Being An Outsider

677 Words2 Pages

An outsider: a person who does not belong to a particular group. Outsiders are almost always portrayed as people who are shy or perhaps those who are divergent from the “norms” of society. In many books and movies the outsider is frequently the main character. Something about being different from others or “special” in a way, is eye catching. There's a certain peculiarity of being of variance; an ember in the ashes. Being an outsider isn’t a label. Many people who are anti-social are generally used for the term. Outsiders are always amongst us; we are all outsiders in ourselves. Everyone is an outsider at some point in their life. No one knows everything about you as an individual, everybody has secrets that they keep to themselves. Every person
As this quote from The Metamorphosis shows part of having the feeling of being an outsider is being shut outside and blocked from others’ lives. Gregor was physically kept away in his bedroom and his family stopped coming to see him. They cut Gregor out of their life making him a true outsider. They rarely talked about him and it was only to talk about the annoyance of hs existence. He had went from being the man of the house to a bug under their shoes (literally) Being pushed away is something that is felt often on a daily basis and it is a key factor of the experience of being treated as an outsider. Being an outsider is sometimes referred as the shy people or the people who aren't as popular or maybe they just have different interests than the majority of others.This in fact is incorrect, not one person is an outsider. There are all different personalities such as outgoing or shy. Being an outsider is not a trait, it's an aspect that everyone will go through at a time in your life if you haven't already. We are all (as cheesy as it sounds) our own individually created snowflake affected by the elements around

Show More
Related

  • Persecution of Hispanics Exposed in David Hernandez’s Pigeons

    1011 Words  | 3 Pages

    is that there are outsiders in today’s society. When one is made into an outsider, the bias

    Read More

  • Outsiders In Fences And The Doll's House

    716 Words  | 2 Pages

    Though unbeknownst to many, the experience of being an outsider is a sensation that everyone can go through. In the world, it is entirely possible for a person to be judged on physical appearance, opinions, and status among other things. It is simply how humans have adapted; they experience society by forming social groups that they are comfortable in. Generally, this group is seen to those involved with it as the “inside group”, and those not directly related to it are seen as “outsiders.” Even in literature, it is clear that the feeling of being one of these outsiders is universal. Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, Fences by Pat Mora, and The Doll’s House by Katherine Mansfield all properly display how anyone can be an outsider.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Outsiders In Metamorphosis By Franz Kafka

    674 Words  | 2 Pages

    Starting off, what is an outsider? An outsider is someone who does not belong to a particular group. An example of an outsider would be main character, Gregor, in “Metamorphosis,” by Franz Kafka. Gregor

    Read More

  • Theme Of Isolation In Fahrenheit 451

    775 Words  | 2 Pages

    Feeling alone or isolated is not only a common theme is all kinds of literature, but something that many people face in life. Alienation is the perception of estrangement or dissatisfaction with one’s life. This means you feel like you don’t fit or connect, whether it’s from society, family, or a physical object. These feelings can be due to a lack of deep connections, not believing the same ideals as your society, and many other things. In Ray Bradbury’s novel, Fahrenheit 451, he discusses a man who goes against governmental rule and reads. EA Robinson portrays a man everyone inspires to be, but in the end he isn’t happy and kills himself. Lastly, WH Auden accounts of an “unknown citizen” who also has a picture perfect life, but in the end

    Read More

  • Isolation in Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis

    876 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout The Metamorphosis, Franz Kafka shuns Gregor. At first glance, Gregor’s transformation creates the only isolation. As the story evolves, the Samsa family’s segregation begins to play a larger role. Through intuitive actions, each family member isolates themselves. The Samsa’s accommodate the renters generously, in order to win communal approval. Failing the renters positions the Samsa’s lower in society than they previously were. Not only do the Samsa’s isolate themselves, they are also secluded from society. Many instances allow the Samsa’s severance from society to shine through Gregor’s isolation.

    Read More

  • Isolation in Brave New World

    808 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the Brave New World, people who are different from the normal standard are alienated and isolated from society because of their individuality. The society of the Brave New World is structured and ordered – the government attempts to control everything. Alienation in the Brave New World can be categorized into three areas, appearance, intellect, and morals.

    Read More

  • Exploration of Alienation

    953 Words  | 2 Pages

    Alienation throughout the metamorphosis is conveyed to the reader time and time again through instances and circumstances subjected upon Gregor. Right from the start we get a sense of this situation as we explore Gregor’s job stasis. He is a traveling salesman. The major problem with this occupation is the fact that he is constantly moving and seeing new faces, making it virtually impossible for him to form lasting relationships (Kafka, 4). Landsberg observes that “This little experience occurs over and over again in the unstable life of a commercial traveler. It is not by chance that Kafka gave his hero this vocation, which like no other tends to render impossible any continuity in life” (Landsberg 125). Gregor is not in one place long enough to make any lasting connections so he absorbed by a state of loneliness. Adding to this is the fact that he is the only one in his family who is working (Kafka 16).So even before his transformation we see our character was alienated in his job field.

