Where Past and Present Meet
Even though Art Spiegelman did not experience the horrors of the holocaust first hand, he is still deeply affected by the aftershocks of it. His father is not the same person or father figure he would have been if he had not experienced the holocaust, and Art feels a sort of survivors guilt for not being with his father during that time. The past of Vladek, Art, and their family affects their day to day lives and the dynamic of their family as it intersects with the present. Spiegelman shows this intersection by use of circles throughout the novel. The connection between the past and present is shown on page 58 of volume II. The middle comic strip shows Vladek turning in a circle for Art until in the final panel, Art has changed into the doctor judging Vladek's physical ability. Art's perceived changing of character both highlights the fact that Art was not a part of the holocaust with his father and represents the connection Art still has with the holocaust. Art feels