Analysis Of Maus My Father Bleed History Essay Example

MAUS, the meaning behind this tragic story of Artie’s father, Valdeck, had been through humanity's darkest moment. The story and life that were poured into this graphic novel to represent a message of trauma and then various mental effects that poison the victims. This is shown through the flaws of Valdeck after he has experienced the tragic years of the war and the Holocaust 

The story of Maus represents a grand theme, that corresponds with the backstory of Valdeck’s time of the Holocaust before and after those events. The grand theme is the mental effects that are stained onto a person’s personality and psyche after the initial trauma. Trauma leaves long lasting scars on a person physically and emotionally that distorts who they were previously. Similar to the effects that engraved onto Valdeck after the war. In Maus as Artie digs information about the Holocasut from his father, Valdeck, we as the reader can see the mental strain that Valdeck indures; he is being reminded of those tragic moments that had occured in his life. Those memories break down Valdeck’s mental state, as more of his flaws and his health become to worsen as he progresses with the story. In Maus I pg.127, Valdeck is preparing to leave all his wealth to his son, Artie, and not leaving behind anything for his new wife. Valdeck is complaining about his new wife only being with him for his fortune, and is prepared to leave her with nothing in the end. The reason for these actions is due to his time in the Holocuast. Since in those times the only people that mattered were the ones closest to you, and others people were only used to benefit your chance of survival. That is the reason for his new wife, Valdeck is using her so that she would take care of him, while he gives everything to his son, since his son is his closest relative. These new characteristics that are devolved from trauma will affect  the person's life, and relationships. 

In what way do these new Characteristics that form after the initial trauma affect the person's actions and relationship with others? The mental effects that develop changes people’s personality and could result in different relationship situations of the person’s acquaintances; also along with peoples’ opinion of the trauma victim. These similar situations are clear in Valdeck’s new persona after the war, these applications are familiar in Maus Vol 2 pg. 13, where Valdeck gives out a cry for help to gain the attention of his son. This emergency ends up being faked since his father is just trying to make sure his son will come to visit him. The outcome of this false emergency only pulls their relationship apart instead of bringing them closer together. Also this type of attitude will become the reason for Valdeck’s new wife for leaving him. His over stressful and controlling nature was born in the Holocaust, and has been transfered to his later years. This would only pull away the people in his life. This could also be a connection to the trauma he had faced when he had his old wife commit sucide, which would result in the controlling nature of keeping those he loves close. These traumatic moments change Valdeck and now affect his relationship with his wife and son, because he faced the fear of losing people and valuables. This could also be attributed to the writing of Maus. 

Maus was the story of Valdeck's past, which was brought up for the writing of Maus, could this have caused any physical strain on Valdeck. Throughout the writing of Maus Vladeck has progressively gotten worse both physically and mental. This has due to the remembering of Maus since reliving traumatic events can cause side effects. In the beginning of Maus Valdeck was in stable condition, and in the end of the Maus Vladek it had a major health risk, which led to the foreshadowing of Valdeck’s later death. Even in the middle of the book Valdeck has seen it worsen, which was only caused by explaining and realizing his traumatic backstory that he had experienced. But also in a way this was good for Valdeck  since it had brought him and his son closer together, and this was also a good outlet for Valdeck. He was able to let out what he had gone through, and in the end of the book, Valdeck is cooperative with Mala. He was finally letting go of his new characteristic that came from the trauma, even if we could only realize it at the end. Valdeck’s health may have worsened, but his mentality had begun to clear. 

From the initial trauma that gives physical pain, too the backlash that comes from trauma that changes a person characteristic including their relationship with others. These different traumas change the chemical formula of a person's mental state and changes their physical health. All of these traumatic situations occurred to Valdeck, from living through the Holocaust, to Anja’s suicde, and to dying do to his weak health that was caused by mental illness. The poison that comes from trauma is shown in Maus that affects both Artie and Valdeck. To convey Artie’s message that trauma's effects hinder a person and their future.