“Existentialism,” as defined by Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is an “analysis of individual existence in an unfathomable universe and the plight of the individual who must assume ultimate responsibility for acts of free will without any certain knowledge of what is right or wrong or good or bad.” Often times when people undergo a transformation, be it physical or social, they may struggle to adopt an identity that satisfies both the society that they live in and themselves. A theme of existential crisis, or identity struggle, can be seen in Gregor Samsa of Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis and in the young woman of Jamaica Kincaid’s Girl. In The Metamorphosis, Gregor Samsa awakens as a giant insect, which has an immense impact on his family. …show more content…
Such is evident in the advice that the mother lists off, especially in her mention of “how to bully a man” and “how to make a good medicine to throw away a child before it even becomes a child.” There is, however, some parts of the mother’s speech that one may find disconcerting because of its phrasing and harsh tones. Phrasing like “on Sundays try to walk like a lady and not like the slut you are so bent on becoming” and “this is how to hem a dress when you see the hem coming down and so to prevent yourself from looking like the slut I know you are so bent on becoming” are prime examples of how poor the mother is handling her daughter’s transition from childhood to …show more content…
Hence, after his unexpected transformation, the family’s financial situation, as well as the parents and sister themselves, change drastically; what were once three people who used to depend on Gregor for every single penny now find themselves all working to sustain themselves. By the same token, it can be seen that Gregor, in a way, depends heavily on the family himself; this dependence can be seen in his need to be their caretaker, an identity he then loses in his transformation. In the time that follows Gregor’s identity loss, he deteriorates, and eventually dies, due to his inability to form an identity shaped to benefit his now self-sufficient family. It is thus by this sort of “identity dependence” aspect of Gregor that ultimately leads to his downfall as caretaker and his family’s ascension into self-sufficiency. This notion is better expressed in Inez Martinez’s article on unconsciousness and survival in The Metamorphosis, who says, “Gregor is a portrait of a human so invincibly unconscious that even if an unconscious identity is revealed to him through a literalized transformation, he continues to garner his sense of who he is from without rather than from within.” A safe assumption, then, may be that Gregor has been experiencing an existential crisis in the entirety of
Family Relations it The Metamorphisis In The Metamorphosis Gregors new state both scares and angers his father eventually resulting in Gregors death. Gregors father has been long free from working to support the family and this burden has now been restored by Gregors metamorphosis. Mr. Samsa’s dependency on Gregor is shown in his first appearance in the book were he immediately seems furious that gregor has so little as missed a train. In an incredible display of hypocrisy he says “ He’s not well, sir, believe me, what else would make him miss a train!”
Franz Kafka had explored two conflicting ideas with the use of his protagonist Gregor: unity and isolation. Gregor’s transformation formed a whole life in which he could not escape. But on the other hand his family members were able to improve from his isolation. Especially Grete who went through a metamorphosis of her own
Even though women are still the main homemakers, being the nurturer and the one in charge of keeping their family life running smoothly, men have started to take on some of the roles that were once only expected of women, making for a whole new dynamic in the average home. If you had told someone 100 years ago women would have the right to vote, or could be world scholars, serve in the military, or even run for president, they probably would have laughed in your face and told you women are good for one thing, and one thing only, and that is to be a wife and a mother. Women were meant to be seen and not heard. They were to cook, clean, do laundry, be the perfect wife, and tend to all their husband 's needs.
Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis is a masterfully written short story about Gregor Samsa, a man who devotes his life to his family and work, for nothing in return. Only when he is transformed into a helpless beetle does he begin to develop a self-identity and understanding of the relationships around him. The underlying theme of The Metamorphosis is an existential view that says any given choice will govern the later course of a person's life, and that the person has ultimate will over making choices. In this case, Gregor?s lack of identity has caused him to be numb to everything around him.
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.
Gregor is the focal point of the family, he provided for them when they needed the money. Gregor also brought the family into turmoil with his change. Just as Gregor brought them into turmoil he brought on growth for the family. His death gave his family a new life. Before Gregor’s metamorphosis, his family was a helpless and selfish. There was little meaningful interaction among them. Once Gregor had become a creature the family had to become resourceful, they learned valuable skills. Gregor gave his family something that could bond them together, they discussed what to do about Gregor almost every night. Gregor’s tragedy brought his family together. Gregor served as a “savior” for his family, he played the same role that Jesus did for the world. Gregor’s life was taken so that the rest of his family may achieve salvation. His family had changed from a selfish and lazy group of people to a loving and caring family. As Gregor grew closer toward death, his family grew closer to
People want their family to love and support them during times of need, but if they are unable to develop this bond with their family members, they tend to feel alone and depressed. In the novel The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, Kafka describes the theme of alienation and its negative effect on people and their relationships with the people around them. This theme can be shown through Gregor Samsa, the main character in The Metamorphosis. After Gregor’s metamorphosis, or transformation, he is turned from a human being into a giant bug which makes him more and more distant from the people in his life. The alienation that Gregor experiences results in his eventual downfall, which could and would happen to anyone else who becomes estranged from the people around them. Gregor’s alienation and its effect on his relationship with his family can be shown through his lack of willing interaction with his family members due to his inability to communicate to them, the huge burden he puts on the family after his metamorphosis, and his family’s hope to get rid of him because he is not who he was before.
