Maus 2

Tara Finn

Hara

7 November 2007

RR Maus

The Russians were coming fast and the Jews who had survived were anxious to be rescued. The Germans were scared of what would happen and began to turn on each other. Vladek and a few others decided to hide in the attic instead of marching back to Germany. Unfortunately, the plan included burning the entire camp so that there was no evidence. The march back to Germany began and many died. They were then shoved into a train for animals, with 200 people that was meant for only 25. To survive, Vladek ate snow from the rooftop. They opened the trains after a week, but for others, the train door was never opened. They received some coffee and bread from the Red Cross, but not more food besides that. In the present, Vladek tries to return his opened food boxes because he can no longer eat any of it. He ended up with six dollars even though he spent one. There were lice in the hay and people got typhus. Those in the train were starving and covered in lice, everywhere. Vladek had an opened wound and made it worse so that we could visit the infirmary, where there were hot meals and beds. He met a French man who knew how to speak English and because he was not Jewish, he was able to receive packages with real food. They became friends and were able to pass the time. He contracted typhus and was extremely weak. There was hope, they were taking POWs to the Swiss border. Vladek begins to show his racist side when Francoise picks up a Black person from the street and gives him a ride. Vladek thought that the Black man would stolen his food.

They began talking about Anja again and how she survived on the Russian side with the help of Manice, who kept her safe. On the way to the Swiss border, they received treasure chests from the Swiss Red Cross. When they got off the train they noticed that life in Switzerland seemed normal, even thought the war was still going on. The Americans were in the next town over, and the Jews were sent their way, to finally be free. When they got to the next town, there were no Americans, and again, they were in the hands of the Germans. They were pushed towards the lake and thought they were all going to be shot with machine guns. In the morning, the Germans were gone and the Jews thought they were at last free. While walking, more guards came and organized them into another barn, again, they were stuck until the next morning. Vladek decided to find a safe bunker instead of just walking around and being caught again. They found and abounded barn, milk, and regular clothes. Vladek was starting to fell like a human gain. A few days later, the Americans came. Vladek and his friend were finally free and the American kept them safe in the house with food and protection. They even began to call Vladek, Willie. Vladek finally found some photos of old Poland for Artie. Vladek began to describe all the photos of their family. The only family on Vladek’s side that survied was his little brother, Pinek. They end with Vladek telling Artie he enjoys his visits.

Maus 2

Tara Finn

Hara

6 November 2007

RR # 3

Mala Left Vladek and took his money, leaving him alone, again. He faked having a heart attack so that Artie would come stay with him. Artie reveals that if he had to choose one of his parents to save from the ovens he would have picked his mother; he then begins to wonder if that is normal. Artie also begins to wonder if he would have got along with his brother, Richieu, if he was still alive. Artie then feels a little sibling rivalry with his dead brother because if he were still alive, then he could have gone to take of their father. Artie feels guilty for having such an easier life than his parents and sometimes wishes that could have been there with them in Auschwitz, just so he could feel what they went through. He goes to his father’s house and everyone thinks that he his either coming to live with Vladek or taking him back to his own house. They argue about all the bank statement because the addition is off, even though it is incorrect by less than a dollar. After fighting, Vladek beings his story where he left off, about Auschwitz and how he and Anja were separated for the first time. There he ran into Abraham, the one who wrote the letter saying Hungary was great, and he was told that he must dictate Yiddish or he would be shot. Vladek was very upset and began to cry. He was approached by a priest who looked at his number. He noticed that it began with a seventeen, which is a very good omen in the Jewish faith. He also noticed that the last number thirteen, was the age that a boy becomes a man. The middle numbers added up to eighteen, which is “chai” that Jewish number for life. The supervisor of the barracks asked who knew how to speak English and Polish because he wanted to learn how to speak English. Because Vladek was able to help him, the supervisor told him to stand on the left side of the room. This way, he would be saved from the gas the next day. This man was also able to get him tailored clothes and leather shoes.

All of the sudden, the time jumps forward and Vladek dies on August 18, 1982. Artie’s book is published and his son is born. Yet, he feels like his life is going no where and does not know what to do. His therapist thinks that Artie feels guilty for being successful because it is nothing compared to what his father went through in Auschwitz. He then turn back on the tape recordings to hear his father’s story. Vladek was talking about the horrible, rotten, and small portioned food that was not enough to supply any energy for work, let alone a life. He described the second camp, Birkenau, where Anja was. It was worse there then in camp one. People were sent there to die. They began communicating through a Hungarian helper named Mancie. She was willing to trade letters and report back on each of their heaths. Vladek had the chance to go visit Anja because many of the roofs needed to be fixed. He was beaten because he was caught talking to Anja in passing. He was sent back to camp one and became a shoe maker. He was lucky enough to earn a warm sausage because he was able to fix an officer’s shoe. The Germans were building new barracks for the women in camp one. In order to get Anja closer to him, Vladek, arranged bribes. Vladek was in Auschwitz for ten months and went through four different jobs. The Russians were coming closer and the Germans wanted to rid any evidence of the gas chambers and kill the Jews somewhere else in quiet. Artie was questioning why people did not resist and Vladek explained that the Jews always had hope but were so tired.

RR#2

Tara Finn

Hara

1 Novemebr 2007

RR #2

The story continues with Vladek’s concern for money visible in his refusal to hire someone to fix the leak in the roof and his snickers about Artie’s new tape recorder that he could have bought for cheaper. He then starts where he left off with his story and his return home and how it was still the same because the Germans could not destroy everything. Since Vladek came home from being a POW, many things had changed. Jews had lost all of their businesses, and work cards were now required to be anywhere so that the coupons were not abused. His friend, Ilzecki, saved him with a note and a safe haven when things were extremely bad. He offered to hide Vladek’s son so that he could remain safe, his family thought he was crazy, and later his son died. Jews were hung if they were caught dealing on the black market. Vladek began to sell jewelry and gold for petty money. In order to hide the grandparents from being taken because of their age, they built a bunker in the back to keep them safe. It did not work for long, and were sent to the gas chambers in Auschwitz. Stamps were required for all Jews in their passports. Those who did not receive one were sent to die.

Vladek then found Artie’s old comic called “Prisoner of the Hell Planet,” about his mom’s suicide. In 1943 the Jews left in the town were forced to move to a ghetto and had to pay those living in their houses. Persis, a member of the Jewish council and friend of their family, was able to take the children so that they would remain alive. This hiding did not work for long and those in the ghetto were going to Auschwitz. Tosha, Anja’s sister poisoned herself and the three children so that would not have to die from the gas. While telling his story, Vladek begins to pick up trash and make plans for it. I think part of the reason is because he was so used to having nothing for so long that even when he has nice things, he still appreciates the cheap things. Bunkers became extremely popular because they remained safe havens even when dogs came to sniff people out. People got so desperate for food that they began to chew on wood to feel the sensation of eating. Children were taught to hate the Jews as well and even screamed at them walking in the streets. Vladek was tired of hiding and wanted to sneak into Hungary so that they would be free. Little did they know, Hungary deported tens of thousands of Jews right before the war ended to Auschwitz. They found smugglers but were ticked and caught by the Gestapo. They were both sent to Auschwitz and thought they would die in the gas. They were separated men from women and Vladek was certain that he would never see Anja again.

Once again, Artie asked if he could look for him mother’s notebooks and Vladek finally told him that he had burned them after she died because he was so depressed. Artie was furious and called him a murderer. Artie wanted to get his mother’s side of the story but because his father went crazy, he would not be able to.