“So many interpretations, so many exegetic passions and energetic controversies” (Felman). In The Turn of the Screw by Henry James there are many different interpretations. Readers use scrutiny to decode different parts of the text and create many different interpretations. The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka forces readers to think what the true cause of the problem is. However, compared to The Turn of the Screw, the interpretations in The Metamorphosis is from a lack of context. Both texts get a deeper meaning and interpretation when put side by side and examined. The largest factor contributing to the similarities between the two books is ambiguity. Both novels create a craving in readers for more information or at the least a moment of clarity. …show more content…
On the other hand, since Miles’ tone becomes much more sever. It is infered that the young boy has become possessed by the ghost of a previous mentor, Peter Quint. This victory for Peter Quint means that the governess is running out of time to save the children. The issue becomes that the incident is never clarified. The reader never finds out if such a thing did happen. Evidence that the governess is isolated suggests that the children are playing a trick. However, the changes of the children and the atmosphere of Bly imply that what meets the eye is not the truth. The Metamorphosis also causes readers to fear what the reality of the situation is. Mainly, why this happened to Gregor. However, this is not due to multiple interpretations but rather a lack of context. The story begins with, “One morning…he discovered that in bed he had been changed into a bug” (Kafka 1). Readers look at Gregor Samsa as a warning. There will come a point where the past does not matter except for what it has made. the only context is that Gregor was a mediocre salesman who supported his family. there is no way of knowing exactly what the reason for the transformation was. What is seen is a man who wakes up as a bug. …show more content…
This lack of clarity causes confusion for many readers. In The Metamorphosis, readers become confused when they try to decide if Gregor is or is not a bug. It is common knowledge that turning into a bug upon waking up is not a normal occurrence. However, from the first paragraph the story forces readers to question that idea. When readers look at Gregor and see a huge bug, they have good reason. The book gives vivid physical descriptions. Gregor observes in the solitude of his bedroom and, “found the itchy part, which was entirely covered with small white spots (he did not know what to make of them), ”(Kafka 4) . This quote is so vivid and specific that for it to be used in a figurative format becomes farfetched. The story refers to Gregor 's size, specific behaviors and, inability to function as a human throughout the book. Gregor also causes fear for his family. This is a fear of the unknown. Gregor solely being a bad person would not strike as much fear in his family as it did in the short novel. The immediate reaction of others also suggests that Gregor’s physical appearance has changed. However, evidence also suggests that Gregor is not a bug. Gregor 's size is evidence that the descriptions and the reactions of others are not based on appearances. Gregor spends a lot of time with internal reflections. All this thinking causes Gregor to show his human side to readers. This reflection shows his
In Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis, symbolism, archetype, and myths are three concepts he uses to compose the unique story. The symbolism in the story stands out vaguely. An archetypical reference occurs at the very beginning of the story that carries on throughout the book. The mythological aspect is sensibly the whole concept the story is about. All three of these notions are openly highlighted throughout the story. They each obtain explanations for multiple subjects. The book, How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster helps explain the three concepts in Kafka’s, The Metamorphosis.
Similar to the woman in Gilman's story, Gregor, in "The Metamorphosis," watches as his life slowly deteriorates. He woke up one morning to find himself to have taken the shape of a bug. But early on he tried to continue in his normal activities; he focused on how he was going to make it to the train station so he did not miss his train, and how his employer would be upset with his absence from work. Then he begins to realize that he is a bug, and he cannot live his life the same way he used to. His sister begins to take care of him, and he loses touch with everything human that he used to know. His mother and father take away all of his furniture and other possessions. Gregor's family come to the agreement that the bug must be eliminated, it...
“What sorts of excuses people had used on that first morning to get unable to ascertain. Since he was not comprehensible, nobody, not even his sister, thought that he might be able to understand others.” (Kafka, 154) He is the humanoid beetle that doesn't fit in with the rest of the Samsa family. This is where the misunderstood part begins to take place. Gregor is bewildered in the fact that he fell asleep human and woke up as a bug. His family tends to think that it is not even him, and misunderstands how he could have turned into a bug. Things are not the same, because nobody can comprehend what has happened and why. One reason Gregor is so misunderstood, revolves around a feeling of hate. Gregor is the one who did the work to pay for his family. The father was lazy, and the mother has bad asthma. Gregor payed all the bills. Once he can no longer work, his family may think that he did not want to pay the bills, therefore, they pushed him away as if he was never there. Also important, near the end of the story, we find out just how little Gregor is cared for. One of the most important parts of this
This title holds more weight than what meets the eye. It is more than his actual metamorphosis from human to bug. There are many transformations that take place in this novel, even more than the obvious physical change. With the physical change of Gregors body, he also goes through a psychological change with it. When he was a human, his family depended on him. He quickly ended up depending on his family as he could not do anything on his own. His morale also diminishes throughout the novel. We were introduced to him as a very hopeful man who wanted to pay off his family’s debts. In the end, he loses hope and gives up on himself for the wellbeing of his family. Along with Gregors change in the novel, the title represents the change of other characters as well. From beginning to end, Grete transforms from a girl to a young lady. She also becomes more independent on herself by taking on more responsibility and getting a job. The family also must make some changes because they do not have Gregor to support them financially. This finally forces them to all get jobs and give up some luxury things they had
