learntoquestion ltq discussions

Originally posted by bnw88 on February 11, 2025 20:34

Generational trauma can negatively impact the children of Holocaust survivors like Spiegelman by challenging parent-child relationships. Children of survivors often grow up feeling responsible for their parents' healing. The weight of their parents' trauma can lay heavily on them when they are growing up. There can also be survivor guilt where children of survivors can also internalize a form of guilt, feeling underserved of the opportunities they have compared to their parents' suffering. Children can also experience cultural disconnect with their parents native cultures and the difficulties with assimilating. We can see a lot of this kind of generational trauma portrayed in the media today, such as Spiegelman’s Maus or other graphic novels like American Born Chinese.

I think that young people bear a lot of the responsibility for navigating generational trauma. Many young people with parents that have experienced trauma such as the Holocaust usually have to bear the burden of the result of that trauma. Especially in the BLS community there are many students with immigrant parents that have come to the US due to war or other international conflicts. My dad came to America under political asylum and his journey here spanned over 2 years. When I hear the stories of what he experienced, I realize how different his childhood was from mine, and it makes me grateful for the life that he has given me. In some ways I can relate to what Spiegelman had experienced with his own father but I believe that a large part of their dynamic might have to do with who they both are as people. My dad is one of my best friends and although I will never fully understand the horrors that he had to experience at such a young age we still manage to have such a wonderful relationship. He has made sure to not burden me with the weight of his experiences but instead used that as a way to teach me to be grateful for all that I have. When I do ask him about what happened he teaches me the importance of resilience and perseverance. I understand that this may not be the same experience for everyone, but this is just how I have lived with generational trauma.

For the sake of future generations I believe that it is better to move beyond generational trauma but still acknowledge and bring awareness to the struggles that many people have faced throughout history. Healing is complex and through education and open discussions with survivors I believe that as young people we can learn to move past heavy trauma and continue to keep the stories alive. Addressing generational trauma means grappling with difficult history, which is a lot of the work we do in Facing, and through this we can transform pain into advocacy, empathy, and progress. In many ways generational trauma is part of the way humans connect and in the same sense healing and addressing the trauma can be a way people can continue to connect with each other.

A bit part of this post is the idea that generational trauma can in fact change the way the children of survivors grow up which is an idea I agree with. I feel like everyone is taught in a way that corresponds to what the parents believe to a degree because that is how they think is the “right way” to teach growing children. Moreover, something like the holocaust or any other major way or conflict similar to it will most definitely change how a person views the world in terms of things that are necessary or useless and hence how they think they should teach their children. Another idea I liked is how this trauma can be shared. I feel like with Artie in Maus, it was unfairly brought down upon him with little to no choice and that caused Artie to grow this subconscious guilt and created a strained relationship between him and his father because Artie didn’t like the way he was brought up. Instead, sharing that trauma in a way similar to how your father does is way better as it shares the stories that need to be shared and it shares it in a way that won't create itinerary guilt for the child that they get this life while their parent went through something so harsh.

Originally posted by thesismachine on February 10, 2025 21:12

Spiegelman uses the comic form effectively by allowing the reader to visualize the story better. Not only does each illustration show what Vladek saw in each scene, but also uses mood and brightness to show how Vladek felt. For example, scenes in the past are generally darker than scenes in the present. Spiegelman also shows scenes of violence and death that reminds the reader of the brutality of the Holocaust and creates a sense of dread. Additionally, the illustrations help connect the past and the present while maintaining the flow of both stories. Scenes from the past are interspersed with scenes of the present, allowing the reader to compare and contrast the two time periods while staying on the topic of Vladek’s story. For example, when Artie and Vladek walk to the bank, the book mainly focuses on the past but often briefly takes the reader into the present. The scenes of the past are used to transition between two places in the present, while the scenes of the present remind the reader of the actions happening in the present and the dialogue adds context to the events of the past. The reader also feels as a part of the conversation, as if Vladek was directly talking to them, which makes the moment feel more personal through the illustrations. This moment also places emphasis on Vladek by showing how he has changed since the Holocaust and allowing the reader to have a connection to him. In the past, Vladek is surrounded by friends, but he is only with Artie in the present. The comic form also allows readers to better connect with the characters and their experiences. Most characters are drawn as an individual and many are given a face. Even when there is a conversation between two characters, the people next to them are drawn with the same level of detail. In a standard novel, however, extra characters are reduced to small asides. These minor details in the illustrations allow the book to show the experiences of each character instead of just their stories and immerses the readers in the book’s setting.

