Symbolism In Maus: A Survivor's Tale

The Holocaust narrative is commentated almost exclusively by its primary victims, largely retelling the stories of firsthand prejudice and persecution. Although varying in context and stylistic choices, one may look no further than Primo Levi’s Survival in Auschwitz (1986) and Ruth Kluger’s Still Alive: A Holocaust Girlhood Remembered (2001) as works that demonstrate the common framework of the Holocaust memoir. However, Art Spiegelman, in his graphic novel, Maus: A Survivor’s Tale (1986) attempts to reform the Holocaust narrative in a radical respect. Principally, Spiegelman transcends the genre by contributing a second hand telling of the Holocaust narrative, employing the use of animal personification. Spiegelman’s illustrative approach

By depicting animals through their Western connotations, Spiegelman loses symbolism translation to foreign audiences, who may not share common illustrative implications. For instance, Spiegelman illustrates Americans – largely at the end of the novels – as dogs, indefinitely smiling and welcoming in nature (Maus. II. A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History, 127.) Although recognizable to the common Western reader, symbolism behind dogs may not translate directly to other cultural interpretations. Rather than acting as a heroic, trusting figure, dogs may have an adverse implication in the context of the Maus narrative. Ultimately, this “non-universality” may lead to skewed interpretations of Spiegelman’s approach towards the actors in the Holocaust. In addition, Spiegelman seemingly applies neutral connotations towards certain groups, leading towards ambiguity of character. For instance, in the opening page of Maus. II. A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History (11), Spiegelman contemplates which animal will represent the French, between the moose and frog. From the reader’s perspective, Spiegelman has applied a character that is largely indistinct in definite traits, ultimately leaving unclear connotations towards certain characters. From a Western perspective, neither animal holds true any recognizable and significant implication, stripping