On the first page of "Maus" we find out that Artie and his father are not very close. We also learn that Artie's mother committed suicide at some point in the past.
Writing the "Prisoner on Hell Planet" was Artie's way of expressing his inner anguish that he felt after his moms suicide. The comic also gives a little insight on the relationship between Artie and his father. At the bottom of the second page the father was crying and the narrator was expected to comfort him. While being comforted it appears that the father is saying "mother..... mother...." instead of the Artie saying it. This shows that Artie may have felt like his role with his father was backwards and that it should have been his father comforting him instead. In the next box over the words "protect what you have" are written in small letters. I believe that this is Artie's way of explaining that this was the point in which Vladek became the stereotypical miserly Jew.
I'm glad you pointed that out because I never noticed that and since you pointed that out it completely brings up a whole other idea about what the panels mean. I hadnt thought of that perspective before but the way you put it makes a lot of sense. He also plays the role of the stereotypical jew by being frugal with his money, saving it all for artie after he dies.
ReplyDeleteYes you would definitely think that the roles are reversed but then again in one of the panels, when it showed the last time Artie's mom came in his room, he seemed irritated that she would question his love for her. But I do agree that the "protect what you have" shows when Vladek became the stereotypical jew because when everything you have is taken away, you will definitely do whatever it takes to protect what you have now.
ReplyDeleteI did not originally notice that "protect what you have" was in the panel. I also did not realize that Vladek was the one saying mother...mother... I'm glad that you pointed out those two panels.
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