Catherine's Blog on War

Does this form (graphic novel) effectively tell a Holocaust story? How does it differ from a conventional Holocaust story?

When I think of a Holocaust story, I think of a victim’s first hand story that experiences the horrors of the Holocaust. The conventional Holocaust stories give detailed information about events and heartbreaking memories. Although Spiegelman’s Maus is a graphic novel, I think it effectively tells a Holocaust story. The story starts off with family relations before the war. It goes on to tell how Artie’s father became a prisoner of war and went through many life-threatening events as he was under the control of Nazis. Like a written Holocaust story, the graphic novel talks about before the war, the Holocaust, and returning home (if they do). Through these aspects, Spiegelman’s Maus is effective in the telling of a Holocaust story.

The graphic novel is different from a conventional Holocaust story because of its unique characteristics. In Maus, casual conversations were used between Artie and his father makes a reader feel like they’re there. We see exactly what one said to another. Also, the drawings give a visual of maps and events, which simplify ideas and garners interest. Even though the characters were animals, it grabs the readers attention because of the unique way of storytelling. Overall, the graphic novel was different, yet effective in telling a conventional Holocaust story.