Analysis Of Kafka s The Metamorphosis - 989 Words

Ralph Freedman’s critical essay titled â€Å"Kafka’s Obscurity† on Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis delves into the idea that from changes in the protagonist’s physical limitations, familial bonds, and his being â€Å"[he] is finally reduced to a mere speck of self-awareness which is ultimately extinguished† (Freedman 131). General questions of â€Å"why† and â€Å"how† are almost immediately dismissed due to the calm and monotonous tone that Kafka implements throughout the novel. Instead, the reader is encouraged to ponder the consequences of separating one’s mind from their body, in particular, how long can their humanity stay intact when the rest of them is replaced. Freedman reveals the â€Å"paradoxical† (Freedman 131) nature of The Metamorphosis in which the demise of one’s life may also be blissful release, especially when the individual in question was arguably inhuman to begin with. The transformatio n itself is emphasising the character’s current dejection and is highlighted by the transformations mirrored in the family as well. From the first moment that Gregor Samsa became an abomination to his last seconds on Earth, a struggle for him to retain his essential self was known. He had always been so considerate of his family and even as a bug would hide himself under the couch for their sanity. As the story progresses, Gregor becomes resentful of the way everyone treats him, especially with his sister, Grete Samsa, who stopped cleaning his room and forbade anyone from taking theShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Franz Kafka s The Metamorphosis 3979 Words   |  16 PagesAustin Day Professor Imali Abala English 357 18 February 2015 The Theme of Alienation in Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis The Metamorphosis written by Franz Kafka in 1915 is said to be one of the greatest literary works of all time and is seen as one of Kafka’s best and most popular works of literature. A relatively short novel; the story explains how the protagonist, Gregor Samsa wakes up one morning to find himself transformed into a vermin which completely estranges him from the world even moreRead MoreAnalysis Of Kafka s The Metamorphosis 1166 Words   |  5 PagesKafka is ranked among the most important writers of the twentieth century for works that express modern humanity s loss of personal and collective order. His writing describes the situations of psychological, social, political, and physical instability and confusion that defy logical explanation and which typify Kafka s conception of humanity s absurd relationship with the universe (Kafka, 2013). Although Kafka s work has elicited various critical interpretations, he himself characterized hisRead MoreAnalysis Of Kafka s The Metamorphosis 2407 Words   |  10 Pagesbe fair to conclude that the society we live in undergoes a social metamorphosis into some states, conditions and status that cannot be possibly fathomed by a rational and neutral human being, in comparison to what is perceived as normal. This change is normally brought about as a result of various factors and environments that we interact with in our life. Whereas Kafka’s novella starts off with a sudden â€Å"physical metamorphosis†, plenty of accompanying psychological and sociological changes areRead MoreAnalysis Of Franz Kafka s The Metamorphosis 1711 Words   |  7 Pagestheme that most readers can relate to. Franz Kafka, a renowned German-speaking fiction writer of the 20th century, uses a unique style of writing that many people believe is a telling of his own life story. In his well-known short story, â€Å"The Metamorphosis†, many similarities and connections can be seen between the main character, Gregor Samsa, and the author himself, Franz Kafka. A major comparison that can be made is the fact that both Samsa and Kafka died slow, lonesome deaths after being in aRead MoreAnalysis Of Franz Kafka s The Metamorphosis1873 Words   |  8 Pageswriters take their creative control to emphasize the current state of the freedom and control of the individual. Kafka’s The Metamorphosis, various World War I poems, and Brecht’s Fear and Misery of the Third Reich show the lack of individual freedom and control that people had over their lives during the destruction that occurred in the 20th century. Published in 1915, Franz Kafka wasted no time in starting his discussion about freedom and control through the life of Gregor. After he awakes and realizesRead MoreAnalysis Of Franz Kafka s The Metamorphosis 1087 Words   |  5 Pagesdictator that he ever go to. Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis, is about a young man that wakes up one day and is a vermin and has to maneuver around his home and come to terms with his six itchy legs. It probably sounds like a load of fictitious ramblings that somehow became a classical novel. Wrong! Look a little closer and the secret message Franz Kafka wrote for his father will slowly emerge from in between the lines. In his secret message, Kafka evinces that a dictator will be a person’s end ifRead MoreAnalysis Of Franz Kafka s The Metamorphosis1500 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"In the morning†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ verminous bug.† In Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis, the opening sentence introduces the main character, event and the setting. Gregor Samsa is one of the only two characters who are addressed by name, this reflects his importance in the story because he is the protagonist and he plays a central role in the lives of his family and friends. Besides introducing the central character, this opening line has a dramatic impact on readers. It draws the reader straight to Gregor Samsa’sRead MoreAnalysis Of Franz Kafka s The Metamorphosis 948 Words   |  4 PagesFreud says one way humans express their hidden feeling is through dreams. This idea is the foundation for the dream interpretation of â€Å"The Metamorphosis.† Dreams have the capacity to encapture events that never happen in reality. They connect with how people reflect their true feelings about a situation or themselves. Throughout â€Å"The Metamorphosis†, the author, Kafka, uses Gregor’s repressed feelings inc orporated with the dull setting and Gregor’s transformation to support the idea that Gregor is dreamingRead MoreAnalysis Of Franz Kafka s Metamorphosis1985 Words   |  8 PagesDoes one view one’s external self, or do they see a reflection of past experience? Not many have the value of altruism, but some do. Sometimes altruism can turn extremist though, to the point where it can be a negative thing. In Franz Kafka’s Metamorphosis, the main character Gregor Samsa is a workaholic that randomly one day awakens as a bug. Initially, Gregor sees himself with a condition, and then slowly tries to adapt to his bug transformation. Gregor did not put himself first when he was inRead MoreAnalysis Of Kafka s The Metamorphosis And The Women s Swimming Pool 1109 Words   |  5 Pagesyou a man? Are you a woman? What is your gender? Concept of gender and sex are very important matter for us in living in the society. In the stories, â€Å"The Metamorphosis† and  "The Women’s Swimming Pool†, it is mentioned that what the role of men and women, and what it means living as a men and women in society. In Kafka’s work â€Å"The Metamorphosis†, after Gregor Samsa was transformed into bug, he lost his own figure, his family, his job, and even himself. Before that happened, he really tried hard to