The Metamorphosis Essay copy PDF

Preview

Summary

Claudia DuBose Barrett English IV 10 April 2018 One In The Same During the early 1900s, Franz Kafka wrote and published The Metamorphosis, inside the novel is also a significant document titled Kafka to Max The placement of this document seems to be intentional rather than it is almost as if Kafka w...

Description

Claudia DuBose Barrett English IV 10 April 2018 One In The Same During the early 1900s, Franz Kafka wrote and published The Metamorphosis, inside the novel is also a significant document titled “Letter by Kafka to Max Brod”. The placement of this document seems to be intentional rather than coincidental; it is almost as if Kafka wanted the audience to see the similarities between Gregor Samsa (the novel’s main character) and himself. The physical transformation of Gregor Samsa into a cockroach, is symbolic of Kafka’s evolution into a writer in that they are constantly rejected by family, they are disconnected from society, and they eventually allow “the metamorphosis” to consume them. Kafka and his father had a relationship that was submerged in contempt; his father would never understand or accept him particularly because of his love for reading and writing. Though his mother complied with those actions, his father regularly exuded his harsh opinions “in a far nastier way with looks and in other indirect ways.” (Kafka 106) The most common characteristic between the two fathers, Mr. Kafka and Mr. Samsa, is the animosity they show their sons. When Gregor finally reveals himself to his family his father stood “With a hostile expression… clenched his fists.” (Kafka 15) In the development of Gregor’s character, Kafka seems to have used the rejection from his family as motivation to write; it is as if he wrote about himself in the form of an extended metaphor, and used Gregor Samsa to do so. Kafka had a very inconsistent relationship with, and at one point engagement, to a woman named Felice; however, the relationship did not last. Likewise, Gregor was in disarray

with his peers, never participating in anything outside of work; “he was a tool of the boss, without brains or backbone.” (Kafka 5) The similarities between Kafka and Gregor’s social lives are clear. Kafka had no time for what lay outside the walls of his writing, nor did he long for social activity. The feeling of alienation ate at Kafka which evidently led to his attempt at creating a character that was symbolic of himself. The novel devoured Kafka’s life, day-in and day-out, but not against his will. He wanted to focus only on his work, and “in full view of my satisfied parents, move and have my being in the heart of my novel.” (Kafka 107) In being the heart of his novel, Kafka had to be the novel. In his letter to Max Brod, he wrote about suicide and wanting to end his life. Unfortunately, Gregor too, felt the need to give up, and eventually died of starvation. Gregor’s family had long given up on him in the same way that Kafka’s had; what better way to express feelings than to give them to a fictional character? This is a therapeutic exercise that Kafka may not have even realized he was doing, but the reality is that Gregor’s resemblance to Kafka was no coincidence. Gregor finally accepted that was not only a cockroach, but also an outsider. Kafka finally accepted that he was not only a writer, but also an outsider. Both the author and his character dealt with a deep internal conflict that would inevitably consume their entire life. The Metamorphosis is undoubtedly an attribute to the life of its author, Franz Kafka. Every aspect of the book points specifically to the way Kafka viewed his life, and this is substantiated by a letter that he sent to a friend, Max Brod; in fact, the letter was written in the same year that the book was written. The likelihood of such a strong relationship between an author and his novel being accidental, seems slim....