Maus I and Maus II, written by Art Spiegleman, are a set of biographical graphic novels, which have as their central theme the need for survival. The story is that of Art's father, Vladek. He tells his story of surviving the Holocaust. Although Vladek is the narrator and center of the story, other characters also emphasize this theme. Vladek's nephew Lolek is briefly mentioned in the first book, making decisions to further his survival. Some of these decisions include: living with Vladek's stepfather, getting papers to work in a carpentry shop, hiding in a bunker, searching for food, and ultimately choosing to leave the family and come out of hiding. Lolek is mentioned again in the second book, where the reader discovers that he actually survived the entire war. This character is a great example of the need for survival, a central theme presented in these books. The first time Lolek is introduced, he is living with twelve other family members in Vladek's stepfather's house. This introduction took place before the Germans had completely changed the laws relating to ...