In the graphic novel Maus and namely, in the sixth chapter entitled Mouse Trap by Vladek Spiegelman, the author uses animals in order to illustrate various races and even nationalities. The plot of the story is so unusual that it makes the reader immediately plunge into the current events as everything seems to be real and imaginary at the same time.

The main point lies in the fact that the author tries to depict all human vices and moral values comparing people with animals as peoples behavior can be less than human at times. How amazing it is that a human being reacts the same like this neighbors dog. In the story Maus, Spiegelman reveals numerous national characteristics that refer to people. However, he demonstrates them applying a boundless amount of such animals as pigs, cats, dogs, mice, frogs, and others. For example, Germans refer to cats as they are like predators that prey on the Jewish mice. Americans resemble dogs that attempt to save the existent Jewish mice not allowing German cats to eat them. However, the novel plays off the appropriate racial stereotypes, and it shows that the allegory gradually falls apart. Also, Spiegelman portrays mice and pigs universally as both of them are neither good nor bad. The paradox is that the animal-humans have some connections with the animals when Francoise and Art must utilize the bug spray in order to get rid of these bugs having a rest in the Catskills. Animals are often superior to humankind, because people do not notice their drawbacks and a silly attitude.

Spiegelman often uses so-called diagrams as they assist him in visualizing his experience and emotions during the Holocaust. Sometimes the author takes part in the story and becomes an integral part of the plot. It is obvious that he is a narrator of all events. He builds these diagrams, because they reflect a close connection between Art and Vladek. They are necessary strategies that help a man survive after his own death. In this case, there is one more essential question, and the development of the whole story depends on it very much. It is a presence of two narrators. Perhaps, it seems strange and unbelievable, but they are Vladek and Art. The first person narrators present the story expressing both points of view. This strategy also has a great impact on the readers as it gives them an incredible opportunity to feel like a character from the past and present. On the other hand, the author observes life in Birkenau and Auschwitz reminding the reader of the Jewish prisoners and horror, which people experienced in the camps. The audience feels Vladeks fears and even anxiety when he concentrates on life in the camp. Additionally, it is possible to notice Arts negative emotions, which refer to his father. Undoubtedly, Art tried to reflect his relationship with his father using a melancholic tone. His memories were vital to him, but some of them spoilt his life.

Time passes by, and people start to realize what they did right or wrong. In the sixth chapter Mouse Trap, Spiegelman demonstrates a relationship with his father as it becomes better and even more sincere. In contrast to the previous chapters, the author paid more attention to the question of the Holocaust experience, because he merely needed to share his inner sufferings. It seems that he lived in his world based on relentless cruelty and boundless unjust that destroy human nature to the last inch. However, in the beginning of the story, Vladek has a close conversation with his son and tells that he burned Anjas diaries shortly after her death. Such Vladeks deed emphasizes that he wants to alter something in his life. Thus, he establishes a light connection with his son and father, but it is hard for him to change his character and will.

Nevertheless, there is a difference between the previous chapters and this one. Before Art had a terrible feeling of guilt because his mother commited suicide. He supposes that it was his personal guilt and blamed himself for that occasion. It was his obsession that he was a bad son as he did not express sufficient care and love to his mother. Art seemed that he was not attentive, often forgetting that his mother gave him life. Undoubtedly, she sacrificed her health and part of her life, but it could not be in another way. Almost at the end of the chapter, Art begins to state that his father is guilty that mother died. In this case, the reader can notice that these kinds of his offense are different. In this chapter, Art connects his blame physically calling his father Anjas murder as he killed her memory.

On the other hand, there are certain similarities between the chapters. For example, the author continues to portray people like animals when he draws the Jews with the appropriate human bodies, but their heads look like mice have. In general, mice are the main metaphor of the plot as they represent racial and social stratifications that relate to the past war.

In conclusion, the novel Maus is one of the most unique and long stories that combine several lives together. The plot is based on the reality, despite it can be cruel and unjust at times. The author demonstrates much allegory and symbolism in order to portray human beings. Thus, people possess some specific animals characteristics as they behave worse than animals. On the other hand, in the sixth chapter Mouse Trap, Spiegelman showed that it is necessary to change a character and even the perception of such important issues as attitude to the son and father. In contrast to other chapters, he altered his mind and innermost thoughts, which were like a burden in his heart.

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