Some argue that the comic form of Maus takes away the seriousness of the Holocaust. However, others suggest that Maus uses the aforementioned contrast between past and present scenes to bring them together. The presence of the present allows readers to see how the Holocaust has affected Vladek and how his trauma has affected Artie. Spiegelman says that comics “are about time being made manifest spatially, in that you’ve got all these different chunks of time - each box being a different moment of time - and you see them all at once. As a result you’re always, in comics, being made aware of different times inhabiting the same space” (qtd in Chute 2006). Maus’s comic format allows it to show scenes of the past and the present side-by-side to deeply connect the two time periods and fosters a deeper understanding of the impact of the Holocaust on survivors.

Post your response here.

Hey thesismachine! I really liked reading your piece, it was so interesting to see someone write about an opinion that was very similar to mine. Specifically, I agree about how the comical aspect of it does not take away from the gravity of Vladek’s story, and if anything it brings life into such a stoic story. The symbolism of the animals also plays a big role in the comical AND historical significance of the novel. I think your take on how the reader is immersed in the story, because when I was reading Maus, I also felt parallels of my life in the book, and specifically the feelings that Art felt growing up. You provided clear evidence of the artistic choices and style, which I think adds the strength of your piece. And with the evidence, your analysis of the quote is concise and easy to understand. It does not take away from the overall message, and it amplifies your main argument to the next level. Your writing is clear and thoughtful, and the way you break down how the comic format helps tie past and present together makes your points easy to follow. Overall, your analysis is insightful and well-supported, making for a really strong and engaging read!

Originally posted by shesfromouterspace on February 10, 2025 20:07

Generational trauma impacts the children of Holocaust survivors by downplaying their personal experiences and heightening that of their family. For Spiegelman, his relationship with his father heavily impacted how he dealt with generational trauma. Artie and Vladek’s relationship was strained, but they still valued their blood bond over anything else. Generational trauma had a huge role on their relationship because of certain traits Vladek picked up in Auschwitz. For example, Vladek attempts to do everything himself, like add storm shutters to his house. This angers Artie, but he does not realize that the Holocaust has caused his father to become more independent since putting his trust in the wrong people cost him greatly during World War 2. This is especially true after Vladek is betrayed by the smugglers. Another instance, when Artie tries to return the already opened groceries, shows how food, money, and other valuables are not to be wasted by Vladek because he was given limited resources to survive during the Holocaust. How this affects Artie years later is seen when Artie feels anxious about spending time with his father, as he feels like his father is suffocating him and becomes the center of attention whenever he visits. Artie may not realize his own trauma, but it is present even when he is vulnerable to his wife when he admits he used to be jealous of his deceased brother, Richeu. This displays the impact of generational trauma on Artie because he feels the need to put his parents' grief over his own feelings of displacement. Rather than come forward and tell his parents he feels overshadowed, he continues to be haunted by his parents' trauma to make them happy (by constantly looking at Richeu’s portrait and even having nightmares about Nazi’s).

The weight of the trauma experienced by ancestors affects young people today because they feel like they will never be worth enough. Artie tries to overcome this by working hard to get his fathers story down and not disappoint him. He does this for several reasons, one of them being to make his father feel better about losing a son. The generational trauma that affects both Artie and Vladek is the loss of Richeu. For Artie, he struggles mentally with self esteem, as noted in “Intergenerational Transmission of Trauma in Spiegelman's Maus”, where page 231 states, “throughout the whole work, Art’s depression arises from his feelings of incompetence, which only intensifies his feeling of guilt. He is convinced that he is nothing more than an imperfect surrogate of his brother Richieu who was killed during the war.” Unfortunately, young people feel the need to be the generation that surpasses the first, but for generational trauma survivors, they have a more pressing urgency to be better. Artie feels the need to not only replace Richeu, but become a more worthy version of him as to not live in his shadow.

