Theme of Death in "Love in the Time of Cholera" and "The Metamorphosis"

In Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, the theme of death evokes the reconstitution of ideals and gives insight on the rebirth of significant characteristics. Kafka’s Surrealism and Marquez’s Magic Realism influence death and change when America and Gregor deny their own transformations. Dr. Urbino’s loss of a friend opens the door for the organization of both authors, which develops this character’s awareness, like Kafka’s father figure develops Gregor’s anxiety. Kafka’s cultural views become a part of beauty as Jeremiah de Saint-Amour’s mistress exemplifies Marquez’s similar views. The initiative for Florentino Ariza to cause death pushes the role of love to form a more rational obsession that is expressed through Marquez’s characterization.

The theme of death in Marquez’s work influences Florentino Ariza to “resolve to wait for” Juvenal Urbino’s death since it obstructs his path to Fermina Daza, revealing to the reader how deep his emotions have become, and in Kafka’s novel advances Gregor’s movement “to make himself… comfortable” with Grete in the room (Marquez 165) (Kafka 145). Florentino’s aversion of his obsession proves he has decided not to complicate the already overcomplicated love he bears. His loyalty exposes itself by the control he has over his desperate need for Fermina. His desire could prevent him from ever embracing this ambition. An irrational decision, like quickening the pace of Dr. Urbino’s death, could provoke Fermina to change. This parallels to Kafka’s theme of loneliness. Loving his family causes him to change. Gregor hides under the settee when Grete cleans his room to preserve her inner beauty, but a lack of human contact gives him unhealthy ...

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...culture, as well as characterizing that Grete evolves dramatically from a rebellious youth who craves acceptance, into an adult who conforms to the views of women’s roles like Marquez, as Jeremiah’s mistress accepts the terms of Jeremiah’s last will without hesitation. Florentino, likewise, conforms to his preoccupation with Fermina Daza to emphasize the use of death by Marquez; like Kafka’s uses death to characterize the irony of Gregor hiding under the settee. Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez and The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka both use the theme of death to revive ideas that explain the rebirth of dynamic characteristics.

Works Cited

Kafka, Franz, Metamorphosis. Joachim Neugroschel. Simon and Schuster New

York, 2000, New York, NY.

Marquez, Gabriel Garcia, Love in the Time of Cholera. Edith Grossman. Vintage Books,

1985, New York.