There are hundreds of works of literature out in the world, many of them are great, and some are not as great. What makes them great is the truth behind them, the true feelings, and what it truly meant to the author. Many great works of literature are influenced by several different things, in the case of “The Metamorphosis”, it was influenced by the life of Franz Kafka, the author, and his real- life experiences. The Freudian concept help explain why “The Metamorphosis” contains symbols and clues that can be used to compare certain relationships throughout Kafka’s life, one being with his father, and the other with woman who entered his life. Franz Kafka was a German man who worked as a lawyer who worked at the workmen’s Accident Insurance …show more content…
In “The Metamorphosis”, Kafka mentions a picture of a women dressed in nothing but fur hanging on the wall of Gregory’s bedroom. This picture is a symbol of those failed relationships. Gregory had a younger sister by the name of Grete, and after undergoing his transformation, she was the only one who cared for him, the only one who dared step into his room, and the only one that his father allowed to care for him. Grete observed Gregory’s behavior on a daily basis and would try to accommodate things for Gregory so that he felt more comfortable in his current situation. One day, Grete observed the trails that Gregory had left on the walls, so she decided it would be best if she removed some furniture from his room so that he had more space to crawl, and was able to climb the walls better. She knew that her father would not agree with what she was trying to do, and the furniture was too heavy for her to lift alone, so she asked the one person that her father and she had been trying to keep away from the room, her mother. She agreed to help, and Gregory was happy at the thought that his mother was going to walk into the same room he was in, even though he knew that he would have to stay completely hidden under the couch so that he did not scare her and so she would not faint. He was also excited about having more space to move around, and at …show more content…
Kafka was the reason for his failed relationships, and he was aware of this, and just like Kafka, Gregory never attempted to have relationships, even when he had time he never liked going out and meeting new people, so why was he trying to save the picture of a woman he did not even know instead of his writing desk, something that had true meaning and sentiment to him, “they were now loosening the writing desk which was fixed tight to the floor, the desk on which he, as a business student, a school student, indeed even as an elementary school student, had written out his assignments” (Kafka). Kafka once said that “a man without a woman is no person” (Kafka), this means that Kafka believed that love did matter, and having love and feelings was what it meant to be a person. He had previously mentioned how he wanted to be successful at marriage just like his father was. In this case, Gregory was no longer a person, but an insect, which is why Kafka felt like he needed Gregory to save the picture of the woman. Saving the picture was meant to give both Gregory and Kafka himself a sense a reassurance. For Gregory, it was assurance that someday he could go back to being who he once was, a person, and for Kafka assurance that there is someone out there for him to marry, someone he would be able to have a successful marriage with, just like his
The novel describes the tragic fate of Kafka, “kafka's father predicted that kafka would kill his father, and with his mother's gender, alluding to Oedipus the king. " We can see
Within Franz Kafka’s novel The Metamorphosis, a subsequent meaning for the unusual predicament of Gregor Samsa is considerably enhanced throughout the frequent use of allusions and symbolism. Throughout Kafka’s work, he seems to attribute each realistic physicality with some unrealistic spiritual relevance; thus, “Gregor’s physical transformation, then, stands for a spiritual transformation” (Holland). Kafka illuminates this idea as Samsa first remains rational in his thoughts and his desires despite his physical appearance, but later turns much more aggressive in his thoughts and actions, revealing more of that of an animal rather than a human. In some way, Samsa’s spiritual transformation is even more horrific than his physical transformation
Metamorphosis has a variety of retellings. Each one from a different author; giving it a unique sense of style. The story Metamorphosis is consistent throughout all the retelling but every retelling is for a different type of audience. The audience may vary from those who already read the story, those who will be motivated to read Kafka, and lastly those who will read the retelling only. To know the reason why the audience is attracted to the investigator one might say has to look at the aspects and the excitement around oneself.
Jay Patel Ms. Murchie AP English 12 Feb 2016 The Yellow Wallpaper Analysis In “The Yellow Wallpaper”, Charlotte Perkins Gilman portrays the story of the heavily restricted domestic life of a woman who is suppressed by being trapped in a marriage with no personal growth. She does this through the usage of many different types of literary devices.
