Analysis Of Art Spiegelman's Prisoner On The Hell Planet

In the book Maus, by Art Spiegelman, Spiegelman’s images and dark artistic style have a strong connection to the past based on how he has drawn himself, especially in his short story, “Prisoner on the Hell Planet.” In Spiegelman’s short story, he depicts himself as a guilt-ridden, deformed being, and these depictions intertwine with his past emotions, which correlate strongly to his mother’s suicide. Spiegelman portrays himself as a person with droopy eyes, an altered perspective, and an uneven visage. These particular characteristics form his grotesque physical features and disfigured facial expressions. The manner in which Spiegelman depicts himself conveys the message that his mother’s suicide detrimentally affected him, which his grim physical

features consisting of heavy eyelids and sharp edges support. Also, Spiegelman blames himself for his mother’s incident, which results in him being in a state of constant depression and being drawn as a gloomy, downhearted figure. Spiegelman’s depression is symbolized by the dejected look on his face, and the chaotic perspective of his past accompanied by shadowy figures and a clustered material world. Additionally, he draws himself in a prisoner uniform throughout the short story as well. The prisoner uniform metaphorically indicates that Spiegelman feels guilty and responsible for his mother’s death, and they also symbolize his acceptance of his guilt toward his mother’s suicide. The depression and guilt that Spiegelman feels are both applied powerfully by the macabre, unique style, in which he depicts himself in the short story.