Art Spiegelman's graphic novel Maus tells the story of his father Vladek Spiegleman and his life during World War II. Since Vladek and Art are both narrators of the story, the story focuses not only on Vladek's survival, but also on the writing process and organization of the book itself. Through these two narrators, the book explores various themes such as identity, perspective, survival, and guilt. More specifically, Maus suggests that surviving an atrocity results in guilt on the part of the survivor, which destroys daily life and relationships with those around them. It does this through the symbolism and characterization of Vladek and Anja. The comic implies that surviving the Holocaust affects Vladek's life and destroys his relationship with his son and wife. In some parts of the story, Vladek rides a stationary bicycle while telling his story (I, 81, panel 7-9). Since it is an exercise bike, it remains immobile: no matter how much Vladek pedals, he cannot move forward. The stillness of the bicycle symbolizes how survivor's guilt will never allow him to escape his past. Vladek never truly gets over the holocaust: he can't even fall asleep without screaming from nightmares (II, 74, panels 4-5). Furthermore, throughout the story, the two narrators describe Vladek before, during, and after the war. Before the war, Vladek characterized himself as a pragmatic and resourceful man. He is resourceful as he manages to carry on his black business and make money even under the strengthened control of the Nazis just before the war (I, 77 panel 1-7). However, after surviving the Holocaust, Vladek feels an obligation to prove to himself and others that his survival was not simply through sheer luck, but because h... a tragedy, like the Holocaust, can cause a sense of guilt in the survivor, which affects both the survivor's life and his or her relationships with others. Every day Vladek and Anja suffer from survivor's guilt and memories of the war. Their character, influenced by the war, wears down their family and friends and ultimately drives them away. Vladek is greatly influenced by the war in many ways. Ironically, Vladek, a Holocaust survivor deeply affected by war and racism, also continues to be racist. If a Holocaust survivor cannot change his or her perspective on racism, then what can end racism? Works Cited Spiegelman, art. Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History. New York: PantheonBooks, 1986. Print. Spiegelman, art. Maus II: A Survivor's Tale: And here my troubles began. New York: Pantheon Books, 1991. Print.