Friday, September 10, 2010
Maus
The relationship between Vladik and Artie seems to be difficult and confusing. In the novel it seemed as if Artie was merely just a reporter, only coming to get the story. To me they barely acted like father and son, so the relationship confuses me. You'd think that Artie would just want to hear his father's story to understand him, but to me it seemed like all he wanted was to interview him for his job. However, throughout the story I do feel that Artie is beginning to understand more about his father and also his mother. Maybe if he knew about his father's past he could understand him better and see why he acts the way he does, afterall it is a very depressing and tormenting story which Artie could show a bit more compasion to. I think that Vladik's past may be holding him back from having a better connection to his son.
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I like what you said about Artie being a "reporter". I think that is very true. With all the fighting they definitely didn't act like father and son.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you... I feel like the more Artie finds out about his father and mother's life in the holocaust, the closer their relationship becomes. The more Vladik opens up the more Art understands. You think they both would put out more of an effort to have a better relationship but the novel doesn't really show that. When Artie declined to help his father with the roof it really opened my eyes up that their relationship still needs alot of improvement.
ReplyDeleteI think their distance, however, says a great deal about what they understand or (mis)understand about one another. What do we learn as readers (outside of the intimacy of Artie and Vladek's relationship) that tells us WHY Vladek behaves toward his son the way that he does?
ReplyDeleteI believe you make good points. Throughout the novel they do not connect at all. I also believe however that they started to get closer but when he found out what happened to his mothers notebooks he disconnected again.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Artie and Vladik had an awkward relationship being father and son. It seemed like Artie was just using his story for his job... He really didnt comment on much of his father's story. Vladik was constantly riding his stationary bike, if they were close he would have time to sit down and talk to him.
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