As for now I am thinking about writing my World Lit on a theme, symbol, or motif, this plan will be based around that.
1. Go back through my annotations and look for points in which I noticed a specific theme or symbol. Do a close reading on all of these
2. If there are not many of these around, I will probably have to go and reread the novel
3. Once I see what the symbol symbolizes or find what the theme is, I will research a bit about Camus and see if there is any relevance to his life
a. For example, Kafka’s relationship to his father is portrayed heavily in “The Metamorphosis”
4. Once I find all my examples from the text, I will type them up into a word document and print out the document
5. With a pen and highlighter I will dissect them and establish which literary techniques are used and what they show
6. Write my thesis
a. This will probably take a while, and I will end up having many different wordings of the same thing but it’s all good
7. By now I will have a clear idea about the overall message of the theme or symbol and am now ready to write
8. First write a rough draft in which aesthetics is not the issue
9. It is important that I get out all of my ideas here and work on cutting down later
a. The most important part here is the body paragraphs in which I explain the passages I chose completely
b. I know my introduction will be unsmooth but it is important I spell out obviously what I will argue right her and embellish it later
10. After my first draft I will edit for both grammatical errors and more overall ideas
a. I do this because I find it easier to do, however I might want to do two different edits, one for grammar, the other for content
i. I believe with this though that I will end up having issues in which I just combine the two different edits into one
11. After this edit, I will leave the paper alone for a few days (if possible)
12. Now I will edit with a very censorious eye and make sure that there are no holes in paper and that it is ready to be turned in
13. I will try and give it for someone else to edit now, preferably someone who knows what I am supposed to be doing
14. After this I will quickly reread my paper and make any last minute mistakes and then will print it and hand it in and relax
Monday, February 28, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Kafkaesque
When I first think of Kafka, I think of a giant bug. But under this initial thought lies many of the ideas that makes Kafka himself. I believe something that is Kafkaesque must be as absurd and ironic. In this blog post I will try and argue my post and make reference to both the novel “Metamorphosis” and the movie “Kafka.”
Firstly, something that is Kafkaesque must be absurd. But not so explicitly, rather a kind of subtle absurdity that only those who are keen enough will spot. For example, in the novel, the more flagrant absurdity is that of Gregor turning into a giant bug. However, what is really absurd about the situation is his family’s blatant neglect for him. Their attitude is what is absurd about the book. Moreover, in the film, at first a giant conspiracy against the acting government which kills all those who go against it may seem like a very absurd series of events, the real absurdity is the protagonist’s nonchalance towards the whole thing. The fact that the protagonist of the film can go back to work the day after witnessing something as profane as the government doing experiments on human and act like nothing has happened mirrors Kafka’s writing. The most absurd thing one can do is pretend like something didn’t happen. One would think it is hard to ignore the giant bug in the room, but something that is Kafkaesque says no!
Secondly, something that is Kafkaesque is very ironic. The best example I can think of this comes from the film “Kafka.” Near the very end, Kafka begins to reconcile his differences with his father via a note; however, while writing this, he coughs up blood, a sign of tuberculosis. It seems very Kafkaesque that as soon as the protagonist changes or accepts a certain thing, he dies. It is a very upsetting type of irony. The same applies in the novel “Metamorphosis.” After showing very human emotions by coming out to appreciate his sister’s music, Gregor is expelled into his room by his family who now realize that his death is necessary. That night, he dies. The ironic thing about that is that as soon as bug-like Gregor gets in touch with his human emotions does he die. However, a classmate of mine, Nina, had a different opinion on this. “While at first it may seem ironic that once the characters become enlightened they die, their death is not ironic; it is a signifies their release. In The Metamorphosis, Gregor dies only after realizing that it is the best thing he can do for his family. He lived to serve his family, and now he becomes conscious of the fact that he must die for them, and finally, after realizing this, he attains peace…” (3nina.wordpress.com). While I do not know if I agree with this, it does make sense. I believe that throughout the novel, Gregor begins to become more human and thus less a slave of his family. However, if one believes that even when in bug form Gregor wants what is best for his family, Nina’s argument makes tremendous sense. Gregor’s death is the best thing he can do for his family and he would view it as a pretty good way to pass. Yet, I do not see this element in the film Kafka. In the movie, Kafka was pretty clear about what he felt about his father, and I did not see some underlying nuance love that could only come out after his death. Rather, I find the irony to be more of a personal struggle in which one will always lose.
