Masks serve as a means of protection. Masks are worn in order to not be found and so that one can be hidden from certain things. In both volumes of Maus, characters wear masks in order to disguise themselves. In volume 1, the scene depicts how Vladek and Anja are trying to prevent themselves from being seen by the Nazis. "'I was a little safe. I had a coat and boots, so like a gestapo wore when he was not in service'"(136). By disguising themselves as Poles, the individual characters tried to be represented with one group's identity. Why did Jews have to be the ones discriminated against society? Blending in within one specific group helped Vladek and Anja to feel a bit safer and judged less from society. Jews aren't a type of race but people who believe in a specific religion. Not any group in society should be judged to the point where people feel so cornered and desperate that they have to wear masks in order to feel a sense of protection.
In volume 2, Art is wearing a mask looking very depressed and unsure of what to do. "'Lately I've been feeling depressed'"(41). All Spiegelman wanted was to be able to gain information and share his views of the Holocaust to the rest of the world. Once Maus became a big hit to the public, people just wanted more and more. Spiegelman didn't know what to do because of his guilt towards his father. It seemed as if he was just making money off of his father's story. By wearing a mask, he tries to hide himself from the rest of society. The mask gave him a sense of protection and a break from his thoughts. Spiegelman portrays that masks can't hide a person from the world for a long time but they can give people a sense of protection and safety for a little while.
I totally agree with your thoughts! People analyze that in the past people had to protect themselves by masking themselves but I think it happens in our modern day life too. Many people "two faces" to life an easier life. Your post really made me think way to go!
ReplyDeleteMIchelle! I love the two specific examples you chose to represent how masks can cover someone's true identity. I agree that the fact that Jews had to cover who they really were to avoid almost certain death is a very unethical problem. Great post!
ReplyDeleteWell done! I really like the last sentence about how a mask's protection is temporary. Having to wear one in this case is so sad because you know that you have no other choice. It's terrible to see that religious persecution still has a role in society but hopefully it will be nonexistent.
ReplyDeleteI really like how you discussed the motif, masks, and talked about the different meanings in the two volumes. I like the last sentence of the first paragraph where you state that no one should be judged to the point where the have to hide who they are.
ReplyDeleteI like how you compared the uses of masks in Volume 1 and Volume 2 of Maus. I agree that masks are only a short term fix to a problem, but I also think that the use of masks shows that no matter how much someone wants to be like someone else, he or she is still a person that has his or her own ideas and thoughts underneath that mask.
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