Analysis Of Franz Kafka s The Metamorphosis - 1711 Words

Many authors use symbolism throughout their work and in their characters to portray a certain theme that most readers can relate to. Franz Kafka, a renowned German-speaking fiction writer of the 20th century, uses a unique style of writing that many people believe is a telling of his own life story. In his well-known short story, â€Å"The Metamorphosis†, many similarities and connections can be seen between the main character, Gregor Samsa, and the author himself, Franz Kafka. A major comparison that can be made is the fact that both Samsa and Kafka died slow, lonesome deaths after being in a dysfunctional relationship with their families and especially their father figures. Franz Kafka was diagnosed with tuberculosis in 1917, which he was forced to live with until he died in 1924 at the age of forty-one. Kafka’s terminal disease can be compared to Gregor Samsa’s terminal metamorphosis, which also killed Gregor at a young age. Franz ‘Samsa’ Kafka in serts himself into the story â€Å"The Metamorphosis†, into the Samsa family, and into Gregor Samsa himself. In the short story â€Å"The Metamorphosis† by Franz Kafka, the theme of transformation or metamorphosis is found numerous times throughout the text, starting with an extremely bizarre incident that initially pulls the reader into the story. The main character, Gregor Samsa, is randomly transformed into a giant insect. Not only does Gregor go through an obvious physical change, but he undergoes a psychological transformation as well,Show MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Franz Kafka s The Metamorphosis 3979 Words   |  16 PagesAustin Day Professor Imali Abala English 357 18 February 2015 The Theme of Alienation in Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis The Metamorphosis written by Franz Kafka in 1915 is said to be one of the greatest literary works of all time and is seen as one of Kafka’s best and most popular works of literature. A relatively short novel; the story explains how the protagonist, Gregor Samsa wakes up one morning to find himself transformed into a vermin which completely estranges him from the world even moreRead MoreAnalysis Of Franz Kafka s The Metamorphosis1873 Words   |  8 Pageswriters take their creative control to emphasize the current state of the freedom and control of the individual. Kafka’s The Metamorphosis, various World War I poems, and Brecht’s Fear and Misery of the Third Reich show the lack of individual freedom and control that people had over their lives during the destruction that occurred in the 20th century. Published in 1915, Franz Kafka wasted no time in starting his discussion about freedom and control through the life of Gregor. After he awakes and realizesRead MoreAnalysis Of Franz Kafka s Metamorphosis1985 Words   |  8 Pagestruly seen? Does one view one’s external self, or do they see a reflection of past experience? Not many have the value of altruism, but some do. Sometimes altruism can turn extremist though, to the point where it can be a negative thing. In Franz Kafka’s Metamorphosis, the main character Gregor Samsa is a workaholic that randomly one day awakens as a bug. Initially, Gregor sees himself with a condition, and then slowly tries to adapt to his bug transformation. Gregor did not put himself first when heRead MoreAnalysis Of Franz Kafka s The Metamorphosis 1087 Words   |  5 Pagesmercy were ignored. Franz Kafka’s novella is not about a dictator but it alludes to a person close to Franz that was as close to a dictator that he ever go to. Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis, is about a young man that wakes up one day and is a vermin and has to maneuver around his home and come to terms with his six itchy legs. It probably sounds like a load of fictitious ramblings that somehow became a classical novel. Wrong! Look a little closer and the secret message Franz Kafka wrote for his fatherRead MoreAnalysis Of Franz Kafka s The Metamorphosis1500 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"In the morning†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ verminous bug.† In Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis, the opening sentence introduces the main character, event and the setting. Gregor Samsa is one of the only two characters who are addressed by name, this reflects his importance in the story because he is the protagonist and he plays a central role in the lives of his family and friends. Besides introducing the central character, this opening line has a dramatic impact on readers. It draws the reader straight to Gregor Samsa’sRead MoreAnalysis Of Franz Kafka s The Metamorphosis 948 Words   |  4 PagesFreud says one way humans express their hidden feeling is through dreams. This idea is the foundation for the dream interpretation of â€Å"The Metamorphosis.† Dreams have the capacity to encapture events that never happen in reality. They connect with how people reflect their true feelings about a situation or themselves. Throughout â€Å"The Metamorphosis†, the author, Kafka, uses Gregor’s repressed feelings inc orporated with the dull setting and Gregor’s transformation to support the idea that Gregor is dreamingRead MoreAnalysis Of Franz Kafka s The Metamorphosis, And Henrik Ibsen s A Doll s House1965 Words   |  8 PagesFeminist, and Freudian-argue different outlooks regarding the main characters and their deviance from the standards of society in Franz Kafka’s â€Å"The Metamorphosis† and Henrik Ibsen’s â€Å"A Doll’s House.† The Marxist viewpoint discusses a person’s objectivity in society and how it is affected by outside forces such as money, labor, and power. In Franz Kafka’s â€Å"The Metamorphosis,† the main character of Gregor undergoes several changes that affect the way he behaves and is perceived by people in his lifeRead MoreEssay on Analysis of The Metamorphosis1033 Words   |  5 PagesAnalysis of The Metamorphosis This story The Metamorphosis is about Gregor, a workaholic, who is changed into an insect and must then deal with his present reality. The hardest part of being an insect for him was the alienation from his family, which eventually leads to his death. In reading the short story The Metamorphosis, (1971),one can realize how small the difference is between Magical Realism and Fantastic. This literature written by the Austrian, Franz Kafka, is often debated overRead MoreThe Metamorphosis By Franz Kafka Essay1496 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"The metamorphosis,† is a story by Franz Kafka, published in 1915 is a story divided in three chapters: transformation, acceptance, and the death of the protagonist. There are many interpretations that can form this tale as the indifference by the society that is concerned with different individuals, and isolation pushing some cases to the solitude. Some consider The Metamorphosis as an autobiography of the author, which tries to capture the lo neliness and isolation that he felt at some pointRead MoreAnalysis Of The Metamorphosis1501 Words   |  7 PagesBeveridge, A. (2009). Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka. Advances in psychiatric treatment, 15(6), 459-461. This brief article is written from the psychiatric perspective, pointing out that Kafka has always been of great interest to the psychoanalytic community; this is because his writings have so skillfully depicted alienation, unresolved oedipal issues, and the schizoid personality disorder and The Metamorphosis is no exception to this rule. While this writer tends to think that psychiatrists should