Something that is Kafkaesque is something that is very gloomy and depressing. I believe that the most abundant place that Kafkaesque things take place in is in the brain of the protagonist. It is generally his view on the world and events happening that make it so dreary. To a certain extent, one begins to feel bad for the protagonist as something about his making makes him oblivious to a very apparent absurdity. This Kafkaesque person has some sort of defect that makes it impossible for him or her to improve their situation, however, as the reader, the ease that we would fix the situation makes us feel for the protagonist. It is difficult because the ease that we would deal with the situation shows how deadly the person’s defect is. Something that is Kafkaesque is very ironic and absurd, but not in an explicit way. Rather, the irony comes from both the supporting characters or from the actions of the protagonist. See you!
Firstly, something that is Kafkaesque must be absurd. But not so explicitly, rather a kind of subtle absurdity that only those who are keen enough will spot. For example, in the novel, the more flagrant absurdity is that of Gregor turning into a giant bug. However, what is really absurd about the situation is his family’s blatant neglect for him. Their attitude is what is absurd about the book. Moreover, in the film, at first a giant conspiracy against the acting government which kills all those who go against it may seem like a very absurd series of events, the real absurdity is the protagonist’s nonchalance towards the whole thing. The fact that the protagonist of the film can go back to work the day after witnessing something as profane as the government doing experiments on human and act like nothing has happened mirrors Kafka’s writing. The most absurd thing one can do is pretend like something didn’t happen. One would think it is hard to ignore the giant bug in the room, but something that is Kafkaesque says no!
Secondly, something that is Kafkaesque is very ironic. The best example I can think of this comes from the film “Kafka.” Near the very end, Kafka begins to reconcile his differences with his father via a note; however, while writing this, he coughs up blood, a sign of tuberculosis. It seems very Kafkaesque that as soon as the protagonist changes or accepts a certain thing, he dies. It is a very upsetting type of irony. The same applies in the novel “Metamorphosis.” After showing very human emotions by coming out to appreciate his sister’s music, Gregor is expelled into his room by his family who now realize that his death is necessary. That night, he dies. The ironic thing about that is that as soon as bug-like Gregor gets in touch with his human emotions does he die. However, a classmate of mine, Nina, had a different opinion on this. “While at first it may seem ironic that once the characters become enlightened they die, their death is not ironic; it is a signifies their release. In The Metamorphosis, Gregor dies only after realizing that it is the best thing he can do for his family. He lived to serve his family, and now he becomes conscious of the fact that he must die for them, and finally, after realizing this, he attains peace…” (3nina.wordpress.com). While I do not know if I agree with this, it does make sense. I believe that throughout the novel, Gregor begins to become more human and thus less a slave of his family. However, if one believes that even when in bug form Gregor wants what is best for his family, Nina’s argument makes tremendous sense. Gregor’s death is the best thing he can do for his family and he would view it as a pretty good way to pass. Yet, I do not see this element in the film Kafka. In the movie, Kafka was pretty clear about what he felt about his father, and I did not see some underlying nuance love that could only come out after his death. Rather, I find the irony to be more of a personal struggle in which one will always lose.
Something that is Kafkaesque is something that is very gloomy and depressing. I believe that the most abundant place that Kafkaesque things take place in is in the brain of the protagonist. It is generally his view on the world and events happening that make it so dreary. To a certain extent, one begins to feel bad for the protagonist as something about his making makes him oblivious to a very apparent absurdity. This Kafkaesque person has some sort of defect that makes it impossible for him or her to improve their situation, however, as the reader, the ease that we would fix the situation makes us feel for the protagonist. It is difficult because the ease that we would deal with the situation shows how deadly the person’s defect is. Something that is Kafkaesque is very ironic and absurd, but not in an explicit way. Rather, the irony comes from both the supporting characters or from the actions of the protagonist. See you!