With such a title, one might expect that this story will express the metamorphosis of a caterpillar to a beautiful butterfly, but with Kafka’s troubled upbringing, abuse and feelings of being devalued for most of his life, it’s easy to see how Kafka felt the need to symbolically dehumanize himself. Kafka’s choice of human-to-insect transformation exudes self-loathing because there’s nothing lower than a cockroach. While Gregor is the one who took on the grotesque transformation, it’s actually his family’s behavior towards his change which conveys complete hostility. Grete, for one, had enough near the end when she said, “If it were Gregor, he would have realized long ago that it isn't possible for human beings to live with such a creature, and he would have gone away of his own free will” (Kafka). It’s very disheartening knowing that his own family couldn’t handle his transformation when his first thought in the morning was getting to work on time for their
Which proves Kafka’s father’s faith implications once more. Nonetheless, one cannot forget the fact the Kafka and Ms.
Transforming and Romanticizing a Storyline The Metamorphosis, a novella written by Franz Kafka, attracted the attention of many of its readers due to the writing framework and shocking concepts. The story depicts a man named Gregor Samsa who has befallen the fate of a cockroach- literally. After being transformed into a large bug, Gregor goes through the struggles of misunderstanding, neglect, and loss of his family relationships.
The Repercussions of Cruelty Cruel actions lead to cruel endings. Gregor Samsa, the protagonist in Franz Kafka’s novella The Metamorphosis, is turned into a bug from the mental and emotional abuse by the hands of his own family. The cruelty in the Samsa household is apparent from the beginning of the storyline. Their neglect and lack of compassion for Gregor's condition immediately sets the dark and miserable mood of the novella. Gregor’s whole existence has been about caring for his family and making sacrifices for their well being.
His death marks a new, brighter future for the rest of his family. The Oedipus Complex The Metamorphosis can be interpreted in terms of Freud’s notion of the Oedipus Complex. As an insect, Gregor’s
The Metamorphosis written by Franz Kafka uses many different symbols throughout the story. In the story Gregor is turned into a gigantic bug overnight. The Samsa family depends on Gregor to work and pay off the family's debts, but when Gregor is incapable of working his father, mother and sister Grete all have to pitch in. A symbol in Metamorphosis that sticks out is the picture of the lady in a fur coat.
The narrator describes a recently hung picture, “The picture was of a woman clad in a fur stole; she sat upright and held out to the viewer a thick fur muff into which her entire forearm disappeared” (Kafka, 2013, p. 112). The protagonist displayed, this picture in his room to symbolize his search in finding love and a true meaning in life. Therefore, depriving Gregor from having a social life affected his mental
The Metamorphosis and Kafka’s account of his childhood serve as a warning to assimilated Jews the cost of giving up their voice, giving up their voice in fear of the response from the higher authority. Kafka may have been a weak child and Gregor Samsa a monstrous vermin, but they are no less beings. They still have a voice worthy of being heard. Their voice goes unheard, however, because they are not understood. They do not speak the language of the world around them and the world around them shows no importance in learning how to commune with them.
He 's become a burden in her life. Her sympathy for him is completely gone. He is no long her brother, just a vermin. In conclusion, Gregor and Grete’s relationship drastically changes in The Metamorphosis.
Kafka was born into a middle-class family; his mother was well educated, and his father had a long history in business. Kafka, however, didn’t have the greatest relationship with his parents. His father had a terrible temper and didn’t approve of Kafka’s writing endeavors. He also put Kafka under tremendous pressure to continue the family business since he was the only son. Kafka’s childhood experience with an economically driven family dynamic was manifested in his novella The Metamorphosis.
Franz Kafka had a hard family life, his only glimmer of hope was from his sister who betrayed him. In Metamorphosis, we see that this is represented through Grete, Gregor’s sister. Grete at first tries to understand and help Gregor but later gives up hope. “‘It’s got to go,’ called the sister, ‘that’s the only remedy, Father. All you have to do is try to shake off the idea that that’s Gregor.