Themes
Family
The relationship between Art and Vladek is interspersed throughout the narrative, drawing the reader between the horrors of the Holocaust and the shaky, tumultuous relationship between a father and his son. As Art could never really relate to his father, they struggle to communicate over their opposing values and beliefs. Vladek's struggle as a survivor is depicted through his frugality to the point of absurdity, which is a constant point of strain between Vladek and his wife and son. The juxtaposition between the family narrative and the Holocaust narrative grounds the narrative in reality, allowing the reader to relate to these survivors face the same daily struggles in their family relationships as many others.
Survival
The theme of survival is throughout the entire narrative, both in the Holocaust narrative and the modern day narrative. Vladek, narrating his Holocaust experience, stresses his luck throughout the Holocaust in being able to use the information he had picked up over the years, such as using tin or repairing shoes, to get him in the guard's favor, effectively saving his life. In the modern day narrative, the theme of survival continues through Vladek's imposing fear of the "What If," causing him to save every penny in case something happens. The book cover even stresses this idea of continuing survival: "This astonishing retelling of our century's grisliest news is a story of survival, not only of Vladek but of the children who survive even the survivors."
Storytelling
The different layers of narrative creates a theme of storytelling as Art sets out to recount his father's narrative. The depiction of the Nazis and the Jews are respectively depicted as cats and mice in order to enhance the tale, depicting the two ethnic groups as different species heightens the tension between them.
The relationship between Art and Vladek is interspersed throughout the narrative, drawing the reader between the horrors of the Holocaust and the shaky, tumultuous relationship between a father and his son. As Art could never really relate to his father, they struggle to communicate over their opposing values and beliefs. Vladek's struggle as a survivor is depicted through his frugality to the point of absurdity, which is a constant point of strain between Vladek and his wife and son. The juxtaposition between the family narrative and the Holocaust narrative grounds the narrative in reality, allowing the reader to relate to these survivors face the same daily struggles in their family relationships as many others.
Survival
The theme of survival is throughout the entire narrative, both in the Holocaust narrative and the modern day narrative. Vladek, narrating his Holocaust experience, stresses his luck throughout the Holocaust in being able to use the information he had picked up over the years, such as using tin or repairing shoes, to get him in the guard's favor, effectively saving his life. In the modern day narrative, the theme of survival continues through Vladek's imposing fear of the "What If," causing him to save every penny in case something happens. The book cover even stresses this idea of continuing survival: "This astonishing retelling of our century's grisliest news is a story of survival, not only of Vladek but of the children who survive even the survivors."
Storytelling
The different layers of narrative creates a theme of storytelling as Art sets out to recount his father's narrative. The depiction of the Nazis and the Jews are respectively depicted as cats and mice in order to enhance the tale, depicting the two ethnic groups as different species heightens the tension between them.