Polarization and Unification of Identity in the Complete Maus Trauma and healing both have cycles that an individual must go through in order to heal. For those who experienced the Holocaust, these stages were well defined and could be addressed. However, when they are discussed, they are only addressed to the individual, not the group or the people involved in a secondary way. This creates a dichotomy between those experiencing internal conflict, survivors or not, and those who experienced the external physical conflict of the Holocaust. Thus, I will argue that internal conflict is more damaging to the individual because it polarizes both mentally but also with relationships formed with others, while external conflict actually serves as a bonding agent for a group by creating a common, albeit common, feeling. negative experience. I will prove my thesis through the use of The Complete Maus by Art Spiegelman. Specifically, I will examine the visual polarization between Art and his father, Vladek, in the graphic elements and how it relates to Art's internal conflict. Following this, I will continue to analyze the graphic element of Maus focusing on the external conflict and how the use of visual symbolism and connections creates a sense of unity and identity. Moving on to the literary aspect of the novel, I will explore Anja's internal conflict with life and how this not only polarized her own mind, but also separated her from her son physically and mentally. Anticipating the counterargument of Mala and Vladek's strained relationship, I will briefly discuss the subtext of their interactions and use it to transition to the unity that Vladek expresses with other people experiencing war and survivors after it. war in order to fully expand the idea of ​​polarization..... .middle of paper ......there are unity of identity and polarization. These themes are found respectively in the external conflict of the Holocaust and the internal conflict of guilt and the will to live. Unity of identity arises from common experience and social support. Both of these are steps in the recovery process, a process that all Holocaust victims had to go through together. Yet those who were secondarily affected or internally afflicted had to suffer alone, moving into constriction, a stage of trauma in which one withdraws from themselves and others. In this novel, he illustrates the importance of recovery on both a personal and collective level. This importance of recovery is not limited to those who have suffered massive trauma, it is important even for those who simply suffer from guilt. A little trauma, like a reprimand from your father at a young age, can make a big difference..