The Metamorphosis contains numerous themes: existentialism, sacrifice, alienation, lack of communication, dysfunctional families, selfishness, conflict of mind and body, etc. Which theme in the novella do you think is most important or key to understanding the work? Give a quote that helped conveyed this theme to you. (This post closes at midnight on November 2, 2009)
5 comments:
I believe that existentialism is the key theme to understanding the novella. This is true because the entire publication revolves around the need for self-sufficiency in a world where one must fight for himself. This is evident when Gregor protects his picture from the grasp of his sister and mother. When Kafka writes, "At least nobody would take this picture that Gregor was completely covering up...(45)" he illustrates Gregor's will to protect the last remaining object that truly defines him. This reaction is a highly existential occurrence, and it sets the presidence for much that will happen in the novella.
BK-0
The theme that is key to understanding The Metamorphosis is existentialism. Throughout the novella Gregor longs to find a meaning in his life as he is left alone in his dark room after his "transformation". The passage, "The rain was still coming down, but only in large individual drops...one by one onto the ground." emphasizes the existentialist view as Kafka distinguishes each drop of rain as one. Just like Gregor they are alone. Kafka uses many other devices to highlight the existentialist view in the novella.
-CL 0
Alienation is a key theme found throughout the novella, THE METAMORPHOSIS. Kafka uses alienaton to emphasize the horrible treatment of Gregor by his own family. "He was hardly inside his room when the door was swiftly shut, bolted, and locked." (63) This specific quote demonstrates the attitude of Gregor's family towards Gregor. His family finds him only to be a nuisance, especially since he no longer contributes to the main income. Their attitude towards his transformation is illustrated with the theme of alienation throughout Kafka's novella, THE METAMORPHOSIS.
GG-0
I believe that sacrifice is a central theme throughout Franz Kafka's novella THE METAMORPHOSIS. Sacrifice seems to characterize Gregor both before his "metamorphosis" and after the change. Before Gregor transforms, he sacrifices his own dreams and aspirations to support a family that later proves to have little or no concern for his well-being. This sacrifice is evident as Gregor tirelessly works for a demanding, unappreciative boss while his family lounges at home. In fact, his sacrifice is so great that he shows little concern for his metamorphosis when he wakes to find himself as an insect; instead, he emphasizes the struggles that his occupation presents, "Oh God...what a strenuous occupation I've chosen!" (14).
After the transformation, Gregor's life is merely a sacrifice to allow Grete to become the primary focus of the parents' love and concern. This is especially evident when the parents decide that Grete has reached the age to wed a "worthy" man as she "stretched her young body" (68), shortly after Gregor's death.
However, Gregor's sacrifices are most evident as Kafka indirectly compares Gregor to Jesus Christ, a religious figure that is typically associated with his sacrifice to save mankind. Religious references to create this comparison are throughout the novella. For example, Kafka writes, "[Gregor] felt like he was nailed down and stretched out" (48), after the scene when Gregor is attacked by the people he loves. This is similar to Jesus Christ because Christ was crucified by the very people he was trying to support, just as Gregor was. In addition, Gregor dies at three o'clock, the same time of Jesus's passing.
Through close analysis of Gregor's life, I believe that sacrifice is the key theme in Franz Kafka's novella THE METAMORPHOSIS.
BS-0
Lack of communication ties together all the conflicts and events in The Metamorphosis. In his new state, Gregor cannot speak words or convey any emotion, and his family does not attempt to decipher Gregor’s efforts at communication. “None of Gregor’s pleas helped, and no plea was understood; no matter how humbly he hung his head, the father stamped more violently” (28). Even before his transformation, there was a separation between Gregor and his family: Gregor never inquired about his family’s financial reliance on him, and when he came home from work, Gregor would not actively participate as a member of his family. Intensified by his metamorphosis, this lack of communication ultimately leads to Gregor’s death when Grete argues that Gregor cannot understand them and so should be removed. Because Gregor cannot communicate, he becomes isolated and weak; this is the root of his problems and the core of Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis.
JJ-0
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