Maus: A Survivor's Tale Characters

Art Spiegelman

Let’s throw an idea out there.Art isn’t a character.How can the author not be a...

Vladek Spiegelman

“Mainly I remember arguing with him… and being told that I couldn’t do...

Anja (Zylberberg) Spiegelman

Art’s mother, Anja, survived the Holocaust, but committed suicide in May, 1968. While most...

Richieu Spiegelman

Art never meets his brother Richieu, who was born before the war. In 1943, as conditions worsened...

Mala Spiegelman

Mala, also a Holocaust survivor, is Vladek’s second wife; she knew Vladek and Anja before...

Pavel

Pavel, also a Holocaust survivor, is Art’s therapist. Like Mala and other Holocaust...

Françoise

Françoise is Art’s wife. She has converted to Judaism in order to appease Vladek. In...

Lucia Greenberg

Lucia Greenberg is Vladek’s girlfriend before he meets Anja. Her appearance in the text...

Mr. Ilzecki

Mr. Ilzecki is a player on the black market in Sosnowiec when the Germans occupy the town. He is...

Mancie

Mancie is a Jewish woman who leads groups of other Jewish women prisoners at Birkenau. She risks...

Mandelbaum

Mandelbaum is one of Vladek’s first friends at Auschwitz. He is not as resourceful as...

Mrs. Motonowa

Mrs. Motonowa is a Polish woman that Vladek meets as he works the black market in Sosnowiec. She...

Shivek

Shivek is one of Vladek's friends from before the war. They both survive the concentration camps...

Mr. Spiegelman

Mr. Spiegelman, Vladek's father, shows up with Fela, Vladek’s sister, at Dienst stadium....

Fela Spiegelman

Fela is Vladek’s sister. They reconnect when the Jews are ordered to convene at Dienst...

Haskel Spiegelman

Haskel is a cousin of Vladek’s who is able to schmooze his way into favor with the German...

Yidl

Yidl is a Russian Jew who leads a tin workshop at Auschwitz. Yidl doesn’t like Vladek...

Mr. and Mrs. Zylberberg

The Zylberbergs, Anja’s parents, are very wealthy. They welcome Vladek into the family, and...

Tosha Zylberberg

Tosha is Anja’s sister, and is the mother of two children. When it is clear that the...