Art Spiegelman Maus Character Traits

To begin, in the graphic novel Maus by Art Spiegelman, the character trait that the character Artie illustrates is determined. The character trait determined means that the person is focused on completing a goal or making a firm decision and not being persuaded to change it. One example, in chapter 1 page 12 in panel 2, Vladek says, “It’s good for my heart, the pedaling. But, tell me, how is it by you? How is going the comic business”(Spiegelman 12). Then, Artie replies, “I still want to draw that book about you…”(Spiegelman 12). This demonstrates the character trait determined by Artie not answering the questions that Vladek is asking him but, instead changes the subject and says that he wants to write a book about him. This shows that Artie is determined to write a book about Vladek and does not really care to answer small talk questions that would get in his way of accomplishing his goal.

In panel 4, Artie says, “this is where Mom’s diaries would be ESPECIALLY useful. They’ll give me some idea of what she went through while you were apart”(Spiegelman 158). Then in panel 5, when his father dodges his statement by continuing his story about Anja and him, Artie says “It’s getting cold. Why don’t we go upstairs and see if we can find her notebooks…”(Spiegelman 158). This demonstrates the character trait determined because Artie has his mind set on getting those diaries and he does not care about anything else. The fact that Artie keeps badgering his father to give him the diaries shows that Artie is determined. Also, he illustrates the character trait determined since his father changed that subject to something about him and Anja and Artie brought the topic of Anja’s diaries back. Therefore, the character trait determined is shown through the character Artie in Maus by Art