I think generational trauma can be overcome, but should be acknowledged. By doing outreach worthy projects, like writing Maus, Holocaust survivors and their children can both come to terms with what they went through while sharing their stories. However, the impact of generational trauma is a great risk to young people and may cause them to have wasted potential, as seen with Artie’s stalling of the second part of Maus. Overcoming trauma may take years and therapy, but moving on will be beneficial to the children of Holocaust survivors so that they too do not lose a part of their lives.

Hi, shesfromouterspace! I think this is a very insightful post, and I agree with a lot of points that you said. I said a lot of what you said in my own post, but I honestly think you worded it better than I did. I also liked how you addressed all parts of the prompt, making your response even more thought-provoking. I especially liked the point of how generational trauma is caused by habits Vladek picked up during his time in the camps because his trauma and responses definitely appear to be long-lasting, considering what he went through. I would also like to add onto your point with my own view of how Vladek does things by himself, not just because he had grown distrustful and independent during the Holocaust, but also because he wanted to passively prove that he has the skills and what it takes to survive, which even Pavel, Artie’s therapist, says. Because Vladek had to constantly prove that he was strong enough to survive, he applied this mindset to his own son, which affected their relationship and, as you said, made Artie feel as though every interaction with his father makes him the center of attention. I also like your justification as to why it is possible for generational trauma can be overcome because I agree with the idea that trauma, no matter what kind, will always stick, but it depends on how you can deal with it that really matters. Additionally, everyone is different, so we can’t judge someone on how they choose to deal with their personal trauma as long as it doesn’t negatively affect others around them.

Originally posted by starfruit_24 on February 11, 2025 00:57

Generational trauma fundamentally shaped the upbringings of children like Spigelman. Though Spigelman himself wasn’t directly affected, his father, Vladek, is haunted by his past and carries his trauma in ways that deeply impact his relationship with Artie. In many instances within Maus I, when Artie tries to help his father, Vladek is adamant about doing everything his way. For example, when Vladek is organizing his pill box and knocks it over, Artie offers to help, but Vladek aggressively denies the help and states that only he can do it right. Vladek’s desire to have total control over his life is likely the result of his experiences during the Holocaust, where he had control over basically no aspect of his life—this habit of Vladek’s trickles down into his relationship with Artie in the form of distance. While Artie is willing to pursue a deeper relationship with his father, Vladek won’t let him get any closer than he already is. Vladek's desire for control seeps into his relationship with Artie and his wife.Marta has her own way of doing things, and it is a constant point of tension between the two. In Maus II, Richieu’s death makes Artie feel the pressure of being exactly who his parents want him to be. Richieu is significant for second generation survivors like Artie because he is a literal representation of generational trauma. Even though Artie didn’t live through the Holocaust, through Richieu’s legacy, he feels the effects and impacts and gets a better sense of how these events impacted his parents. According to the Intergenerational transmission of trauma in Spiegelman's Maus, the trauma Artie experiences can be characterized as vicarious. This refers to the emotional and psychological impact that occurs from hearing about the trauma of others. Vicarious trauma further emulates that the children of holocaust survivors, or anyone who experienced a traumatic event, can feel the burden of that trauma. Trauma experienced by (direct) ancestors significantly impacts young people. Firstly, it generally has the potential to lead to emotional burden. Just as Artie experienced, being surrounded by the stories and impact of traumatic events can fundamentally impact relationships and the way you view the world. Generational trauma can also lead to significant identity struggles. For people such as Artie, understanding the general burden of their community can be fundamental to understanding their own identity. Spigelman goes on the journey of connecting his personal identity to the burden of his community through the writing of Maus. Going along with identity and community, cultural preservation can become a staple for those on the receiving end of generational trauma, especially if that trauma was rooted in erasure.

Moving beyond trauma could occur at both the individual and community levels. While one may move on on the individual level, it is likely that they may still be bound by cultural practices and social structures on the community level. It would likely be very difficult to move past generational trauma simply. The impacts go far past the individual and have the potential to impact entire communities. Despite this, it may be possible to recognize this trauma in ways that will lessen future generations' burden.

Hi starfruit_24!

It was so interesting reading your response! You definitely brought up some points about generational trauma I hadn’t thought about before.