True Legend by Mike Lupica - 616 Words

The main character that the book is based on is Drew Robinson. Drew, also known as True, is a sophomore in high school in Queens, NY and loves the game of basketball. He is arguably the best high school basketball player in the area. True’s best friend, Lee Atkins, is a senior at the school. Since he is in his last year of high school basketball, all Lee wants is to make a run in the playoffs and win the championship game. True’s mother is Darlene Robinson. Darlene got a job in California, thanks to a man named Mr. Seth Gilbert, who saw True playing an AAU basketball tournament. Mr. Gilbert wanted him to attend Oakley High School in CA to play for Coach DiGregorio. Mr. Gilbert believes True is the best player and that he will make it into the NBA. So, Mr. Gilbert helps True meet some people who can help him become sponsored. When True goes to play basketball by himself at Morrison Court, he keeps seeing a ghost man. He finds out that the ghost man is Urban Seller s, a basketball player who ruined his career before he was even out of high school. Seeing him made True not want to make the same mistakes. Callie Mason is on the girls’ basketball team and True has a crush on her. He even sneaks into the gym to watch the girl’s team practice from time to time. There are a few different settings in the book True Legend. One is Morrison Park where True loves to go on his own and just shoot around thinking about how to improve his own game. Another setting is the gym at

Corn-Pone Opinions free essay sample

Humans are not equipped to stand their own ground; they prefer to follow the leader. Twain puts it simply, â€Å"we are creatures of outside influences; as a rule we do not think, we only imitate† (719). Twain clearly makes his point noticeable to his audience, holding back no opinion throughout the whole piece. He explains that throughout the lives of those inhabiting the earth; many fashions attend the cycle of entering and leaving the social status of being wanted. People willingly allow such to happen. One year one will find oneself enjoying a certain blouse while society mocks them and the next year society will have welcomed said blouse without batting an eyelash. Human beings constantly yearn to be accepted by society; this feeling tends to be in their nature and they cannot simply make the feeling disappear. People sacrifice their own morals in order to gain society’s approval and often, â€Å"self-approval is acquired mainly from the approval of other people† (719). We will write a custom essay sample on Corn-Pone Opinions or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page With such actions, people follow the perfect mold of little sheep Twain creates throughout â€Å"Corn-Pone Opinions†. Society enjoys taking the morals of humans and ripping them away as if their morals were the ones creating damage and not society itself, unmistakably stated by Mark Twain himself. Through using examples and rhetorical devices within â€Å"Corn-Pone Opinions†, Twain states humans are virtual sheep, continuously following their shepherd, society. To make his argument even more resilient, Twain uses multiple examples of everyday life for his audience to relate. First, Twain targets women. Being extremely influenced by opinions of others, women fail to sturdily stand against society’s harsh verdict. Twain, attacking the willingness to change fashion without thinking first, speaks to women closely. Twain states, â€Å"One woman abandons the fashion; her neighbor notices this and follows her lead; this influences the next woman; and so on and so on . . . † (718). To this day women continue to experience this identical process. Although one may love her Christmas sweater, if her neighbor does not own one or wrinkles her nose at the idea of wearing such a thing, she will immediately go home and dispose of the sweater without thinking twice about her actions or her personal feelings toward the item of clothing. Twain also mentions how â€Å"twenty-five years ago† there would be â€Å"six of eight wine glasses† given to each person attending a dinner party, and they were to be used, â€Å"not left idle and empty†, but today â€Å"there are but three of four† wine glasses and on average and only two are sparingly emptied by each guest (719). Twain follows this observation by expanding his opinion on conformity. He offers the idea that people follow certain trends without thinking them through. The people attending these dinner parties have no idea why they only consume two glasses when twenty-five years ago people consumed three to four times as much. Humans, in general, do not look for the answer to the question â€Å"why? †, but instead only worry about what other people do and if their actions are satisfactory to those surrounding them. Twain also gives an example of families wanting to be accepted by the families they are acquainted with by mentioning, â€Å"The Smiths like the new play; the Joneses go to see it, and they copy the Smith verdict† (719). Humans, whether knowingly or unknowingly, fall into society’s trap of wanting the sense of acceptance. In return, they conform to the fashion, actions, and opinions to those around them. Twain, in order to continue his argument on conformity throughout â€Å"Corn-Pone Opinions†, uses the rhetorical device of anaphora. While talking about people and their tendency to follow those around them, Twain says, â€Å"They swarm with their party, they feel with their party, they are happy in their party’s approval; and where the party leads they will follow . . . † (720). In Twain’s mind people are of a social nature. Without the acceptance of others and without others approving their actions or ideas, people would not be able to function. By using anaphora and repeating the word â€Å"they† Twain emphasizes the point he is trying to make to people who conform. In another nstance, Twain accentuates the word â€Å"it,† referring to the idea that when one has feelings one is actually thinking. He says, â€Å"Its name is Public Opinion. It is held in reverence. It settles everything. Some think it the voice of God† (720). Through this method of repeating a specific word, Twain clearly reiterates his point of view on conformity and allows the reader to better understand the hold society obtains to make people want to conform. People tend to view society as a comfort blanket, people tend to want their acquaintances to have acceptance towards their actions, and people tend to change their morals if not accepted by society. Throughout â€Å"Corn-Pone Opinions†, with anaphora, a rhetorical device that repeats a certain word to enhance a message, and examples observed throughout society, Twain effectively makes this argument about conforming to society evident in his essay.

