Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis
Critique of Literary Elements and the Psychological Analysis of Symbolism in Franz Kafka’s ‘The Metamorphosis’
Sarah Long
October 13, 2010
ENG 125 Introduction to Literature
Deborah Duff
In the world of literature, there are few books that can affect ones life the way that Franz Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis” affected mine. There are numerous themes that flow through “The Metamorphosis”, and countless elements of symbolism, that in most cases could not be deciphered with out the critical study of Kafka’s life experiences and outlooks. Although a clear understanding of Kafka as a man is beneficial and ultimately necessary for the literary analysis of “The Metamorphosis”, Kafka wrote it with out the knowledge that one day his words would be interpreted on a level beyond the intelligence of the commonly educated man or woman. This fact allows anyone to enter the world of Gregor Samsa completely blind to the forensics behind the story, and still be able to proceed with out restraint (Gray 86). “The Metamorphosis” is fueled with compassion, and built on the basic aspects of life that cause pain and incite fear in humans; change, rejection, paralysis (which is technically the loss of control of one’s self), failure, loneliness, and death. …show more content…
In Lectures on Literature, Vladimir Nabokov concludes in regard to “The Metamorphosis” that, “any outstanding work of art is a fantasy insofar as it reflects the unique world of a unique individual.” (Nabokov 252). Although Nabokov was referring to “The Metamorphosis” when he stated the above, his statement can be used to give a basic understanding of all of Kafka’s works, which are often analyzed side by side for the sheer fact that all of his works contain and maintain the same overall
Sarah Long
October 13, 2010
ENG 125 Introduction to Literature
Deborah Duff
In the world of literature, there are few books that can affect ones life the way that Franz Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis” affected mine. There are numerous themes that flow through “The Metamorphosis”, and countless elements of symbolism, that in most cases could not be deciphered with out the critical study of Kafka’s life experiences and outlooks. Although a clear understanding of Kafka as a man is beneficial and ultimately necessary for the literary analysis of “The Metamorphosis”, Kafka wrote it with out the knowledge that one day his words would be interpreted on a level beyond the intelligence of the commonly educated man or woman. This fact allows anyone to enter the world of Gregor Samsa completely blind to the forensics behind the story, and still be able to proceed with out restraint (Gray 86). “The Metamorphosis” is fueled with compassion, and built on the basic aspects of life that cause pain and incite fear in humans; change, rejection, paralysis (which is technically the loss of control of one’s self), failure, loneliness, and death. …show more content…
In Lectures on Literature, Vladimir Nabokov concludes in regard to “The Metamorphosis” that, “any outstanding work of art is a fantasy insofar as it reflects the unique world of a unique individual.” (Nabokov 252). Although Nabokov was referring to “The Metamorphosis” when he stated the above, his statement can be used to give a basic understanding of all of Kafka’s works, which are often analyzed side by side for the sheer fact that all of his works contain and maintain the same overall