I fully agree that Artie’s relationship with Vladek is profoundly impacted by generational trauma, which manifests itself in Vladek's habits and desire to do things one specific way. I do think, however, that Artie is not making a truly deep effort to understand his father because he consistently brings Vladek back to the facts and experiences that will be useful for his book, rather than hearing out all the perhaps tangential thoughts Vladek has that would be important to fully understand his father. I wonder, though, if this too is a manifestation of generational trauma insofar as the Holocaust is something that causes Artie emotional trauma and he too may be seeking control over how he ingests more painful information about its impact on his family.

I furthermore agree that it is crucial to recognize and attempt to understand generational trauma to help communities and individuals recover. I think it could be really interesting to delve deeper into the ways communities can work to identify and process trauma. As the descendant of someone who lived through World War II, I often find myself wondering if I will ever be able to identify all the ways in which that impacts me, and I believe it is easier to work through hardship and trauma if we can understand where it comes from and put a name to it.

Originally posted by ilovemydog34 on February 11, 2025 18:07

Generational trauma seriously affects the children of Holocaust survivors and Spiegelman is a prime example of this. The Holocaust was such a serious event that took place that if someone was involved in any way it would affect them. To think that these events happened to humans is unimaginable and to think about these events happening to your loved ones, seems even more unimaginable. I think one major way that wars such as the Holocaust and others could affect generations to come is affecting their ability to trust others again. For example, if the Jewish people lived their lives how they knew them for so many years then randomly they are being forced out of their homes and beaten by their own neighbors. This behavior is the reason why survivors of these events could never trust again and makes sense why they would preach to their children/families to also never trust again. This could continue to get passed on through generations, making it hard for certain people to connect with people who are unlike them purely out of fear. In Maus we constantly saw the Jews being lied to and not being told the truth about where they are being brought or what is going to happen to them there. Also, this inability to trust could transfer to never feeling safe. If these awful events occurred when people were taken from their homes or even in their own neighborhoods, they are likely to not feel safe again. Such as in Maus when survivors returned to their homes after being freed and they were beaten to death by their neighbors. One's home and neighborhood is supposed to be a place to feel safe and secure but if these things happened to their ancestors in their neighborhood. This will affect generations to not trust people that are different from them as well as always be on alert to ensure their safety. These constant feelings they feel might translate into anger towards people for making them feel this way and making their ancestors go through these awful events. This can essentially create more hate and divide the Jewish community further from other groups. Specifically speaking of the Holocaust, Jewish people still face acts of hate in today's society. This furthers their belief that they should not trust anyone and should never feel safe. These acts of hate still occur because people are raised in environments where they still believe hatred towards groups that are not like them is right and is okay and that is another thing that can be passed through generations. In Stainislav’s article there is mention of how generational trauma often contrasts with personal trauma which enhances it and makes it even worse for that individual especially if they are already suffering from something else, such as Art in Maus. Overall, generational trauma has a large effect on individuals, even to the point where it can shape one's life such as Spiegelman when he dedicated his life to recording his fathers story and then turning it into a graphic novel. People carry things with them that those before them did because it is all they know to do when they grow up in an environment that does the same.

I believe that the most compelling part of this person's post is their connection between the various aspects of Maus and the events we have learned about during class. They highlight the issues with trust and how that lack of trust is passed down throughout generations. This not only connects to Maus, with the beatings of the Jews who went back home, but also to the speaker from Wednesday, who recalled his parents going back to their town seeing people walking around in their clothes because people raided their houses. As the author of this post states, these years of constant fear and being betrayed by people you thought you could trust, shapes the survivors for the rest of their life. I also think that my peer’s comment on how the generational trauma can add onto and exemplifies personal trauma, using Artie’s loss of his mother along with this instilled lack of trust as an example, is incredibly insightful and really goes beyond the prompt. I think the writer could connect to the article about generational trauma a little bit further, however, all in all this post is well written and shows great knowledge of the book and the topic.

Originally posted by JudasPriest on February 11, 2025 20:35

Art Spiegelman’s use of the comic or graphic novel format shows a powerful example of how deep, emotional stories can be told in such unconventional methods. Despite the fact that many may view Art Spiegelman’s choice of medium for Maus to be morally incorrect for a book about his father’s experience during the Holocaust, Maus’ ability to convey this story in such an effective way proves otherwise. The mixture of visuals and words as used by the graphic novel format also improves the telling of the story, allowing readers to see and feel the weight of history in a way that traditional books might not capture as well.

