Vladek Spiegelman Character Analysis

Maus: A Survivor's Tale, written by Art (or Artie) Spiegelman, is an illustrated account of his father Vladek Spiegelman’s experiences during World War II. 

This Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel has fascinated readers for years by narrating the tribulations of a Jewish family during the Holocaust. But, the main concern is on Vladek, who is the patriarch of the family and one of the novel's main protagonists, at the centre of this tale. 

As readers, you will explore that the majority of the story focuses on Vladek's life in the post-world war and the loss of his first wife. There is also a narrative that depicts Artie and his father conversing in the present when Artie asks Vladek about his experiences. 

Keeping all that in point, here is a precise character analysis of the protagonist Vladek:

Character Overview

Vladek Spiegelman is a Polish Jew who now resides in Queens, New York. His strengths involve the ability to escape the camps of Auschwitz and Dachau during World War II and also protect his family.

At the present day of the story, Vladek is in his early 70s but is not a happy living man. Instead, he is stingy and rigid in his beliefs, which often causes him to come in disagreement with his second wife Mala and his 30-year-old son Artie. 

The events of World War II had an impact on Vladek's personality. But, the positive traits of Vladek, a former POW and Holocaust survivor, were his intelligence and survival skills that made him adjust to any situation. View Examples

In fact, he had a good work ethic, which earned him an important position among his superiors and kept him out of the gas chambers. This somehow made Vladek fortunate for surviving the invasions of the Nazi since he somehow proved to be the Jack of all trades.

Though Vladek survived the war and was reunited with his wife Anja, his experience left him with gaping wounds. 

That's where the character of Vladek takes a turning point. Though he developed the confidence to survive and live with less money, it never let him settle for more. His tendency to always use fewer resources (even when not necessary) made his family uncomfortable.

Also, Vladek is a person who has difficulties with letting things go. It's very much visible with two of his great losses - One, when his first wife Anja commits suicide, and when his first son Richieu dies of poisoning.

The Character's Role

The novel Maus: A Survivor's Tale narrates how a person's behavioural pattern is good at a certain age, but later it forms into something which is nothing but misery.

Now, the character of Vladek can be overall expressed as extremely heroic in his account of surviving both the Holocaust and World War II. 

But Vladek is often seen as a puzzling person. He is irritable and often gets high-strung. Most importantly, Vladek is a pinchpenny when it comes to his finances. 

Let's understand how it is depicted in the story -

1st Case:

Despite his repulsiveness, Vladek is someone who is devoted to his family. 

His role as a husband is appreciable from the way he adores his wife, Anja.  

He goes to the sanatorium with her to help care for her after she has a breakdown following the birth of their first son, Richieu. 

In fact, Anja receives notes from Vladek when they are in Auschwitz and Birkenau, and he uses his connections to move her to a simpler job assignment. What Vladek wished for was good health and support from Anja, and that's what kept him moving. 

2nd Case:

In the later part of the story, Vladek's role as a husband is more of an irritating husband who's dissatisfied with the companionship of his second wife, Mala. That's where the turmoil begins.

In fact, his role as a father is less visible or countable since he does not acknowledge much of the presence of his second son, Artie. Instead, he usually gets annoyed at Artie for not seeing him around enough.

Vladek, however, always concludes his chats with Artie by expressing how much he appreciates seeing him. This is a trait of his confusing emotions.

As a whole, it can be understood that Vladek's role as a Holocaust survivor has taken a major change in his behaviour, but it has been a detriment when it comes to personal grounds.

The Relationships of the Character

The narration of the story revolves around the present-day conversation between a son and a father. However, that's the irony of the novel. Vladek's relationships have changed with every phase of his ageing. And the major thing that impacted all of these was the death of his first wife Anja, and his first son Richieu.

Vladek as a father

Artie, the son of Holocaust survivor Vladek, and his father have a very strained relationship. The reason is the trauma of the Holocaust, which is again burdened by the death of his first son Richieu. 

This impacts his current relationship with his second son. 

However, they could be seen spending a lot more time together because Artie is drawing a comic on his father's experiences during the Holocaust. 

