The Holocaust is the single most significant event in the 20th century. The event itself had enormous political, social and demographic effects on Europe at the time. However, the Holocaust is one of those rare events whose meaning survives beyond the generation who experienced it. We can see that Vladek's experience in Europe came to define much of Art's experiences in America. No doubt, Vladek's grandchildren will also have a consciousness of their history. We have seen through other narratives of the children of survivors that Art's experience is not isolated, but rather represents in an extreme what some many have experienced on their own.