The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka is the story of Gregor Samsa, his turning into a bug, and his ultimate death. In the beginning of the novel Gregor wakes up as a bug and struggles to become used to his new body. Gregor is locked in his room and late for work; he is the only one who works in his family, so it is important that he shows up and earns money to pay off his parents debts. His office manager shows up wondering where he has been and everyone is shocked to see Gregor’s transformation when he finally makes his way out of his room. Upon seeing him, his father shoves him forcefully back into the room, scraping Gregor’s back. Grete, Gregor’s sister, is his primary caretaker throughout the book and she makes certain he is receiving the food he wants and is the only one to clean his room for him. Gregor’s mother and father do not pay much attention to him at all throughout the book. The mother occasionally checks on him, but can barely stand the sight of him. Eventually, Grete starts working and stops taking care of him too, leaving Gregor all by himself. Betrayal is evident in The Metamorphosis and contributes to
From the beginning of “The Metamorphosis”, the character Gregor Samsa, woke up one morning transformed into an insect without any explanation. He was unsure of what was happening to him or why. Samsa, days were routinely the same, giving up and going to work every day, no matter what. Gregor’s father had owned a business that failed and left the family in debt,
The story, Metamorphosis, is an unusual story to say the least. The very first sentence one meets the main character, Gregor Samsa. This sentence really shows how different this story is when compared to other books in this class. Throughout the story the author, Franz Kafka, wants the reader to sympathize with Gregor. ‘When Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from troubled dreams, he found himself changed into a monstrous cockroach in his bed’ (87), is the first sentence, and already the author wants the reader to feel sympathy for Gregor. This is no dream either, he is really a bug, and Kafka makes sure there is no confusion. This is just one of many examples that I will discuss where Kafka wants the reader to sympathize with Gregor.
Gregor Samsa awakes one morning to discover that he has been transformed into a repugnant vermin. One may never know what initiated this makeover, but the simple truth is that Gregor is now a bug, and everyone must learn to live and move on in this strenuous situation. In Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis, the characters that interact with Gregor, including his mother, his father, and his sister Grete, must come to terms with his unfortunate metamorphosis, and each does so by reacting in a unique way. Gregor’s family members are constantly strained by this unusual event, and all three of them are pressed to their breaking point.
Gregor’s relationship with his father shows resemblance to the relationship between Kafka and his father. Kafka, as a child, suffered abuse from his father. Kafka viewed his father as a forceful monster, which resembles Gregor’s father. Gregor wanted nothing more than the love of his family, especially his father, just as Kafka had wanted. His reason for writing “The Metamorphosis” could also relate to the situation which he lived in. He was a Jew raised in Austro-Hungarian Empire, modern day Czech Republic. He was a Jew in an area of the world which Jews were not well accepted. Gregor was described as cockroach, something that Jew were often equated to during this time period. Jews were treated like vermin, they were thought of a creature that was to be rid of. Gregor experienced similar treatment from his family. They discussed leaving or getting rid of Gregor during the story. Experiences of Gregor are similar to those that Jews would have experienced during Kafka’s life. “The Metamorphosis” could also demonstrate the issues that normal people face every day. People face trials and tribulations every day that change their lives dramatically, nobody has ever been transformed into a bug, but it does represent the extreme circumstances that may
In The Metamorphosis Kafka illustrates a grotesque story of a working salesman, Gregor Samsa, waking up one day to discover that his body resembles a bug. Through jarring, almost unrealistic narration, Kafka opens up the readers to a view of Gregor’s futile and disappointing life as a human bug. By captivating the reader with this imaginary world Kafka is able to introduce the idea that Gregor’s bug body resembles his human life. From the use of improbable symbolism Kafka provokes the reader to believe that Gregor turning into a bug is realistic and more authentic compared to his unauthentic life as a human.
We as readers will never know the true reason behind Kafka’s Metamorphosis, but it is a masterpiece. It relates surprisingly well to today’s society, even though it was written between 1912 and 1915. The topic of metamorphosis is really universal, we as humans are constantly changing, growing and evolving. Works Cited Aldiss, Brian W. “Franz Kafka: Overview.” St. James Guide to Science Fiction Writers.
The Metamorphosis is said to be one of Franz Kafka's best works of literature. It shows the difficulties of living in a modern society and the struggle for acceptance of others when in a time of need. In this novel Kafka directly reflects upon many of the negative aspects of his personal life, both mentally and physically. The relationship between Gregor and his father is in many ways similar to Franz and his father Herrman. The Metamorphosis also shows resemblance to some of Kafka's diary entries that depict him imagining his own extinction by dozens of elaborated methods. This paper will look into the text to show how this is a story about the author's personal life portrayed through his dream-like fantasies.
Kafka, Franz. The Metamorphosis and Other Stories. 1st ed. Translated by Stanley Appelbaum. New York: Dover Publications, 1996.
Kafka, Franz. "The Metamorphosis". The Metamorphosis. Trans. Donna Freed and Ed. George Stade. New York: Barnes and Nobles, 2003.
Before the metamorphosis Gregor is at the top of Hierarchy pyramid. He’s dating with a girl, does well in his occupation, his boss trust him, and is never late in his workday. However, after he woke up late in the morning, he recognizes that he transform into a giant bug. This metamorphosis show that his Hierarchy chart is down to Self Esteem part. Gregor Samsa thinks to himself : "What's happened to me?"(line 7) this quotation showed that Gregor was upset after he found that he cannot be human anymore. After that everything in his life is getting worse, his