Question

For Maus Part 1, Compare and contrast the presentations of Artie and his dad? What characteristics do they have in common and which are different? How are those parallels presented visually?
List them and explain using descriptions of the panels and drawings that show the similarities and differences.

Answer 1

Answer and Explanation:

Artie and his father have more differences than similarities, as we can see in part 1 of "Maus." Regarding the similarities, we can see that both are physically similar, since the two are designed in a very similar and familiar way. In addition, both are Jewish and are therefore represented with rats. We cannot forget that the death of Artie's mother has a great impact on their lives, as shown in the work. Among the differences, we can see that Artie, unlike his father, has a more relaxed outlook on life and especially in relation to economic spending and views about money, since Artie's father is very stingy.

The parallels are shown, marjoritely, through the facial expressions between the two characters when they disagree in relation to some theme of the daily life of each one and also through the positions presented by each drawing, reinforcing the physical similarities and the opinion differences.

Maus is a graphical novel written by Art Spiegelman, where he recounts his father's experience as a Jew suffering Nazi violence before and during the war, when he was imprisoned in Nazi concentration camps. It also addresses his father's life after the war and the difficulties he went through.