In this way, Gregor’s family underwent their own metamorphosis into self-sufficient members of society. This happens often in today’s society. One example is the transition from high school to college. In high school, many teenagers are financially dependent on their family. Once they get to college, they are forced to get a job and provide for themselves, often for the first time.
His family used to care about him but after the transformation, they were no longer concerned for him. Every time the family talks about money, Gregor feels guilty and embarrassed because he can no longer provide for them. When he was able to work before, he had brought money home and “They had simply got used to it, both the family and Gregor; the money was gratefully accepted and gladly given, but there was no special uprush of warm feeling” (Kafka Ch 2 pg 6). Now that he can no longer provide, the family had to come up with ways to keep up with finances. Gregor is dehumanized each time his sister Grete walks into the room to look after him because she cannot bear the sight of him so he hides each time. Each day following Gregor’s transformation, the family’s behavior towards him became more cynical and resentful towards him. They do not allow him to leave his room and worry about how they can go on living with him. They think of him as being a creature, losing their view of him as a human being and no longer important. When Grete decided to take his furniture out of his room, Gregor feels he is dehumanized because they are taking away the link to his humanity. When it came to Gregor’s father, Gregor would “run before his father, stopping when he stopped and scuttling forward again when his father made any kind of move.” His father then threw at apple at him which ‘landed right on his back and sank in; Gregor wanted to drag himself forward, as if this startling, incredible pain could be left behind him” (Kafka Ch 2 pg
In the short story, “Girl,” the narrator describes certain tasks a woman should be responsible for based on the narrator’s culture, time period, and social standing. This story also reflects the coming of age of this girl, her transition into a lady, and shows the age gap between the mother and the daughter. The mother has certain beliefs that she is trying to pass to her daughter for her well-being, but the daughter is confused by this regimented life style. The author, Jamaica Kincaid, uses various tones to show a second person point of view and repetition to demonstrate what these responsibilities felt like, how she had to behave based on her social standing, and how to follow traditional customs.
At the end of Metamorphosis Gregor decides that it would be better off for his family if he was dead, he end up dieing and just a he thought his family doesn’t care it's almost as if he never existed.
Kafka illustrates how being alienated from one’s body physically conveys the idea of Gregor having an identity crisis. Gregor’s transformation has left him to feel emotionally and physically powerless and vulnerable. This is viewed especially towards the end of the novella when Gregor “watched as it slowly began to get light everywhere outside the window too. Then, without his willing it, his head sank down completely, and his last breath flowed weakly from his nostrils." (127).
From the beginning of The Metamorphosis Kafka offers a comical depiction of Gregor’s “squirming legs” (Kafka 13) and a body in which “he could not control” (7). Gregor’s initial reaction to this situation was the fact he was late to his dissatisfying job as a salesman, but Gregor knows that he has to continue his job in order to keep the expectation his family holds upon him to pay of the family’s everlasting debt. When Gregor’s family eventually realizes that Gregor is still lying in his bed, they are confused because they have expectations on Gregor that he will hold the family together by working. They know if Gregor was to quit his job there would be a great catastrophe since he is the glue to keeping their family out of debt. The communication between his family is quickly identified as meager and by talking to each other from the adjacent walls shows their disconnection with each other. Kafka introduces the family as lacking social skills in order to offer the reader to criticize and sympathize for Gregor’s family dynamics. Gregor’s manager makes an appearance quickly after experiencing the dysfunction within the fami...
Franz Kafka, depicts the ideals and values of existentialism through the fictional novella The Metamorphosis. Joseph Campbell provides a succinct summary of existentialism with the following quote: “Life has no meaning. Each of us has meaning and we bring it to life. It is a waste to be asking the question when you are the answer” (Joseph Campbell). At the very beginning, Gregor has inexplicably transformed from his prior human form into the body of a cockroach. As the main character of this story, Gregor does not live up to existentialism morals because of how selfless he is. Ironically, the first concern Gregor has after discovering his new shape is the fact he will not be
In Franz Kafka’s short story, Metamorphosis, the idea of existentialism is brought out in a subtle, yet definite way. Existentialism is defined as a belief in which an individual is ultimately in charge of placing meaning into their life, and that life alone is meaningless. They do not believe in any sort of ultimate power and focus much of their attention on concepts such as dread, boredom, freedom and nothingness. This philosophical literary movement emerged in the twentieth-century, when Kafka was establishing his writing style in regards to alienation and distorted anxiety. A mirror to his own personal lifestyle, this story follows the short and sad life of a man unable to break out of the bonds society has placed on him. These bonds are not only evident in the work place, but at home too. Being constantly used and abused while in his human form, Gregor’s lifestyle becomes complicated once he becomes a giant insect and is deemed useless. Conflicts and confusion arise primarily between Gregor and his sister Grete, his parents, and his work. Each of these three relationships has different moral and ethical complications defining them. However, it is important for one to keep in mind that Gregor’s metamorphosis has placed him into a position of opposition, and that he has minimal control over the events to take place. Conflicts will also occur between family members as they struggle with the decision of what to do with Gregor. In the end they all come to the agreement that maintaining his uselessness is slowly draining them and they must get rid of him.