Spiegelman’s constant parallels between his fathers past and his own present conversations with him makes Vladek’s story seem all the more real, showing the reader that Vladek is an authentic person, and not at all exaggerated by his son’s writing, Vladek still lived with his past until the day he died. The back and forth attitude that Maus assumes highlights the fact that Vladek’s past not only affects him, but also his son, and provides an insightful commentary on the generational trauma which the children of Holocaust survivors endure, but that’s for another prompt.

The way Spiegelman uses the comic format also adds to the story’s depth. The depiction of different groups as animals can be seen as a metaphor under multiple different lenses. This also allowed for the depictions of characters who wore masks, as to disguise themselves as another nationality or culture, which was required of many jews as they went into hiding from the Nazis. The depiction of different groups as different animals shows how the Nazi’s treated them, and especially Jews, as inhuman, which also explains why they are depicted as cats, a predatory animal, especially when compared to the Jewish mice or Polish pigs, who would be considered prey.

Some might think that the use of a comic or graphic novel format to write Maus was the wrong choice, referencing the stereotype that such a medium can only be reserved for humor or stories appealing to children. However, Maus flips this perspective on its head, with Spiegelman’s choice of a monochromatic tone portrays both the time separating Art’s experiences from Vladeks, as well as showing a somber tone. Alongside this, the actual visualization of the characters provides a relation to the reader that words on a page can't express, driving home the point that these were actual people.

Overall, the way in which Maus is portrayed to the reader is what makes it unique, and just as, if not more powerful storytelling than other methods, especially to readers around my own age who may struggle to take time out of their schedules to read. Spiegelman’s unique approach and method to depicting his father’s experiences makes the horror of Vladek’s story feel real and present, proving that the comic form is more than capable of handling serious, complex stories.

The idea that Spiegelman uses animal imagery to show stereotypes of different groups is interesting because it dehumanizes Jewish people. This response focuses on the idea that the Nazis are depicted as cats, chasing the mice (Jews) around because of their predatory nature. I think this is something that should be more closely inspected because Spiegelman could have drawn the Nazis as humans to show how they dehumanized everyone else, but instead he shows that the Nazis were inhumane in their actions, and therefore are not drawn as humans. I agree with the idea that these animal metaphors make the narrative of Vladek’s life more clear and more horrific because everyone was less than human at the time. This response also mentions that the comic form makes the story seem more present to adolescents today because the reader is given images to complete the story instead of trying to think of the atrocities through a warped imagination. I think this is an extremely important idea that could be dug into more. I wish this person would have talked more about the stereotypes that were perpetuated through the use of each animal metaphor because the stereotype of the greedy Jew is shown through mice, and the severity of the Nazis takeover is shown through the pounce of the cat, but other animals such as the pig that represents Polish citizens is not as clear in the stereotypes it represents.

Originally posted by starfruit_24 on February 11, 2025 00:57

Generational trauma fundamentally shaped the upbringings of children like Spigelman. Though Spigelman himself wasn’t directly affected, his father, Vladek, is haunted by his past and carries his trauma in ways that deeply impact his relationship with Artie. In many instances within Maus I, when Artie tries to help his father, Vladek is adamant about doing everything his way. For example, when Vladek is organizing his pill box and knocks it over, Artie offers to help, but Vladek aggressively denies the help and states that only he can do it right. Vladek’s desire to have total control over his life is likely the result of his experiences during the Holocaust, where he had control over basically no aspect of his life—this habit of Vladek’s trickles down into his relationship with Artie in the form of distance. While Artie is willing to pursue a deeper relationship with his father, Vladek won’t let him get any closer than he already is. Vladek's desire for control seeps into his relationship with Artie and his wife.Marta has her own way of doing things, and it is a constant point of tension between the two. In Maus II, Richieu’s death makes Artie feel the pressure of being exactly who his parents want him to be. Richieu is significant for second generation survivors like Artie because he is a literal representation of generational trauma. Even though Artie didn’t live through the Holocaust, through Richieu’s legacy, he feels the effects and impacts and gets a better sense of how these events impacted his parents. According to the Intergenerational transmission of trauma in Spiegelman's Maus, the trauma Artie experiences can be characterized as vicarious. This refers to the emotional and psychological impact that occurs from hearing about the trauma of others. Vicarious trauma further emulates that the children of holocaust survivors, or anyone who experienced a traumatic event, can feel the burden of that trauma. Trauma experienced by (direct) ancestors significantly impacts young people. Firstly, it generally has the potential to lead to emotional burden. Just as Artie experienced, being surrounded by the stories and impact of traumatic events can fundamentally impact relationships and the way you view the world. Generational trauma can also lead to significant identity struggles. For people such as Artie, understanding the general burden of their community can be fundamental to understanding their own identity. Spigelman goes on the journey of connecting his personal identity to the burden of his community through the writing of Maus. Going along with identity and community, cultural preservation can become a staple for those on the receiving end of generational trauma, especially if that trauma was rooted in erasure.

