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The
Bucks County Free Library resource guide for One Book / One Bucks County 2005 |
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Main characters
Vladek Spiegelman:
Born in Poland in 1906;
husband of Anja; father of Richieu and Art. Vladek is a survivor – of
the Holocaust and in life – but he is not portrayed as a hero. He uses
his abilities and takes advantage of any opportunity to stay alive. In the United
States, he is portrayed as a miserly, demanding, unpleasant old man who seems
to communicate with his son best when speaking into the tape recorder. Vladek
clearly loves his son, but he seems unable to show his love in a way that connects
with Art. The extremes of his postwar character and broken English provide some
of the humor in the book.
Anja (Anna) Zylberberg Spiegelman:
Born in Poland in 1912; wife of Vladek; mother of Richieu and Art.
Anja was born to a prosperous family and was well educated. She is often depressed
and relies on Vladek to care for her. She is devoted to her child, Richieu,
and in love with her husband. Not able to separate herself from her experiences
in the Holocaust and the death of her son, she commits suicide in 1968 and leaves
no note of explanation.
Art(ie) Spiegelman:
Cartoonist; author of Maus, son of Vladek and Anja Spiegelman;
husband of Françoise Mouly. As a child of Holocaust survivors, Art seems
driven to tell their story but obsesses about how to tell it and how to maintain
his relationship with his difficult father. Art, too, is a survivor –
of feelings of guilt, of his mother’s suicide, of dealing with his father,
of the burden of being a child of Holocaust survivors.
Richieu Spiegelman:
Born in Poland in 1937; son of Vladek and Anja Spiegelman.
Richieu described by his father as a happy child, is sent by his parents to
live with a relative so that he will be safe, but he doe not survive the Holocaust.
He haunts Art, and his picture reminds Art that he must compete with a memory,
which to Vladek is that of a perfect child.
Mala Spiegelman:
Vladek’s second wife and herself a Holocaust survivor.
Though Vladek accuses her of trying to steal his money, she is supportive of
Art and his attempts to tell Vladek’s story. She finds Vladek domineering
and difficult, but ultimately comes to his aid when he really needs her. She
must always live with Vladek’s love for Anja.
Françoise Mouly:
Wife of Art. Though
she is French, Art portrays her as a mouse because she has converted to Judaism.
Françoise supports Art in his work and acts as a sounding board for his
ideas. She seems more supportive of Vladek than Art does, but she does not push
Art to improve his relationship with his father.
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