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Vladek and Anja marry each other, which is a big part of Vladek's life. Vladek strongly loves Anja very much as he cares for her a
lot.
This is a turning point in Vladek's life because he was an single man who ran his own small business before his marriage, but then became a husband and a successful businessman as he plays a part in his wife's family business.
Theme: This changes Vladek's identity as he went from being a nobody to a successful businessman from the famous Zylberberg family. -
Without any permission, the Nazis forcibly move the all the Jews in Sosnowiec into a ghetto. The rates of persecution and the killing of Jews increases a large amount in this ghetto.
This is a turning point in Vladek's life because his character doesn't change, but he is forced to leave his normal life.
This changes Valdek's identity because he changes from being a rich and successful business man, into a man who lost his normal life and is captured. -
Vladek's family luckily gets an house to live in, unlike many others who live on the streets. They survive the ghetto with help from Vladek's cousin Haskel.
This generates a negative character development in Vladek since he begins to not trust people when his cousin wasn't able to save Anja's parents, even when they paid him.
Valdek's identity changes at this point of the story as he is more cruel now. He changes from being a friendly man to an more meaner man who easily doesn't trust people. -
Vladek and Anja are tricked by smugglers and are caught by Nazi soldiers. They are now separated from each other and live in different parts.
This is a turning point in the story because Vladek now has no rights and is treated like animals at this camp. He is forced to work to survive and only receives a small amount of food each day.
Vladek's identity changes at this point of the story because he is completely a nobody now. He is also not a father anymore as Richieu died. -
The Allies have landed near Germany and started to regain power. The Nazis made all the Jews march in snow without proper food and clothing to go to the Dachau camp.
This is a negative character development because Vladek now lost a lot of weight and Vladek had to use his smarts to survive. He got only a small amount of food and was close to becoming paranoid.
This changes Vladek's identity because he isn't considered human anymore as he is shoved into boxcarts and is not given much food. -
Art is born and the Spiegelmans move to America. Vladek works as a diamond dealer in Ameirca and becomes very successful.
This is a turn in the story because Vladek is finally back to his normal life and he is back to living a successful life. He is also now a dad again to Art and lives happily with his family in Queens, New York.
Vladek's identity changes greatly now because he is back to being treated as a human being and can finally live his life the way he wants to again -
Anja commits suicide for an unknown reason. Her death affects Vladek and Art negatively and they start forming a distance between each other.
This is a Negative character development as Vladek is sad again for the first time after the war. He loses the woman he loves greatly and starts going into depression.
This changes Vladek's identity as he loses the love of his life and forms a distance between his son. He is neither a husband nor father anymore and turns into a depressed man. -
Art tries to share his father's story to the world. Vladek spends more time with Art and forms a close fatherly bond again.
This is a turning point in the story because Vladek and Art finally act like Father and Son again. Vladek's life is again a little happy as he gets to spend time with his son after sucha long time.
This changes Valdek's identity as he becomes a father again and also spends time remembering his memories. This helps him a lot mentally and makes him a happy man again. -
Theme Statement: One bad event in your life can affect you throughout your life.
The theme of this story is identity because throughout the story, Valdek's identity changes drastically due to the Holocaust. Throughout his life, he is affected by the Holocaust as he doesn't like to waste food, uses things he finds on the ground, and also barely spends money. He changes from being a happy, successful, and friendly father and husband. To a cranky and weak old man who is a miser.
