ipl-logo

Perception Vs. Reality In James Kafka's The Metamorphosis

1361 Words6 Pages

In liteture, perception verses reality is a common topic. Often times a character will say something that the readers can perceive in more than one way. The reader only reads what the narrator perceives, not what is happening throughout the plot of the story. James Kafka’s short story, “The metamorphosis” stated “When Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed into a monstrous insect.(Kafka, 1)” Did Gregor turn into a bug, or was that just what Gregor Believed happen to him. It is very possible that Gregor is suffering from a severe case of the mental illness, Schizophrenia. According to Web MD, symptoms for schizophrenia include not following through, hallucinations, confused thoughts and speech, withdraw, …show more content…

It is often times difficult for people with schizophrenia to organize thoughts and to make decisions. When Grete was playing the violin for the Boarders, Gregor forgot everything and made a bad decision. “Mr.Samsa cried the m idle gentleman to Gregors father, and without wasting another word pointed with his index finger at Gregor, who was slowly advancing. The violin stopped, the middle gentleman, shaking his head, smiled first at his friends and then looked at Gregor again. (Kafka, 74)” The violin caused Gregor to drop everything and go to it. This is probably because the violin caused Gregor sound familiar, and he wants to know what it is again. “Gregor had remained close only to his sister, and it was his secret plan that she, who unlike Gregor loved music and could play the violin with a deep feeling, should next year attend the Conservatory, despite the expense which, great as it was, would have to be met in some way. (Kafka, 43)“ The violin was an important part of his life before he started to show symptoms. This is why it could cause him to go into a trance, and try to follow the music. Gregor, living under a couch for a few months look like a homeless person than a member of the family, so when the boarders see him they are rather surprised, and notify the owner of the house, Mr. Samsa. Gregor’s decision making skills have been greatly reduced due to his

Show More
Related

Gregor's Transformation Rhetorical Analysis

233 Words | 1 Pages

Gregor’s initial reaction to his transformation shows his preoccupation with work. His confusion over his radical transformation does not last long, quickly becoming concerned with work and disregarding that he woke up physically transformed into a monstrous vermin. Immediately after realizing he had transformed, Gregor explains, “Well, I haven’t given up hope completely; once I’ve gotten the money together to pay off my parents’ debt to [the boss] that will probably take another five to six years… But for the time being I’d better get up, since my train leaves at five” (4). The quick transition of Gregor’s thoughts from the initial shock to his economic duties reveals his ironic nonchalant attitude towards his nonsensical transformation and

Read More

Gregor Duty To His Father

507 Words | 3 Pages

Here Gregor is contemplating the impracticality of missing work, while completely ignoring the fact that he turned into a vermin. Gregor’s ignorance to his own personal problems highlights his dedication to pay off his family 's debts (pg 9), at the expense of his wellness. The overcast weather and the mention of his depressed mood creates a pessimistic mood which would feed into Gregor’s already gloomy outlook on life. His want to sleep and forget his problems shows a pressure that Gregor must always be under. His hardworking attitude doesn’t match up to his willingness to ignore his problems.

Read More

Mr. Samsa In Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis

616 Words | 3 Pages

1. Almost from the very beginning of Gregor’s metamorphosis, Mr. Samsa has been unwilling to accept Gregor as his son. Furthermore, Gregor’s transformation into an offensive form of an insect, constantly reminds Mr. Samsa of the grotesque, feeble, and pathetic aberration that he has fathered. Consequently, now that Gregor has genuinely revealed himself in all his audacious behavior, his cruel father is driven to destroy him. In his eyes, Gregor has become everything loathsome to him—scrawny, parasitic, and futile—not the kind of son this once successful and ambitious storekeeper could be proud of.

Read More

How Did Gregor Samsa Change Throughout The Metamorphosis

484 Words | 2 Pages

The narrator said, “During the first fortnight, Gregor’s parents could not bring themselves to enter his room…” He has been disconnected from his family to the point where they’re emotionally unstable and unable to treat him as he deserves with affection and comfort to help him cope with his metamorphosis. The narrator shows this disconnection before the mutation,”Gregor later earned so much money that he was in a position to cover the expenses for the entire family…” He later described the exchange not “particularly warm”. Gregor feels alienated by his parents because of the lack of affection for him providing for them.

Read More

The Role Of Gregor In The Metamorphosis

1095 Words | 5 Pages

This hurricane of emotion was solely based on how Gregor had not gone to work that morning. Additionally, the only reason why Gregor did not go to work that morning was because he had gone through a metamorphosis into a vermin and had trouble going through his normal routine. He could hardly manage to get out of bed, much less go out to work. This causes the rest of the Samsa family to begin developing negative emotions towards Gregor. The family 's rejection of Gregor continues throughout, and an example of this is after the first time Gregor got out of his room.

