The Concept of Metamorphosis in Life and Literature

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Life is a never-ending metamorphosis. It is always changing, always transforming. Sometimes a change is followed by positive results, but on the darker side, a metamorphosis can lead to damage or suffering. But of course, the concept of metamorphosis can also be related into the wonderful yet unrealistic world of magic and sorcery. Metamorphosis can mean a rapid transformation from one object to another or a distinct or even degenerative change in appearance, personality, condition, or function. The concept of metamorphosis is commonly used in pieces of literature to describe an extreme change in character or form.

Metamorphosis can also be called transformation and deals with the idea of physical and mental growth, and this growth can signify positive results. For example, the metamorphosis of the yolk into the embryo, a tadpole into a frog, a bud into a blossom or the transformation of a maggot into an adult fly and a caterpillar into a spectacular butterfly. All these changes represent progress and development and therefore cause the organism to improve and better adapt to the environment. Usually, metamorphosis in organisms is accomplished so the sole purpose of evolution. But there are times when metamorphosis takes an ugly in nature. This is when a transformation is not needed but happens because of a certain mutation in the body or a pathological change in the structure of a particular body tissue and this can cause cancer and even death in organisms.

Magic is somehow always incorporated into the idea of sudden transformation or metamorphosis. Witchcraft and sorcery supposedly uses magical spells to change ordinary objects into wonderful creations or evil mutations. It was said that witches had the ability to turn into certain animals such as a frog or a cat but always with a deformity. They could also transform people into any wicked object they desired. On the other hand, sorcerers could also use their power of metamorphosis to help mankind, create beauty and fulfill ones wishes. Again, the powers of good and evil, positive and negative appear when describing metamorphosis because change can be great or malevolence.

Metamorphosis is a common theme in pieces of literature because the author needs the readers to understand if a character was dynamic or static or in other words, whether a character changed thought the piece or remained the same. If a character underwent great and significant changes throughout a story, then the concept of metamorphosis needs to be implying to reflect changes in appearance, personality or even outlook on life.

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