Moving beyond trauma could occur at both the individual and community levels. While one may move on on the individual level, it is likely that they may still be bound by cultural practices and social structures on the community level. It would likely be very difficult to move past generational trauma simply. The impacts go far past the individual and have the potential to impact entire communities. Despite this, it may be possible to recognize this trauma in ways that will lessen future generations' burden.

I like your analysis of Vladek and the effects of the Holocaust on his behavior in the contemporary. His desire for control is a result of his time in the concentration camps or when losing his factories and being separated from those whom he loved. This trickles down and creates tensions between his loved ones in the present. I agree with how you mentioned the effects of Vladek’s storytelling and other remnants of the past, like the picture of Richieu. This may lead to internal conflicts as one may feel distant from one's own family and their experiences because they cannot relate. I also agree with your points on how moving past trauma can be at the level of the individual or one's own community, depending on the quantity and range of effect a traumatic event can have. I feel as though you could have elaborated more on the ways in which we are able to move on from trauma or expand more on what you mean by recognizing the trauma. Nevertheless, I am in accordance with your conclusion on the difficulty of moving past generational trauma. Considering that the effects may be deep-rooted into one’s behavior and way of thinking, it may be hard to uproot it and change someone for the better. I also think that by recognizing it, in which the affected learn about the impacts of the Holocaust on their minds and behaviors and identifying them in the moment, can lessen the effects, as one can act accordingly for the better.

Originally posted by mouse0 on February 07, 2025 13:28

Generational trauma describes the effects of a traumatic event occurring in one generation which is then passed down to the next, perpetuating more trauma and continuing a cycle. In the case of Art Spiegelman, the effects of generational trauma beginning from the Holocaust is shown through his relationship with the “ghost” of his brother and the suicide of his mother. Art had constantly compared himself to Richieu, and began to develop resentment and jealousy of him, as he was under the impression that his parents would rather have Richieu back than be with him. As shown in Maus, one of the key components that led to his line of thinking would be how a picture of Richieu was in his parent’s bedroom, while there was no seen picture of him. Richieu was put on a pedestal which depleted Art’s self-worth and created distance between him and his parents. This would then lead to inner conflict as he had never met his brother as he had died previously in the Holocaust. Generational trauma had also manifested following his mother’s suicide. It is assumed that the trauma from the Holocaust influenced this action, which then passed the trauma down to Art, who had blamed himself for it. Art’s perceived inferiority and immense guilt were products of the trauma of the Holocaust despite it occurring before he was even born, “[p]ostmemory characterizes the experience of those who grow up dominated by narratives that preceded their birth” (Hirsch 22). Furthermore, Art’s experience is not the only one, as the impacts of generational trauma passed down by Holocaust survivors plague many families, shaping the development of familial relationships. One of the most well known origins of mass generational trauma would be slavery. Even to this day we can still observe the impacts of this event on the black community. A primary example would be the relationship between black fathers and their families. Throughout history, black men have been the target of legal injustice and racist violence. This took many black fathers from their homes, leaving their children with the absence of the influence of their father. This proceeds throughout generations, eventually generating the stereotype of constant absent black fathers, harming the black community. Another critical example would be the lack of trust in the healthcare system, a system historically having race-based medical malpractice. This fear has been passed down through generations, along with racial healthcare disparities, increasing health risks. Generational trauma hurts following generations and limits their potential. It prevents them and the community as a whole from moving forward and leaving the past behind. It is best to move beyond generational trauma and to not live with it, however, acknowledging its presence is the most important aspect. Recognizing the effects reduces its power, as it gives those affected the ability to make more informed decisions and know more about themselves. This could range from attending therapy to spending time with family and developing stronger relationships. In art’s case, a solution would have been to spend more quality time with his father, and get to know him more. One of his methods may have been to talk about his father’s past, however, this simply may have been an excuse to cover up his more egotistical intentions, to solely get information for his book.

