Existentialism: The Kafkaesque Study Of The Human Condition Essay

Poom Sethabutr

Ms. Aubrey

World Lit-A

September 17, 2014

Existentialism: the Kafkaesque Study of the Human Condition Philosophy, a construct of rich, educated, and, frankly, intoxicated navel-gazers has been a persistent companion of humanity throughout the ages. The most eccentric school of thought, popularized by figures such as Nietzsche, Sartre, and Camus, became known as Existentialism. Holding that all of reality itself was absurd, existentialists sought meaning in their own chaotic lives as part of the shared “human condition”, which Franz Kafka demonstrates in “The Metamorphosis”, which eventually became the staple diet for grumpy literature majors and angsty college freshmen alike. “The Metamorphosis”, together with Nikolai Gogol’s “The Overcoat”, reveals the ephemeral and absurd nature of mankind, and also demonstrates the power in discovering meaning in one’s life. The overarching theme in “The Metamorphosis” can concisely be summarized as pure absurdity beginning

The answer is simply that one must make sense from the senseless, order from the chaos, and meaning from the void. Gregor, who had been reduced to a dull tool of society long before, was an empty existence. His outside appearance later came to reflect his identity: an insignificant man, practically little more than a parasite. Inversely, Gregor’s family exhibits the human condition, responding to the absurdity of life by adapting and evolving, adjusting their own existences to suit their needs, and forming their own reasons to live. Thus, the father who was once a frail old geezer becomes a respectable, commanding head of the household, while the sister develops from a carefree child to a grown, responsible woman. Even Akaky experienced a slight taste of purpose when he had begun to devote himself to the creation of his overcoat, which transformed his monotonous life into one filled with emotions (whether good or bad) simply by having a