With the success and popularity of Maus, it proved that graphic novels could be about more than superheroes, supernatural characters, and talking ducks. It proved that even stories as grim, and dark as the Holocaust could be told in a very unique, and memorable way.
Told from the perspective of animals being that the Jews are mice, and the Nazis are cats, Maus tells the story of his fathers life, and how he survived the deadliest conflict in all of mankind.
When reading more of the novel, it continued to get darker, and more depressing as it went on. With the main character Vladek after serving a short draft in the Polish military, was taken to a work camp, but luckily was released unscathed. After that it showed the fall of his world, with the people he loved and knew being taken away by the cats, or escaping the country without saying goodbye. Over time, and even when Vladek is taken to the concentration camps, his spirit is constantly being tested, but throughout the story it is never broken.
The most compelling part of the novel is that the characters are all believable, and fell human. Despite being represented as animals, no one acts that way, and it always comes off as believable, and sad given their circumstances.
Overall the two novels are great reads, and easy ones at that. So long as anyone can handle the ideas of prejudice, and anti-semitism, it truly is a story to be told for generations.
No comments:
Post a Comment