Metamorphosis And Notes From The Underground: A Literary Analysis

In the Disney movie The Little Mermaid, Arial doesn’t want what everyone else around her wants in life. She dreams of being a human unlike her friends and family. Both Fyodor Dostoyevsky, and Franz Kafka are different from the norm, like Arial. They experiment with what it means to be a “normal” human in their books. Though the books Metamorphosis, and Notes from the Underground have different authors, they share many parallels, but also have numerous contradicting themes. Franz Kafka had a hard family life, his only glimmer of hope was from his sister who betrayed him. In Metamorphosis, we see that this is represented through Grete, Gregor’s sister. Grete at first tries to understand and help Gregor but later gives up hope. “‘It’s got to go,’ called the sister, ‘that’s the only remedy, Father. All you have to do is try to shake off the idea that that’s Gregor. Our real misfortune comes from believing if for so long.’” (Page 47-48, Kafka). In many respects, Grete is similar to Liza, a

The theme of Notes from the underground has more to do with the fact that you can’t alter who you are. You are the way you are and no matter how much you hope, it won’t hinder the end result. “‘My God,’ he thought, ‘what a strenuous profession I’ve chosen! Traveling day in and day out. The turmoil of business is much greater than in the home office, and on top of that I’m subject to the worries about train connections, the bad meals at irregular hours, an intercourse with people that constantly changes, never lasts, never becomes cordial.” (Page 11-12, Kafka). “I admit that twice two makes four is an excellent thing, but if we are to give everything its due, twice two makes five is sometimes a very charming thing too.” (Page 23, Dostoyevsky). Even though they were both set during the 1800s, the themes are still relevant today. They embody what it