He was a character from Maus, who was never given the opportunity to share his story. In fact, when Artie was just 20 years old, Anja took her own life. While it is not possible to give a definitive answer to the cause of his suicide, for now I choose to look at it as the culmination of events. Because it seems that in Maus every action has a reaction. Anja normally battled postpartum depression, but the Holocaust shook her to the core of her being. “Why are you pulling me, Vladek? Leave me alone! I don't want to live!" Anja exclaims after being informed of the loss of her son Richieu (Spiegelman 122). At this moment it is Vladek who must reassure Anja about his life. Placing this heavy burden on the shoulders of someone experiencing the same horrors affects how Vladek reacts to events in the world.