Read More

Cruelty In Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis

777 Words | 4 Pages

Gregor began to resent his father for throwing household items at him, squashing him like a bug. Even his beloved sister Grete began irritating Gregor by removing all of his belonging from his room, leaving him with nothing. The cruelty performed on Gregor by his own family sends him into a dark pit of despair. With nothing to live for he began to slowly end his life, making one final sacrifice for the ones he loves

Read More

Metamorphosis Franz Kafka Euphemism Analysis

747 Words | 3 Pages

Transforming and Romanticizing a Storyline The Metamorphosis, a novella written by Franz Kafka, attracted the attention of many of its readers due to the writing framework and shocking concepts. The story depicts a man named Gregor Samsa who has befallen the fate of a cockroach- literally. After being transformed into a large bug, Gregor goes through the struggles of misunderstanding, neglect, and loss of his family relationships.

Read More

Freedom Of Choice In Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis

1058 Words | 5 Pages

Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka was written in 1915, it was based on a man named Gregor, a travelling salesman who wakes up to find himself transformed into an insect. Disgusted by his appearance he tries to deal with his new condition, but he is forced to endure the rejection of his family, which is what eventually drove him to his death. Despite having two different characters, one in real life and the other fictional, there is still a correlation between both; showing the author´s feelings, ideas and even problems, that are thrown into the story in a way to express his anguish.

Read More

Summary Of Deconstructionism In Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis

769 Words | 4 Pages

What is deconstruction in literature? According to Merriam Webster, a deconstructionist literary criticism is a “philosophical or critical method which asserts that meanings, metaphysical constructs, and hierarchical are always rendered unstable by their dependence on ultimately arbitrary signifiers” (Merriam). In other words, a deconstructionist literary criticism looks at the book as a whole and deconstructs the pieces of the novel and how they may seem unstable when compared to the whole meaning. This mindset is exhibited in that of The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka. Franz Kafka leaves many aspects of the novel unexplained and he includes details that are unstable to the meaning of the novel as a whole.

Read More

Influences On The Metamorphosis By Franz Kafka

2015 Words | 9 Pages

There are hundreds of works of literature out in the world, many of them are great, and some are not as great. What makes them great is the truth behind them, the true feelings, and what it truly meant to the author. Many great works of literature are influenced by several different things, in the case of “The Metamorphosis”, it was influenced by the life of Franz Kafka, the author, and his real- life experiences. The Freudian concept help explain why “The Metamorphosis” contains symbols and clues that can be used to compare certain relationships throughout Kafka’s life, one being with his father, and the other with woman who entered his life. Franz Kafka was a German man who worked as a lawyer who worked at the workmen’s Accident Insurance

Read More

Characterism And Realism In Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis?

752 Words | 4 Pages

The first aspect, an element that defies natural law, is included in each story by transforming the main character into an insect, an example of Kafka drawing from “The Transformation of Arachne into a Spider.” Secondly, including an element treated as realistic, is shown in The Metamorphosis by having Gregor’s boss show up at his house because he was late to work, shown when Gregor’s father says, “the chief clerk has come round and wants to know why you didn 't leave on the early train.” This element is shown in “The Transformation of Arachne into a Spider” by having Pallas appear and the townspeople act as if nothing strange has happened, demonstrated when “The maid alone stood unappall 'd.” The third aspect, revealing human truth, is done through writing a deeper meaning and message into the story. Kafka writes the meaning of his story to be not to take anything for granted because at any given moment, it can be taken away.

Read More

Identity In Ovid's Metamorphosis

1857 Words | 8 Pages

Hurry, get the doctor. Did you just hear Gregor talking?’ ‘That was a voice of an animal’” (12). Through Gregor’s perspective, one may assume that his response to his manager was heard loud and clear and the only modification to his identity is the physical change he has undergone which highlights the importance of Kafka’s change in perspective. Although Gregor believes himself to be in control of the situation, the third person narration as well as the other character’s remarks reveal quite the opposite.

Read More

Guilt In Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis

431 Words | 2 Pages

(Kafka 14). Although he had just awoken to find himself transformed into a gigantic bug, Gregor worried more about how much he despised his work. The pressure that the family placed on Gregor led him to be less concerned with his own well-being; furthermore, his inability to get to work makes Gregor feel guilty. Gregor is enslaved to his job and his family; when his mother said, "'Believe me, sir, there's something the matter with him. Otherwise how would Gregor have missed a train?

Read More

Feminism In The Metamorphosis

795 Words | 4 Pages

He became embodied by his weak form and closed off to the real world, literally. Gregor’s influence on his family also allowed his father to grow as an individual and appear superior when dressing within his

Read More

Metamorphosis By Franz Kafka Thesis

192 Words | 1 Pages

Throughout the story, comparisons are made when Gregor instantaneously goes insane, the

Read More

More about Perception Vs. Reality In James Kafka's The Metamorphosis

Open Document