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Interpretation of The Metamorphosis Excerpt
In this excerpt Grete comes into Gregor’s room to notice that he has not drank the milk that she had set out for him. In response to this, she brings him an array of food, but in this whole process, a lot of light is shed on the story. Firstly, Gregor thinks, “not with her bare hands, true.” This says a lot about the character as it shows that he has resigned to his faith of being ostracized. He, only after two days of being a bug, finds it normal that his sister is afraid to touch anything that he has. The single word “true” says a lot as it shows where Gregor thinks he stands in the world. Furthermore, the bowl which is used to give Gregor milk is the same that is used to give him water. “[The bowl] was apparently to be reserved for his exclusive use.” Once again, there are things that separate Gregor from his family.
Secondly, this passage shows Gregor’s overall transformation from human to bug. When describing the array of food that Grete brings, he states that the cheese she brings would have been “inedible two days ago.” When Grete leaves the room, the first thing he goes for is the cheese. His preference in food shows how he is changing. As a bug, he finds the fresh food unbearable as he would not have before. Also, when describing how quickly he healed as compared to his injuries before, he does not dwell on the past of how he used to be human. Moreover, he says “only the day before yesterday” and does not recognize it as the day in which he transformed. However, the change into bug is paradoxical.
The verbs used to describe Gregor’s actions are not that of a bug, rather, they are of a human. He “sucked greedily” and had “tears of satisfaction.” As a human, Gregor’s life was mundane. As described in part one, the only joy he got came out of a jigsaw puzzle. Moreover, Gregor seldom took money for his own purpose. He always gave his money to his family as his whole life revolved around them. Not until this scene in the novel has Gregor doing something greedily for himself been shown. Before in the novel, Gregor tried to ease in his family members and make them comfortable with him, but now he is showing his insect like instincts and he seems to be happy with them. It might be possible that Gregor’s shift was one of that of a switch. As a human he had a human exterior but an interior of a bug. He was constantly stepped on and abused, and was for the most part oblivious of it. Now as a bug, he has an exoskeleton but more importantly, he is living as a human! He is doing things for himself without thinking about the implementations on others. However, this change in attitude may only be ephermal as later in the book there are many instances in which Gregor has characteristics of his human self. There are many times when he tries to help the other members of the family such as when he tries to help Grete fetch medicine for their mother. Yet, it is possible that this scene marks a shift in Gregor’s attitude. After this point, he begins to do things more for himself and less for his family. Although it is detrimental and ugly to them (as he is in the form of a cockroach now), it is the beginning of a positive change. There is always a first time for everything as for the first in the novel, the only thing on Gregor’s mind is his own satisfaction.
Number 2!
In Franz Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis” the protagonist Gregor goes through a paradoxical change. The personality, cravings, and exterior of Gregor change into those of a beetle, but his emotions develop into those that are more human than they were before:
“… sucked greedily at the cheese, which more than any of the other delicacies attracted him at once, and strongly. One after another, and with tears of satisfaction in his eyes, he quickly devoured the cheese, the vegetables, and the sauce; the fresh food, on the other hand, had no charm for him, he could not even stand the smell of it and actually dragged away to some little distance the things he wanted to eat.” (Kafka, 75)
There is a clear contrast between the food Gregor is eating and the emotions portrayed while he is eating. While the food he is consuming belongs to a bug’s palate, the words used to describe his feelings while eating are entirely human. Gregor feels happy, greedy, and disgusted all because of this food, something that his normal apathetic self did not feel in full human form. Before his metamorphosis, Gregor has notorious for his complacency to the extent that he lived his life in order to provide support for his under appreciative family. In short, he did not live for himself as even his job was prescribed onto him. However, now he is being selfish and doing things for himself. When he finds some food unappetizing, he moves the food he wants away from it. This is a very selfish act, but one could argue that it is also very human. On the other hand, the food that Gregor finds such satisfaction from is not one that a normal human would find happiness in. It might be possible that Gregor’s shift was one of that of a switch. As a human he had a human exterior but an interior of a bug. He was constantly stepped on and abused, and was for the most part oblivious of it. Now as a bug, he has an exoskeleton but more importantly, he is living as a human. He is doing things for himself without thinking about the implementations on others. The metamorphosis of Gregor is paradoxical as on the exterior he becomes more bug like while on the inside he becomes more human. The food that pleases him the most a piece of cheese that “Gregor would have pronounced inedible two days ago…” (Kafka, 74). Now Gregor “no longer feels incapacitated…” (Kafka, 75). Although this is used to describe how easily the new Gregor can overcome physical ailments, it is all encompassing. Before the metamorphosis, he was “still suffering from the wound only the day before yesterday.” (Kafka, 75). The “day before yesterday” was the day before his metamorphosis, therefore, Gregor felt hindered by life before he transformed. Furthermore, it is evident that Gregor knows that he has changed as he understands that Grete is uncomfortable in his presence. “… not with her bare hands, true…” (Kafka, 74). He understands that he is a bug and that on the outside he is ugly. With this said, it is plausible that Gregor is not aware of the other half of his transformation. He is not consciously aware of the selfish things that he is doing but once again, this just proves the point that he is acting human. While eating his food, he does not stop once to think about others or about how he is only doing things for himself, rather it has started to become his own nature. Gregor’s transformation into a bug is a very good thing as although his exterior turns into that of a beetle, his emotions and personality becomes one of a human, something that he lacked when he was in human form.