    Read More

  • Who Are Outsiders Or Misunderstood?

    402 Words  | 1 Pages

    Are outsiders simply those who are misjudged or misunderstood. I think believe that outsiders are simply misjudged or misunderstood. For example in the Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, Gregor the main character finds himself to be transformed into a bug after waking up from bad dreams. His family neglects him and he feels like he's an outsider. I think that his family misjudged him because they treat him like he has no feelings but he does. Bringing me to my first example.

    Read More

  • Pros And Cons Of Being An Outsider

    825 Words  | 2 Pages

    Being an outsider can have many pros in life. For example, they do not have to worry about peer pressure by others. They also do not worry about what others think of them because they worry about themselves. But being an outsider can also be bad at times. Although outsiders have many pros in not worrying about others and such, being an outsider can also have cons such as no family or friends to rely on, not good social skills, and most outsiders are inside all of the time mostly doing nothing.

    Read More

  • The Metamorphosis by Kafka

    1497 Words  | 3 Pages

    Many views of existentialism are exposed in Kafka's Metamorphosis. One of these main views is alienation or estrangement which is demonstrated by Gregor's relationship with his family, his social life, and the way he lives his life after the metamorphosis. Namely, it suggests that man is reduced to an insect by the modern world and his family; human nature is completely self absorbed. Kafka reflects a belief that the more generous and selfless one is, the worse one is treated. This view is in direct conflict with the way things should be; man, specifically Gregor should be treated in accordance to his actions. Gregor should be greatly beloved by his family regardless of his state. This idea is displayed in three separate themes. First, Gregor's family is only concerned with the effect Gregor's change will have on them, specifically the effect it will have on their finances and reputation. They are more than willing to take completely gratuitous advantage of Gregor; he works to pay their debt and they are happy to indulge themselves with luxury. Gregor is the soul employed member of his family and this is their primary interest when Gregor is transformed. Secondly, Gregor is penalized for his efforts to be a good son, and a good worker; his toils are completely taken for granted by his family. The Samsa family is not interested in Gregor beyond their own needs, outsiders are reverentially treated. Thirdly, it is displayed by the positive changes that occur in the Samsa family as Gregor descends into tragedy and insignificance. As Gregor's life becomes more painful, isolated, and worthless the Samsa family becomes more functional and self-reliant.

    Read More

  • Alienation In 'The Doll's House, And Sonnet, With Bird'

    1004 Words  | 3 Pages

    One way people are considered weird or an outsider is by the way they dress or the amount of money they have. One example is in the short story,” The Doll’s House,” by Katherine Mansfield,

    Read More

  • Gregor Samsa's Metamorphosis in The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

    1283 Words  | 3 Pages

    Gregor’s alienation first comes about after he wakes up one morning having been transformed into a giant bug. The negative effects from Gregor’s alienation can first be shown through the minimal interaction that he begins to have with the rest of him family. His metamorphosis to a giant bug creature is what keeps his from wanting to interact with other people. He is no longer a human being and thus cannot act like one. The effect that this metamorphosis has on Gregor can be understood through a quote where Gregor’s business manager says, “what’s the matter? You barricade yourself in your room, answer only ‘yes’ and ‘no’, cause your parent...

    Read More

  • Comparing The Concepts of Anomie and Alienation

    1049 Words  | 3 Pages

    People create their own society but remain alienated until they recognize themselves within their own creation. Until this time people will assign an independent existence to objects, ideas and institutions and be controlled by them. In the process they lose themselves, become strangers in the world they created: they become alienated. The notion of alienation is an ancient one. St Augustine wrote: That's a lot.

    Read More

  • The True Outliers: Michael Jackson An Outlier

    1019 Words  | 3 Pages

    Outlier. An outlier is someone who is not considered to be a normal person within society. They have qualities that most people do not obtain. They are the most successful of individuals and many aspire to be them. Michael Jackson is the epitome of what I believe is a true outlier. In his best-selling novel, Malcolm Gladwell stated that we tend to spend more time looking at individuals success rather than looking at things that ultimately contributed to that success, such as their family, birthplace, and even birth date.

    Read More

  • Being An Outsider Essay

    1017 Words  | 3 Pages

    To begin with, when I was younger I would have considered myself an outsider because when I first started school, I didn’t have the characteristics to fit in and felt like I would not blend into the people I was surrounded by. Also, I have met many people who have presented experiences from their past when they had felt like they didn’t fit in because they couldn’t keep up the standards to be popular. In social media, there are many guidelines that people feel the need to meet in order to feel like you belong and some who don’t match up can feel like outsiders, and that happens to many. Furthermore, in today’s society people feel the need to be popular or to fit in, and if they can’t meet the expectations they are considered an outsider and that happens universally. Others may suggest that just because someone doesn’t fit in a group doesn’t mean they are considered an outsider, they are just someone who doesn’t meet certain expectations. However, many others would disagree and would label someone an outsider when they don’t fit in or don’t meet expectations of society because that makes them think they don’t

    Read More

More about Being An Outsider

Open Document