Dear AP students:
One last blog entry. And it's very simple. First, let's hear about the the possible themes of The Metamorphosis? What could we say is the meaning or message of the story?
Second, Gregor isn't the only character that undergoes a change in this story. Who else does? And what does that change have to do with any possible theme?
Third, did anybody notice that at the beginning of the story, the weather was rainy, and then weather seems to be absent from the story as the setting is all indoors, but that at the end of the story there was finally sunshine and the characters ventured outside? What's that all about?
See you tomorrow. Make sure you study all the blog entries, to include the student comments.
One of the possible major themes of the novella is the struggle to maintain personal identity in the midst of a demanding society or tragic situation. In the beginning of the story, the author introduces the protagonist to be heavily concerned about supporting his family. Gregor is forced to accept the job as a traveling salesman even though he is not passionate for his career. Gregor would come in day in and day out only worrying about making sure that his family does not plunge down too deep in their poor economic state. In fact, Gregor was so caught up within his family’s terrible economic situation and working that he rarely had time for himself. Therefore, Gregor did not have much of an opportunity to explore his true self. The protagonist did not have to chance to explore his personal interests or develop hobbies that he will enjoy. However, the metamorphosis that the main character goes through gives himself time to thing for himself. Gregor can allow himself to be angry at his family members for neglecting him and he can ponder on what he wants to do for the rest of his life. A second possible theme of the novella is that of family duty. The author made it obvious that prior to Gregor’s transformation that he was the man that the rest of his family depended upon. As the story progressed and the other minor characters realized that Gregor could not longer support the family, each family member took up a responsibility. Gregor’s father obtained a job as a messenger. The protagonist’s mother sewed for extra income. Third, Gregor’s sister worked at a local store. Also, aside from Gregor, his sister was the character that changed the most. Grete went from a timid, loyal, and restricted young girl to an opinionated, strong, and hard-working woman. Towards the conclusion of the novel, the mother and father looked to Grete for leadership on how to deal with Gregor. Grete did not have this respect and authority before the unfortunate metamorphosis. Finally, the change of the gloomy weather to sunshine in the end of the novella symbolizes change. The dreary weather hinted at the reader that there troubles ahead. Kafka chooses to end the novella in a hopeful note, allowing the reader to interpret that better days are up ahead for the family.
ReplyDeleteOne possible theme of the novella could be the constant struggle that wears down a being that is and feels unfit, unequipped and is isolated from society and the effects it has on that being principally a loss of identity, Gregor tries to cling to his human qualities and tastes for example the furniture and the painting or photograph of the lady... I think this story translates very well into the real setting of an immigrant who in the most uncomfortable situation could, like Gregor, be unable to communicate and associate himself or herself with those around, trying to fit into this mold that is not costumed to his or her cultural past.
ReplyDeleteI think the sister Grete also undergoes change. It seems she has her own transformation like Gregor does throughout the story only that unlike Gregor, she turns from a girl to woman. I do not understand how this has to do with the possible theme i just talked about so...
I noticed the change of setting but not in relation to the beginning just to the story overall... I think this setting simply deals with Grete's transformation and the hopeful future for the family forgetting the past.
Possible themes I thought about while reading “The Metamorphosis” were, well, the first one are family duties: how Gregor is trying to be what we’d call “the man of the family”, and how much he exhausts himself at work. Another I think would be the economical effects on families. We see that now with the economic decline, people are becoming more and more dangerous to get something worthy economically, or we see them deteriorate psychologically. There’s also alienation and self identity which we have been talking a lot about. With the theme of alienation, Gregor is alienated from work, life, and even himself, which could be the fact of his transformation into a being which in itself is alienated for what it is. Maybe even this alienation and transformation is because of the pressures of the society Gregor is in – I am not sure if its modern society he is in, but is shows all the esteem factors. While with self-identity, while as a vermin, Gregor has a lot, or so I think, of time to think about what he had done, and what he possibly wanted to do if his life got better. Sometimes Gregor showed resentment on how he spoke about taking care of his parents and sister, but that was also a way for him to find out what it is he wanted – although, that’d be wrong to say since the last thing he did was ever think about himself first. Another I thought could be a theme was ‘freedom’. Gregor Samsa is stuck in a bug’s body until he dies. Maybe this transformation was his way, or the supernatural and non-called way of run away from the economical, and family issues he was going through. I can just imagine how hard it must’ve been to take care of a grown family of three, plus yourself, and also look after them emotionally while wearing yourself down. It is never easy, and Gregor’s death might’ve shown that.
ReplyDeleteThe message of the story could be the way a teen, or young adult looses their sanity, or their identity for trying to please others. Murphy’s Law says “if you try to please everybody, nobody will like you.” I think it’s cruel that Gregor had to die, but maybe he had to decease so we could get the idea of how hard life can be for anybody, how ignorant those we work so hard for can be. Sometimes I think that Kafka tried to show how alienated he felt with his family – just like a bug.
From the rain to the sun – it can be opposites like Heart of Darkness’s black and white. Good was evil, and supposed evil was good.