Secondly, this passage shows Gregor’s overall transformation from human to bug. When describing the array of food that Grete brings, he states that the cheese she brings would have been “inedible two days ago.” When Grete leaves the room, the first thing he goes for is the cheese. His preference in food shows how he is changing. As a bug, he finds the fresh food unbearable as he would not have before. Also, when describing how quickly he healed as compared to his injuries before, he does not dwell on the past of how he used to be human. Moreover, he says “only the day before yesterday” and does not recognize it as the day in which he transformed. However, the change into bug is paradoxical.
The verbs used to describe Gregor’s actions are not that of a bug, rather, they are of a human. He “sucked greedily” and had “tears of satisfaction.” As a human, Gregor’s life was mundane. As described in part one, the only joy he got came out of a jigsaw puzzle. Moreover, Gregor seldom took money for his own purpose. He always gave his money to his family as his whole life revolved around them. Not until this scene in the novel has Gregor doing something greedily for himself been shown. Before in the novel, Gregor tried to ease in his family members and make them comfortable with him, but now he is showing his insect like instincts and he seems to be happy with them. It might be possible that Gregor’s shift was one of that of a switch. As a human he had a human exterior but an interior of a bug. He was constantly stepped on and abused, and was for the most part oblivious of it. Now as a bug, he has an exoskeleton but more importantly, he is living as a human! He is doing things for himself without thinking about the implementations on others. However, this change in attitude may only be ephermal as later in the book there are many instances in which Gregor has characteristics of his human self. There are many times when he tries to help the other members of the family such as when he tries to help Grete fetch medicine for their mother. Yet, it is possible that this scene marks a shift in Gregor’s attitude. After this point, he begins to do things more for himself and less for his family. Although it is detrimental and ugly to them (as he is in the form of a cockroach now), it is the beginning of a positive change. There is always a first time for everything as for the first in the novel, the only thing on Gregor’s mind is his own satisfaction.
Number 2!
