Even though both these books are about completely different stories, they both share some common ideas of humanity making it a very interesting relationship. In The Things They Carried, Norman is one of the soldiers from Alpha Company who seems to suffer from post traumatic stress disorder. All he can remember is the time he spend in Vietnam and all the horrors he had to suffer and endure, especially the death of his friend Kiowa. In Maus, Vladek always remembers his wife and how she was lost. Both Norman and Vladek continuously relive their terrors over and over again. Vladek doesn't like his new wife most likely because she reminds him of Anja, who he lost. He doesn't let her have any of his money and always thinks that she only with him for money. He even burns Anja's books because those memories of her are too much for him. Norman relives his experience in Vietnam continuously as well. As he circles the lake in his own town again and again while pondering about the experiences he had in the war, he really is reliving those experiences over and over again. He even feels like a tourist in his own town, especially because no one seems to listen to him. This idea is also similar to Maus because Artie never really listens to Vladek in order to help him. He only does it so he can write his story. He doesn't actually seem to care about helping his father cope through his problems. When Vladek was on the roof and almost about to fall off, Artie didn't even think twice about going to help him. Both Norman and Vladek are people who continue to endure the horrors of their experience especially because no one really cares enough to actually support them and guide them through their problems.
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