Will The Da Vinci Code be still relevant in 2070

The cause of novel’s popularity Before we get to address the question of whether Dan Brown’s novel The Da Vinci Code would still be relevant by the year 2070, we will need to discuss what caused this novel to win instant favor with readers today. Even though some critics suggest that it was due to novel’s particularly high literary quality, we cannot subscribe to such a point of view.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Will The Da Vinci Code be still relevant in 2070? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More After all, novel’s plot appears unnecessarily overcomplicated, the situations that characters find themselves dealing with – unrealistic, and the characters – utterly predictable. For example, the character of Leigh Teabing does not only appear but also talks as if he was the incarnation of ‘Englishness’. Nevertheless, as we are all aware of – after having be en published, The Da Vinci Code became a bestseller within the matter of few days. How can it be explained? The reason why Brown’s novel was able to attain such popularity is that the motifs, contained in it, correspond to the unconscious anxieties, on the part of those for whom it was written – the dwellers of Western post-industrial megalopolises. In its turn, these anxieties derive out of the process of urbanites growing increasingly non-religious. Nowadays, the process of Western countries’ secularization became unstoppable. Even today, the number of native-born Westerners who consider themselves truly religious is best defined as utterly neglectable. The validity of this statement appears self-evident, once we assess the strength of people’s religiosity in countries that feature world’s highest standards of living – Denmark, Sweden and Norway. According to most recent sociological surveys, only 1% of these countries’ native-born citizens affiliate themselves with any religion, whatsoever. The reason for this is simple – people who enjoy a nice life, do not need some tribal God, with a lot of rules and little mercy, representing an integral part of their worldviews. One of the most important aspects of post-industrial living is the fact that such living becomes increasingly rationalistic. Nowadays, we are fully aware of the fact that, in order for an individual to attain prosperity, he or she would simply have to obtain good education and start working hard, as opposed to praying to Saint Mary, so that material riches would fall out of the sky, as many people in such ‘culturally rich’ but intellectually backward Catholic countries, as Mexico, Peru and Philippines do. It is namely Westerners’ tendency to rationalize life’s challenges, which explains why The Da Vinci Code connects with these people’s mode of existence – even before having been exposed to Brownâ⠂¬â„¢s novel, they felt that the story of Holy Ghost impregnating Saint Mary was nothing but the fairy tale of the worst kind.Advertising Looking for essay on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More People simply became tired of self-proclaimed ‘servants of God’ popularizing two thousand years old nonsense about talking donkeys, sun standing still in the sky and universe’s creation in six days, as the ‘word of God’. This was the reason why reading of The Da Vinci Code came to them like the breath of a fresh air. The significance of the novel and its future In his novel, Brown was able to confirm something that rationalistically minded citizens have been suspecting since long time ago – Jesus was just as sexual and mortal as we all are. As one of novel’s most prominent characters, Sir Teabing had put it: â€Å"A child of Jesus would undermine the critical notion of Ch rist’s divinity and therefore the Christian Church, which declared itself the sole vessel through which humanity could access the divine and gain entrance to the kingdom of heaven† (216). Today’s Christianity is best described as ‘dying’ religion, as opposed to the ‘alive’ religion of Islam, for example. What Brown achieved by publishing his novel, is depriving Christianity of the remains of its theological validity – hence, driving one of the last intellectual nails into this religion’s coffin. Therefore, we cannot agree with Catholic critics of The Da Vinci Code, who often refer to the plot of Brown’s novel as being based upon pseudo-historical speculations, and therefore – not worthy of readers’ attention. Apparently, it never occurred to Christian critics that, while referring to novel’s affiliation with the literary genre of fiction as the foremost proof to the sheer fallaciousness of the cl aims, contained in it, they actually contribute to promoting Brown’s cause even further – whatever the improbable it might sound. The reason for this is simple – while being encouraged to analyze what accounts for fictious motifs in The Da Vinci Code, readers are being simultaneously provoked to analyze what represents fictious motifs in the Bible. In his book, Dawkings (2006) had made a perfectly good point, while stating: â€Å"The only difference between The Da Vinci Code and the gospels is that the gospels are ancient fiction while The Da Vinci Code is modern fiction† (97). Despite the format of Brown’s novel, it does operate with a variety of historically proven facts, which Christians do not like discussing, simply because these facts leave very little doubt as to the Bible being anything but the actual ‘word of God’. For example, in his dialogue with the characters of Langdon and Sophie, Sir Teabing provides readers with the ins ight onto the fact that, before being incorporated into Christianity’s dogma, the divinity of Jesus was actually voted upon by attendees of Council of Nicaea (325 A.D.): â€Å"At this gathering (Council of Nicaea)†¦ many aspects of Christianity were debated and voted upon – the date of Easter, the role of the bishops, the administration of sacraments, and, of course, the divinity of Jesus† (199). In other words, Brown’s novel is in fact utterly effective, for as long as dismantling Christian myth is being concerned.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Will The Da Vinci Code be still relevant in 2070? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Thus, the significance of The Da Vinci Code should be discussed within the context of an overall process of Christianity’s desacralization. And, there are good reasons to believe that by the year 2070, this process will result in the status of Chri stianity being reduced from that of one of world’s most influential religions, to two thousand years old folklore of Jewish sheep herders. In very near future, science will become people’s ‘religion’, at least in Western countries. When this happens, Brown’s novel will be deprived of its actuality. After all, if someone today wrote a novel, aimed to expose ancient Greek god Zeus as such that never existed, it would be very unlikely for this novel to become a bestseller – people already know that. In a similar manner, since by the year 2070 just about everybody is going to be fully aware of the imaginary essence of Christian fables, this will result in Brown’s novel being deprived of its controversial appeal. Therefore, it would only be logical to hypothesize that by the year 2070, The Da Vinci Code will no longer be considered relevant, simply because by that time, the foremost idea contained in it (namely, Jesus being mortal and sexua l man), would be recognized as self-evident. References Brown, Dan. The Da Vinci Code. Sydney: Anchor Books, 2009. Print. Dawkings, Richard. The God Delusion. Toronto: Bantam Press, 2006. Print. This essay on Will The Da Vinci Code be still relevant in 2070? was written and submitted by user Madalyn N. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.