The Metamorphosis By Kafka

It is unusual to say the least to open a book and the first line is about the main character waking up as a large insect. Most authors’ use symbolism to relate the theme of their work, not Franz Kafka. He uses a writing method that voids all aspects and elements of the story that defy interpretation. In doing this, he leaves a simple story that stands only for an objective view for his own thoughts and dreams. Kafka focuses the readers’ attention on a single character that symbolizes himself and his life, not Everyman as some authors do. This method is displayed in most of his literary works. To understand how this method is recognized, readers must study the

The Metamorphosis (Die Verwandlung 1912), Franz Kafka’s best known short story, is a master work of incredible psychological, sociological and existential malaise. Although his points are simple and straightforward, this richly layered and textured story is open to many interpreta-tions, making it complex, yet critical to decipher. There is an incredible amount of theories based off of what this story could possibly symbolize or represent, but it is of the autobiographical in-terpretation that is undeniably the most enlightening. This interpretation allows the reader to gen-uinely understand the tale on an intense level that would not be able to be reached, otherwise. In order to gain true insight on the autobiographical approach to The Metamorphosis, a brief examination of his life is required; his thoughts, his beliefs, the acknowledgment of the cruel circumstances of his life, especially his home life, must be made clear that the anguish of his own world is the model for the themes in his stories.

Outline for the Metamorphosis by Emma Johnson I. Introduction a. Franz Kafka was born June 1924 into a middle class Jewish family; he later died in Austria in1983 from tuberculosis. b. The purpose of my research paper is to show how the Author used symbolism and mystical transformations in the book “The Metamorphosis”. c. The characterization and symbolism in “The Metamorphosis” will describe what affect this has on the novel itself. II.

Upon the completion of Franks Kafka’s The Metamorphosis, I clearly understand the term Kafkaesque Alienation. This term describes the imprisonment of humanity by unknown fears in an obscure reality of a complex world. This novella emphasized the isolation that many experience throughout their lives. In the novella and in Beckmann’s Family Picture the similar thematic concern is present.

In both The Metamorphosis and Kafka’s personal life there is an issue of communication and a troubled relationship with the fathers which

Kafka was critical in bringing the new outlook on modern culture and particularly on modern man. Franz Kafka studied the modern man in the face of contemporary culture, and how he was steadfast in retaining his spirituality and identity, and gravitate towards authenticity and happiness. However, Kafka saw how the dehumanizing forces of industrialization and capitalism in the post- the WWI Europe posed a challenge to the modern man. Modern culture can be viewed tolerating and open to all. To Franz Kafka, modern culture coupled with technology is fast changing, and man has to maintain his self-consciousness in order not lose his spirituality and identity amidst these changes (Wintle pp. 708-710). Hence, as modern culture changes with the changing technology, religions are poised to change too, which presents fears to a man about losing his spirituality and identity upon embracing the modern culture. Interestingly, Kafka was mystical in his writings, with a keen interest in themes such as metamorphosis, existential and identity. If we look at “The Metamorphosis,” we can view the idea of how the dehumanizing effects of capitalism and industrialism are indicated within the writings. Kafka contends we become dehumanized with buying power and working too much. The transformation of Gregor seems to indicate a denial of responsibility to the changing forms of society’s conventions and values.

There are a few major ways in which Kafka put his life into parts of The Metamorphosis. Gregor’s room is similar to Kafka’s Old Town Square where he watched everything from a window. "Gregor’s abusive relationship with his father parallels Kafka’s relationship to his father." (Lawson) Kafka’s real father shares many characteristics with Gregor’s father, such as being strict, overbearing and abusive. Gregor’s mother was scared and unsupportive towards Gregor paralleling Kafka’s actual mother who seemed very distant, and shy. All of these things are seen in The Metamorphosis.

Frank Kafka’s style is to have the story revolve around horrific and bizarre events with an apathetic and objective narrator. The narrator does not show emotion, no matter how terrible the situation is. The tone of the narrator conflicts with the events in the story, making the situation seem more natural than it is, generating uncertainty for the reader..

Throughout literary history, certain authors are so unique and fresh in their approach to the written word that they come to embody a genre. Franz Kafka is one such author; “Die Verwandlung” or “The Metamorphosis” is one of his works that helped coin the term “Kafkaesque.” Through this novella, Kafka addresses the timeless theme of people exploit-ing others as a means to an end. He demonstrates this point through showing that a family’s unhealthy dependence on the main character results in that character’s dependence on the family.

Franz Kafka’s, The Metamorphosis, is a novella about Gregor Samsa, a man who devotes everything to fulfilling the needs of his family. Kafka’s existentialist perspective on the meaning of life is illustrated through the use of the protagonist of Gregor Samsa. Existentialism is a philosophy “concerned with finding self and the meaning of life through free will, choice, and personal responsibility” (Existentialism). Gregor is unable to fulfill the existentialist view of finding meaning in one’s life; he acted only according to what his family wanted. Kafka’s belief that there is no meaning to life and that the individual has to create his own meaning in life is entirely missed by Gregor. Kafka uses the juxtaposing mindsets of Gregor and his family members to express the importance of an individual fulfilling his own needs.

The straightforward style in Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis enhances the nightmarish quality the work. Franz Kafka is straightforward and enhances the nightmarish quality when saying “His many legs, pitifully thin compared with the size of the rest of him, waved about helpless as he looked.” This describes Gregor when he wakes up as a bug and notices his body is changed. Franz Kafka showed the nightmarish quality by describing Gregor waking up and helplessly looking at his legs. A nightmare most people have is not to have any control of their situation and being helpless, like Gregor in this situation. Another fear most people have is to not doing the right thing by their family or to be hurt by the people closest to them, Franz captures this

In this Essay i talk about the life of Imogen and i talk about what i like about the images and the compostion and i explain quotes and i give a sense of what imogen enjoyed the most. Imogen Cunningham  an American photographer that was  known for her botanical photos, nudes, and  landscapes. She was born in Portland,Oregon in : April 12, 1883. Imogen was one of the first professional female Photographers.

Aspects of Franz Kafka’s life play an important role that influences the story of Gregor Samsa in The Metamorphosis. During the interactive oral, Kafka’s life and the hardships he faced were discussed. These discussions allowed me to realize that he was highly influenced by the the society he lived in and the the obstacles he faced during his life. Learning about his life and social situation allowed me to better understand Gregor’s family relationships as well as Kafka’s writing style, which had heavy modernistic tone that comments on his ill environment and criticizes personal and societal issues. Kafka expresses the bad relationship he had with his father in The Metamorphosis by presenting Gregor’s father an aggressive and loathing man

Kafka is known for his highly symbolic and oblique style of writing. It is no surprise that several of his pieces contain the same major themes, just in different settings. The fact that he repeats his styles only makes the message that he is trying to convey much stronger. In both “The Metamorphosis” and “A Hunger Artist”, the main

The deeper meaning of “The Metamorphosis”, by Frank Kafka, can be interpreted in many ways depending on critical theory is used to examine it. From a feminist criticism, one can observe how Gregor’s dominance as a male diminishes after he becomes a bug as his sister’s strength and role in the family grows stronger. From a biographical criticism, one can compare and contrast the traits of Gregor and the people around him with that of Kafka’s own life and his relationships. However, the focus of this essay will be applying a psychoanalytical criticism to the characters in “The Metamorphosis”, using the studies of Sigmund Freud to approach