus, Vladek is depicted as an antagonistic character, with all the negative traits as annoying, stingy, distrustful, cynical, greedy, and selfish. This analysis has proven that to a large extent, the antagonistic character traits of Vladek are as a result of his traumatic experiences during the holocaust. It is also apparent that to a smaller extent, his annoying character traits are as a result of his personal choice and not necessarily because of the Holocaust experiences. Essentially, the Holocaust not only served to form and shape his character, but also enhance pre-existent character traits.