Maus II: A Survivor's Tale By Art Spiegelman

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Throughout Maus II: A Survivor’s Tale, by Art Spiegelman, desire for success is presented through troubled and unconventional father-son relationships, as well as the exploration of what determines success and meaning in life. By doing so, it provides the reader with an understanding of the struggles that not only survivors of trauma experience, but also the psychological afflictions projected upon their children of the survivors. Art, fears that he will never live up to his father’s achievements and expectations driving his desire to become successful in life, that has no way of ever being achieved, as the idealism of success between Art and Vladek fall on highly diverse scales. Evidence of a lack of connection In Art’s relationship with his father is notable in Art’s treatment of Vladek. Despite Art’s awareness of Vladek’s past he is highly inconsiderate of his father, as well as …show more content…

Art stated “I feel so inadequate trying to reconstruct a reality that was worse than my darkest dreams” ( Spiegelman 16). In addition, Art reflects on his childhood when visiting his therapist… ( ) He expresses how his Father always made him feel that he couldn’t do anything as well as he could. One could infer that he didn't look up to father because he never felt good enough (Spiegelman 44). Rather than agreeing or settling for his father’s beliefs, Art attempts to be successful to prove his Father