Aurea Bolaños
In this novella two themes seem more reluctant to represent the essence of what Gregor feels and, how his experience give us insight on. First, the stupidity of life can not be better shown as in the case of Gregor's metamorphosis. The absurdity of life begins because Gregor does not deserver what has happened to him. It seems as if Gregor has always been a hard working son, in a job he hates, with the best future for his family at heart. Gregor even would go as far as to finance Grete's passion for the violin at the conservatory. In other worlds, Gregor has been a great person, and to this to happen to such good person, simply seems absurd. Almost as if no universal system of justice exists, making life pointless. Furthermore, the family seem to act surprised by Gregor's metamorphosis, but at no point do they reach such a level of shock in which they seek help. For example, Grete will confort Gregor with milk and other foods to confort her older brother. By doing this Kafka can, expresse that the family is used to absurdity happening almost on a day by day basis. Their actions imply that the characters do not only expect absurdity but are used to events like this recurring in a pointless world.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, the discontent between the body and mind can be seen in Gregor, and as a possible theme. When the metamorphosis takes place, a battle between Gregor's human mind and insect body begins. For example, Gregor still thinks of going to work and arriving in time, this actions can by no means be completed in such new physical state. Furthermore, Gregor does begin to think as a bug. For instance, he takes comfort in hiding under the tight dark couch, eating foods he would not normally eat otherwise, and climbing around every inch of his room. However, Gregor will de presented with a choice, that will ounce more represent the battle between body and mind. For example, as the mother and Grete remove his furniture to satisfy his physical side, he realizes that his human past is as much important as to rid himself of his past belonging. Consequently, Gregor grabs on to the last item he posses, the woman in furs. This was his final act, as he will die soon after, showing that since the metamorphosis his life has been to decide, to think as a human in an insect's body or as a full insect.
Isaac González Sanabria
One theme in the novalla could be the allination in the family can lead to a broken family. When the story started out the reader got the sence that the family was close but that all changed when Gregor morphed into a bug. Gregor goes through the most noticable change from a human to a bug, but his whole family goes through their own life changes. His sister starts to take care of him in the beggaining of the story but by the end something changed in her to make the site of her brother replusive to her. The mother goes through some changes as well. The mother can not stand the site of her son when she learns that he has changed but after a while of getting used to the idea she then helps her daughter clean his room and remove his things. The family also leaves the Gregor door open so he in some way be apart of the family. This shows that the family in some way got used to the idea of him being there because when the family first saw Gregor as a bug they closed the door on him. The family tries to get back the life they once had but they soon relize that it is not possiable with Gregor being a bug.
ReplyDeleteBailee Baughman
A possible theme for this novella could probably be, "even the good people have to face obstacles that they might not deserve." The reason why I feel like it is a theme is because Gregor obviously did not deserve this kind of transformation even after being responsible and working in order for his family to be happy. In a way, I think it was important for Gregor to undergo this transformation, because he was given the choice to try to do something about it or just cope with the idea of being an insect, which finally he chose to adjust to this lifestyle. Even though it could be argued that Gregor could not do anything about it, I still think that there could be some "force," or thing in the outside world for Gregor to change this horrific obstacle.
ReplyDeleteGrete, is probably another key point in the story. At the beginning we notice her as the timid little fragile girl and as the end approaches she becomes this independent working woman who wants to do her best and not worry her parents. Grete is the example of "the loss of innocence" we all have to go through when she discovers that the world isn't precisely what she thought it was, when Gregor was still human- like.
The change of weather from rainy and cloudy to a day filled with sunshine is significant because it shows that "the sun does come out sooner or later," and good things do come out of bad events. Even though coming out of a difficult obstacle, for example what the Samsa family had to go through, is only an obstacle that brings a good lesson at the end.
-Marianna Meneses
One major theme of the novella is that, wild, random events could occurred to anybody of us without logical reason. that even in our world absurdity is something that occurs and being "perfect" or "good" does not secure a safe future. it seems anybody can fall into a pit of misery and destruction. absurdity exist on our own life and we should not dismiss as a possibility, because doing the right thing will not always lead you to your desire outcome. i strongly belief the most important theme for this book is that of absurdity in our daily life. this is supported by how gregor becomes a bug without explanation even when he does good deeds such as support his family.
ReplyDeleteOne possible theme of the Metamorphosis is the economic effects on the family. Money is a primary motif and is seen throughout the story. Likewise, it has its effects on the family members and how they treat each other. In the story, Gregor is basically a slave to the family, being forced into the role as the bread-winner of the family. Because of this he feels alienated from the rest of his family and the world. He is seen by the family, with the exception of Grete, as only being a source of income. So when he transforms, he is treated with neglect, having lost his role in the family. When the family begins working, they also begin to treat each other differently. They eat dinner together in silence and argue with each other. The effects of their dehumanizing jobs begins to draw them apart and isolate them, just as it did with Gregor.
ReplyDeleteI think the theme for Metamorphosis is when there's a will, there's a way. That may not be an upfront theme but it can be underlying. When Gregor was handed a different way of life, maybe not the best for him, he needed to handle it correctly. He didn't find a way to deal with it. He just let life take its course. With this transformation, his life went downhill. When people change or get handed new opportunities, they make something of themselves. The lesson learned in this novella was to change something if it's not going the way you want it to. The family did, but Gregor failed to. The family found ways to not rely on Gregor. They all found jobs and had people rent out their spare rooms. The Samsas found ways to better themselves. They had the will to fix their financial problems. They gained the ability to independent, while losing their distant son.
ReplyDelete