Inviting Exile

Interestingly enough, what was most compelling about Maus, Art Spiegelman’s graphic depiction of his father’s story of the Holocaust, was not his and his father’s, but rather, that of his then fiancé’s, Francois’ exile.
Hers is a self-imposed exile. She was born a “Frog,” a relatively benign creature in the world, for they hail from France. Though she converted for Art’s father’s, Vladek’s approval, she actively sought, and succeeded to convert to a way of life and culture that has been, and in some places in the world, is still being discriminated against for how they worship their deity. I mean, who is to say who the next "Cat" might be?
Francois introduced herself to the possibility of being a member of arguably the most persecuted people in history for the prospect of love and marriage to Art Spiegelman.

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To respond to Amy S:
I think that there is a stereotype that the French eat frogs, this might be why they are depicted as frogs.
And as for the Swedes, they might be reindeer because reindeer don't pose a threat to other creatures, because they are vegetarians. But they are threatened by meat eaters like humans who hunt them. Actually in history, Sweden remained neutral throughout the War, but were being intimidated by both Allied and Axis powers for their resources and strategic position between England and Germany.