Symbolism of the 'Self' in Franz Kafka's "The Metamorphosis"
In the domain of modern literature, particularly in 20th century literature, Franz Kafka ranks as one of the most revolutionary writer, who used the techniques of expressionism and symbolism to discuss the theme of the "Self" of an individual and his/her integration in the society.
Franz Kafka's experience as a writer had been influenced by his experiences in his family life and as he grew up, contemplating how the individual finds it hard to integrate himself/herself in the society. Kafka was born to Hermann and Julie Kafka on July 3, 1883 in Prague. His family was Czech-Jewish in nationality, and he was educated at the University of Prague, where he studied law. Although he kept a civil service post as a job, Kafka most often writes novels and short stories. Indeed, writing is his passion, and the only medium through which he can channel his insecurities and questions about life. Though successful in his writing career, Kafka was still triggered with depression and anxiety, and on 1917, he contracted tuberculosis, and eventually died in Austria on June 1924 (Brod, 1960:3-22, 39-44).
Among Kafkas's great works are the short stories The Judgment (1913), The Trial (1915), The Metamorphosis (1915), Jackals and Arabs (1917), Country Doctor (1919), In the Penal Colony (1919), and The Castle (1922). Among these literary works of Kafka's, the most acclaimed is the short story The Metamorphosis, which chronicles the life of Georg Samsa, an insurance salesman who one day finds himself a man who morphed into an insect. Georg's life as an insect that has been locked up from the human society is the most interesting part of the story, where Kafka provides a detailed description of the gradually decreasing contact of Georg with his family and society as he failed to return to his normal, human self again.
One of the most important themes that Kafka delves into in...
The spot light and people's recognition are not enough for the artist. It is consolation he is looking for and never finds it. The misunderstanding of his very art is the cause of his exhaustion. Like Kafka, the Hunger Artist is trapped in a vicious circle, unable to see the light of understanding in the world's eyes. What was always the cause of misery for an artist? Being misunderstood in
His mother Julie Kafka belonged to one of the leading families in the German-speaking, German-cultured Jewish circles of Prague. (Franz Kafka 1883-1924) His relationship with this father was not good and "...Hermann Kafka was a domestic tyrant, who directed his anger against his son." (Franz Kafka 1883-1924) There are many of his stories which can be related to the antagonism and conflict between father and son. This conflict is
And yet in his personal life despite the anguish he wrote about so eloquently he enjoyed modern novelties such as the cinema, aeroplanes, and motor-cycles. He went swimming and followed the vogue for nudism. He had his fair share of sexual affairs, and he complemented those with visits to brothels (Johnson, 2005). Doubts about his work caused Kafka before his death to ask that all of his unpublished manuscripts be
After some initial shock, the family simply accepts him as a somewhat unorthodox and reclusive member of the family. In terms of the meaningless, Gregor's adjustment and life as an insect is described in grim and often somewhat graphic detail. His family's interactions with him evolve according to his new status as insect, and are similarly described with great attention, as if it an important plot element. This can be
Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka Why did Vladimir Nabokov -- a brilliant, respected and often-quoted novelist, best known perhaps for his classic novel, Lolita -- do a razor-sharp editing job on Kafka's The Metamorphosis? And what is the meaning and the motivation behind Nabokov's intervention into the classic Kafka short story? This paper reviews Kafka's iconic short story and delves into the way in which Nabokov has editorially changed the direction and
Alienation in Kafka Franz Kafka published one of his famous works, "The Metamorphosis," in 1915. Gregor Samsa is the principal character in the story. Samsa is the character whose metamorphosis is the primary subject of the story. The story is not a happy one. One of the primary themes upon which the story meditates is alienation. The paper will examine and explore the instances of alienation in "The Metamorphosis." Gregor Samsa
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