The good part is the father-son bond improves over the course of the entire narrative. And the credit goes to Artie's urge to communicate his feelings with his father.

Art Spiegelman shows how tragic events may either strengthen or weaken relationships. 

Vladek as a husband 

The character of Vladek could be celebrated as an ideal husband who adored his wife, Anja. Though the influence of Anja's monetary resources was a factor in their marriage, gradually, Vladek's feelings for her turned into respect because of her intellect.

In fact, Vladek was a supporting husband who took Anja proper care in terms of mental health since she could not overcome the loss of the death of their first son.

But Vladek's role as a husband was gradually diminishing into a stubborn and annoyed person, mostly influenced by the loss of his wife, Anja.

Even though he remarried, his equation with Mala wasn't the same. The gap only increased, and it later turned a heroic and realistic person into someone who is holding on to his past.

Personality Traits

Vladek Spiegelman has a complicated personality and a diverse temperament. On the one hand, he is a survivor, a man who has endured some of the worst possible situations. 

During the Holocaust, his resourcefulness, intelligence, and swift ability to adjust to new circumstances made him a significant asset to himself and his family. 

He has a few flaws, though, and can be abrasive and difficult to get along with. His quick temper causes him to frequently overreact at trivial issues, and he can be demanding and harsh with people close to him.

Vladek's frugal nature is one of his defining characteristics. 

He is a man who knows how to get the most out of every resource at his disposal, including food, clothing, and cash. 

He learned how to use resources efficiently during the Holocaust, a time when supplies were short, and survival frequently hinged on one's capacity to do so. Vladek maintains his frugal lifestyle even after the war, unwilling to squander anything and constantly looking for methods to save money. 

For instance, he chooses to wear an old coat that he patched up himself rather than accepting his son Art's gift of a new coat because he doesn't want to destroy it.

The sense of pride that Vladek has is another characteristic that makes him who he is. He is a man who is quite proud of his successes and his capacity for survival. 

He is quick to share tales from his time spent in the concentration camps, using them to look more valiant. This pride can also show itself in less positive ways, such as when he refuses to accept assistance from others even if he is obviously in need of it.

The Character's Evolution

As a young man, Vladek had a sharp mind and great people skills. These skills helped him get through dangerous situations during the war. 

Though his intelligence is unaffected by age, Vladek's later years see him develop neuroses, a stubbornness that many around him, especially Artie, find difficult to tolerate. 

Pavel, Artie's therapist, thinks that these characteristics are manifestations of the sorrow and anguish Vladek feels for having survived the Holocaust, despite Mala's insistence that they are defects in Vladek's character rather than tragic remnants of his war experience. 

Despite all of his flaws, Vladek is a dedicated husband to Anja, whom he misses greatly after her suicide, and a caring father to Artie, whom he cherishes despite all of their arguments.

Character's Motivation

The Holocaust gave him the desire to survive, which is one of his main driving forces. He is a man who, if necessary, will make unpopular or challenging decisions in order to preserve his own existence. 

For instance, despite knowing he would have to leave his son Richieu behind and never see him again, he arranges for him to be transported to safety in Switzerland. Although Vladek is haunted by this choice for the rest of his life, he realises that it is vital to protect his family's future.

His sense of obligation and accountability is another source of drive for Vladek. He has a strong feeling of responsibility towards his family and his fellow Jews, which was partly influenced by his experiences during the Holocaust. 

He frequently criticises people who, in his opinion, are not doing enough to assist others. He particularly shows his dislike towards Jews who did not put up enough of a fight against the Nazis during the war. This sense of obligation and accountability extends to his son Art as well, whom he perceives as lacking the suffering and actions necessary to fully comprehend the horrors of the Holocaust.

Final Words,

The story of "Maus" makes us wonder if Vladek really did survive. 

He managed to escape the concentration camps and assisted his wife in doing the same. 

But it is evident throughout the timeline of the present that Vladek is an emotionally and physically damaged person. 

He was devastated by Anja's suicide, and his time in the war is to blame for his current physical condition. In the end, when he is dying in bed, he confuses Artie for Richieu, implying that he never truly managed to flee the Holocaust.