In Franz Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis” the protagonist Gregor goes through a paradoxical change. The personality, cravings, and exterior of Gregor change into those of a beetle, but his emotions develop into those that are more human than they were before:
“… sucked greedily at the cheese, which more than any of the other delicacies attracted him at once, and strongly. One after another, and with tears of satisfaction in his eyes, he quickly devoured the cheese, the vegetables, and the sauce; the fresh food, on the other hand, had no charm for him, he could not even stand the smell of it and actually dragged away to some little distance the things he wanted to eat.” (Kafka, 75)
There is a clear contrast between the food Gregor is eating and the emotions portrayed while he is eating. While the food he is consuming belongs to a bug’s palate, the words used to describe his feelings while eating are entirely human. Gregor feels happy, greedy, and disgusted all because of this food, something that his normal apathetic self did not feel in full human form. Before his metamorphosis, Gregor has notorious for his complacency to the extent that he lived his life in order to provide support for his under appreciative family. In short, he did not live for himself as even his job was prescribed onto him. However, now he is being selfish and doing things for himself. When he finds some food unappetizing, he moves the food he wants away from it. This is a very selfish act, but one could argue that it is also very human. On the other hand, the food that Gregor finds such satisfaction from is not one that a normal human would find happiness in. It might be possible that Gregor’s shift was one of that of a switch. As a human he had a human exterior but an interior of a bug. He was constantly stepped on and abused, and was for the most part oblivious of it. Now as a bug, he has an exoskeleton but more importantly, he is living as a human. He is doing things for himself without thinking about the implementations on others. The metamorphosis of Gregor is paradoxical as on the exterior he becomes more bug like while on the inside he becomes more human. The food that pleases him the most a piece of cheese that “Gregor would have pronounced inedible two days ago…” (Kafka, 74). Now Gregor “no longer feels incapacitated…” (Kafka, 75). Although this is used to describe how easily the new Gregor can overcome physical ailments, it is all encompassing. Before the metamorphosis, he was “still suffering from the wound only the day before yesterday.” (Kafka, 75). The “day before yesterday” was the day before his metamorphosis, therefore, Gregor felt hindered by life before he transformed. Furthermore, it is evident that Gregor knows that he has changed as he understands that Grete is uncomfortable in his presence. “… not with her bare hands, true…” (Kafka, 74). He understands that he is a bug and that on the outside he is ugly. With this said, it is plausible that Gregor is not aware of the other half of his transformation. He is not consciously aware of the selfish things that he is doing but once again, this just proves the point that he is acting human. While eating his food, he does not stop once to think about others or about how he is only doing things for himself, rather it has started to become his own nature. Gregor’s transformation into a bug is a very good thing as although his exterior turns into that of a beetle, his emotions and personality becomes one of a human, something that he lacked when he was in human form.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
I Would Be a Bit Shocked to Wake up and be a Bug
Gregor’s nonchalance towards him being an insect shows a lot about the character. In the first part of The Metamorphosis, Franz Kafka’s use of indirect characterization is abundant and useful to understanding the protagonist. “What about sleeping a little longer and forgetting all this nonsense…” (54). If I woke up as a bug I would either be nonplused to the extent where I wouldn’t move for days or I would go crazy and end up destroying my house through my antics. I wouldn’t be okay to have a bit longer of a nap. I would be disgusted with myself. How can you not be shocked to wake up as a bug!? It would be crazy. I don’t think I would like it very much either. Anyway, Gregor does not have his priorities right but it is not like he is some lazy guy. Rather, we see what is really on his mind a few pages later. When the chief clerk comes in to see why Gregor has not come into work, he tries to placate him and mentally thinks that he will be able to make the 8 o’clock train to work. Why!! No one in their right mind would be thinking about going to a job as mundane as Gregor’s when they are in the body of an insect. “Gregor realized that the chief clerk must on no account be allowed to go away in this [negative] frame of mind in his position… Gregor had this foresight. The chief clerk must be detained, soothed, persuaded, and finally won over…” (68). Wow. Gregor is more intent on trying to get the chief clerk to like him than he is about getting better. He never even takes into account that he is ill and that he could go to the hospital right across his house to receive some sort of treatment. The thing that makes me feel even worse for Gregor is that the job he has is pretty much BS. He has to work at this company because his parents are indebted to the boss. Maybe if he was some artist introspecting and doing something he loved him wanting to work would have reason, but no. He works at a mundane job which he really has no liking for in order to help his under appreciative parents. In the devastating state the Gregor is in, the fact that he does not take a minute of the day to think “oh no poor me, my life sucks” is unacceptable. I’m not advocating for people to complain but someone in that situation deserves some self pity and it disturbs me that he cannot feel that. He does not live for himself and therefore cannot emotionally connect to himself. “The boy thinks nothing but his work… He just sits there quietly at the table reading a newspaper or looking through railroad timetables. The only amusement he gets is working with his jigsaw…” (60). Gregor has no freedom. Kafka’s indirect characterization of the protagonist shows his disgusting selflessness and his disregard for himself. Through portraying the metamorphosis with such indifference, the author shows how the main concern is Gregor’s life is not him. This is the nightmare of any existentialist. The movement advocates living for oneself and doing things because one feels that that is the right thing to do. Gregor will never experience that and it sucks. Rather, his own problems lie very low on the list of his priorities.
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