Hi mouse0!

I really enjoyed reading your response. I liked how you started with the definition or meaning of generational trauma, because it helps to set the tone for your passage and clear up lingering questions about the term. You made a really strong point about how Art’s “ghost” brother, Richieu, created a lot of feelings of guilt for him, as he was forced to live in that shadow. I talked about that relationship as well in my response, specifically how this led Art to feel some sort of jealousy towards Richieu and those who experienced the events. I also thought that his mother’s suicide impacted his feelings of guilt significantly, especially after he found out that his father had burned the diary entries of hers. While Art was not born, or very young during these events, he still feels them and resonates with such strong emotions that only he can understand. I thought your connection to other historical events, such as slavery, was a really good way to reel in other topics that may provoke similar reactions. Like the Holocaust, many believe that slavery is a forbidden topic or that it doesn’t matter because it’s in the past, but events like these still greatly affect our society and the people living in it today. Your last few sentences about recognizing the effects of these events and feelings were so important; by practicing the examination of one’s emotions and changed life, but continuing to move forward with one’s life is such an empowering and strengthening task.

Originally posted by msbowlesfan on February 12, 2025 17:32

Generational trauma impacts the children of the Holocaust survivors through many different ways. Entire communities were moved to ghettos by Nazis, leaving many Jews homeless after the war. They were forced to move to other places like America. Most of the Jews’ valuables and possessions had been taken from them, so they had limited money to buy a new house to live in, on top of that there were traveling and food costs. The children of these survivors were raised in worse conditions than what they would have grown up in before the war. Even in the case of Art, even though Vladek was still pretty successful after the war, he was even more successful before the war. Anja’s family gave him a textiles factory and he would have become extremely wealthy. But the Nazi’s took all of that away from him and Anja’s family, so he moved to America to raise Art, which is a very different landscape than Poland. Along with the physical changes in their lives, there were also the psychological effects of being in death camps, being hunted and dehumanized, and witnessing the deaths of so many friends and family. Many survivors suffered from PTSD and other mental illnesses like depression and anxiety. This is a lot for the children of these survivors to deal with, as shown by Art’s guilt from his mother’s suicide. He felt that he “has become a source of disappointment for [his parents],” but in reality his parents put an exceptional amount of pressure on him to be successful in life. This is a common pattern with lots of families, but especially immigrant parents, where the parents had a hard life and want better for their children. But even though this is an inherently good desire, it normally leads to the child feeling like they don’t meet the expectations of their parents and aren’t good enough for them. That feeling then leads to resentment of the parents for applying so much pressure and suffocating them. Art’s case is exacerbated by the memory of Richieu, his older brother who died in the Holocaust, because his parents never got over his death,, Art felt compared to his dead brother and never truly felt his parent’s love. I don’t think that we should move past the effects of generational trauma because it is important in highlighting the results of the Holocaust and other traumatic experiences. We should acknowledge it and recognize why it is in our society and where it comes from. While the trauma is bad for the children of the survivors and their children after that, it still prevents the Holocaust from just being a list of numbers by adding personal experience and the emotional effects to the mass death toll.

Great response msbowlesfan!

I agree with your idea that the PTSD that Vladek has experienced affected his relationship with his son and the effects of war can be seen in his mother as well. Art struggles to understand his parents' past and how to live in the shadow of his brother. But in reality it was just because they hoped for a better life for their son. This kind of pressure from parents to want their kids to be successful is something that you stated in your response and I agree with. Immigrant parents especially may be doing it for inherently good reasons but they tend to damage relationships between parents and children more than anything. This is almost a universal experience that many children of immigrants have to go through at a young age. We can see representations of it in the media, in books, movies, on the news, and especially in our own communities. I agree that it is important to acknowledge these struggles and how genocides like the Holocaust have affected the mass populations. By recognizing their effects we can prevent people from further passing on the trauma and also educating future generations of the dangerous outcomes of war. Overall great response and I greatly enjoyed reading it!