The Metamorphosis by Kafka was truly a peculiar piece of work. While we were reading the book along in class I found it hard to really connect with what Kafka was trying to say. Although I knew better upon going into this book that Gregor might not play the same role in which dynamic characters I typically read of do, I was still far too focused on how Gregor would react (although he never really did) to such a tremendous change. "Yet this is not what I should have been focused on" is the conclusion that I came up with when I was writing out the Journal Response for Ms. Hill.
I came to the conclusion that the most important thing in the story was how one can best serve those who they are most close to. If this means that one must turn into a bug, become even more alienated, and even die in the end so those that you love can learn to prosper on their own, then so be it.
Im curious to hear what everyone else got out of the story. Please comment below. :)
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John, I felt the exact same way when I was reading "The Metamorphosis"! I felt utterly bored with the short story, to be honest. But then I began to reflect on the deeper meaning behind it and Kafka's purpose. I concur with your analysis, but there is still so much more to it.
ReplyDeleteLike we were discussing earlier in the class, Grete could be the main event of the short story... not Gregor. Though the spotlight is focused on him primarily, Grete undergoes a metamorphosis subsequently because of Gregor's sudden bug transformation. While one character lost his identity, another gained an identity.
That is ultimately my take on the story. While it took me some time to fully grasp the significance, I saw Kafka's intent towards the end; to show the random and absurd that life can be.
When I took psychology class in the first two blocks of senior year, I was taught about IDENTITY. Mr. Bornemiza told me the different forms of it and a basic understanding of it. Each and everyone of us goes through a cycle of experimentation of finding who we are and mostly everyone, but sometimes not other people, reach back to the begining of the cycle and stay the way they began with.
ReplyDeleteThen he noted on the term of "Identity Achieved." This term was used to define an individual reaching who they are by an act of some sort that shows that had fulfilled their identity. An example would be a boy Britain, with a dad that works in the mines, the family lives in a town where people that go into actions that are viewed to be feminie are homosexual. That same boy knew that he was a great dancer but his father, older brother and everyone in the town see the boy as a "right wanker." In the end of the story, the boy is an adult at ballet primere, his came to watch after accepting their child. Then as soon as the boy jumps onto the stage in the middle of "Swan Lake" he reaches full "Identity Achievement." (BTW: this is from a movie from which I forgot the name, too.)
That is my example of Identity Achieved.
well what i got from the book is complitly diffrent. yes i understand that Gregor turning into a bug might have been benefisial to his family, i still think that they could have taken better care of him.
ReplyDeleteBefor he turned into a Bug he took good care of them and did not protest even though he hated all the work he did and didn't focuse on himself at all.so when he turned into a bug i think that they could have given back all that he had done for them over the years.
it is unfare for his family to not even care about his death, and even worse feel relived that he no longer is a burden to them.
to me this is why i think i am unwilling to give up my life for others. what would be the purpes to do this if in the end they would only be ungratful. i know it sounds mean but what would be the point. i dont mind being nice to others and doing good things, i just dont think its worth messing up your life.
what i got out of the story is that people are mean and ungratful when you do nice things for them.and insted of worrying about what other wont we should live life and try making ourselfs happy, and if we do good along the way then so be it.
what so you guys think.=)
I can appreciate the philosophy existentialism but the way Kafka delivers it makes it too dumbed down to me. I can see the deeper meaning but even with that comprehension I still didn't like "The Metamorphosis." I think in the end, Gregor withered away as he was no longer needed nor was he ever accepted while Grete, who also transformed, was able to turn into a beautiful young woman and escape, in a sense, her family and be independent. She would have been made to take Gregor's place as caretaker of the mother and father in their old age however she had done that enough when she was being a nurse for Gregor. So yes, I do agree with the ending which is the better part of the story.
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