Vladek And Shivek

In chapter four there are a significant amount of photos Vladek shows Artie. These are photos of family members they still possess. Vladek brings a cigar box full of snapshots from Poland out for Artie to see. Artie begins to look at these snapshots, first recognizing his Uncle Herman. He goes on to pull out more photos and Vladek explains who the people are and their fate. This puts into perspective the fact that almost entire families were wiped out by the Holocaust and the war. These photos also give a little insight into Vladek’s pain. Throughout the whole book Vladek focused mainly on Anja’s family because they lived near them. All of the photos Artie pulls out are of Anja’s brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews, her parents, and other

Vladek and Shivek after being released from the German’s clutch go into hiding to wait for things to calm down. They end up at this house that is being evacuated by Germans. Vladek and Shivek sneak into their barn and when they leave they go into the house eat their food and take some clothing. The American’s came a few days later; Vladek then told the soldiers their whole story. The American’s created a camp around the house Vladek and Shivek were staying in and allowed them to stay. Vladek even worked for them shining shoes for the sergeant in one panel. The dogs were a positive choice to depict the American’s. The American’s were obviously the relief they desperately needed. The second animal to be depicted was a deer for Swedish people. Vladek was in need of a job and tried to find one as a salesman since he was so good at it before the war. He ended up getting a job with a department store selling knee-length stockings and as always he was able to turn a profit and sell them. He sold them to a Swedish retailer with the help of Uncle Herman and his hosiery factory in the United States. Over the years they started too really like Vladek and his work ethic and even threw him a party before he left for America. The idea of portraying Swedish people as deer was again none threating, but gentle and uplifting. Unlike the cats and pigs that can easily look

As Vladek walks down to the water’s edge he hears the familiar voice of Shivek. Shivek was a friend before the war from Bedzin near Sosnowiec. Together they kept each other company in a situation they were unsure they were getting out of. After a night of uncertainty they were allowed to leave the lake. They stayed together throughout the last part of their journey. They hid together in a pity by a garage for a few days then they went to a house with a barn and hid out together. They found food at this house including some chicken which Shivek being a farmer knew how to prepare. A luxury they had not had in a long time. They then met up with the American’s a few days later. Eventually, they end up in Garmisch-partenkirchen when Shivek wants Vladek to go with him to Hannover. After they stay in Hannover together they make their way to Poland together. Except when Vladek goes to fill up their water jugs the train leaves with Shivek on it. Vladek decided to walk to Poland. Shivek went back to Hannover to find Vladek. At this point Vladek was on a mission to see Anja