Julia touched on resourcefulness of Vladek, and this continues through chapter 10. In the beginning of the chapter, Vladek (extremely old, weak, and sick) asks Art to help him install storm winds to save a little money on heat. Throughout the chapter, as Vladek continues with the story, he pesters his son about them. This shows that his frugal tendencies are constantly in the back of his mind. In chapter 9, Julia discusses his unwasteful tendencies when Vladek attempts to force Art to finish food. Art tells his father not to push himself, or else he may have another heart attack (which will be much more expensive than heating). Art sometimes needs to act like a father to his father.

When he was a young man, there is an example of protective instincts over material goods. On the train from Dachau, he stays up most of the night protecting his Red Cross box from other …show more content…
His son declines the offer, probably because being with his father too long makes him crazy. I think it is sad for Vladek to live all by himself in Queens, and I understand why he tries to get Art to visit as often as possible. When Art asks about installing the storm windows, Vladek says, “Tomorrow we’ll do.” Because Art has a life and a wife, he responds “Impossible. I'm too busy!” Art proposes the idea of Vladek getting a nurse or going to a retirement home, but Vladek protests, “You and Mala, you don’t know to make money, only make it disappear!” The old man is stingy to a fault. Even when he should spend his money, he does not. He values his son’s opinion, so he asks him if he should give a hundred thousand dollars to Mala (so she’ll return). Giving up that money is against every fiber in his being, but he is desperate for company and care. Art doesn’t know what he father should do, so he mumbles “It’s up to you.” It is better for Art to have Mala return, so he doesn’t have to be responsible for his