Metamorphosis
Kaydee Redd
12/7/10
7
Metamorphosis
In the book “Metamorphosis” Franz Kafka, the author, used many different symbols throughout the book, such as the couch and blanket to symbolize events in the book that are a mirror into the events in Kafka's life. In this book, Kafka combines a realistic situation with another situation that is impossible. All of his writings have at least one thing in common, there is at least one window that gives you a look into what happened in Kafka's real life, and the problems he faced. Kafka used Gregor's metamorphosis to represent himself, and through him he uses the couch and the blanket to show how Gregor wanted to shield his family from himself, just as Kafka did. Kafka was born into a Jewish family but his father forced them to learn and act as Germans to avoid trials and prosecutions that were brought upon Jews during a period of time when people thought they were dirty and worthless.
Kafka used the couch and blanket to symbolize how much he still wanted to protect his family even if it meant hiding his real self from the world. At first these two objects seem very insignificant, that they are just two pieces in of furniture in Gregor's room, but they represent so much more than that. Kafka used the blanket to represent how he had to hide himself from his father because he was always so disappointed in him. In the article “The Metamorphosis”, the author, Timothy Sexton writes, “that is to say, Samsa, having been a successful salesman, was once the pillar of his family, but now, being helpless, his sister assumes in the eyes of his parents, the role of leadership and reassuring strength that he had once occupied” (Scott 37). Kafka spent his whole life trying to please his family, mainly his father, but never could, he eventually settled for protecting them, which is what the couch and blanket represent. Not only did he have to hide himself from his family, but also from society, the world around him, so his family wouldn't
12/7/10
7
Metamorphosis
In the book “Metamorphosis” Franz Kafka, the author, used many different symbols throughout the book, such as the couch and blanket to symbolize events in the book that are a mirror into the events in Kafka's life. In this book, Kafka combines a realistic situation with another situation that is impossible. All of his writings have at least one thing in common, there is at least one window that gives you a look into what happened in Kafka's real life, and the problems he faced. Kafka used Gregor's metamorphosis to represent himself, and through him he uses the couch and the blanket to show how Gregor wanted to shield his family from himself, just as Kafka did. Kafka was born into a Jewish family but his father forced them to learn and act as Germans to avoid trials and prosecutions that were brought upon Jews during a period of time when people thought they were dirty and worthless.
Kafka used the couch and blanket to symbolize how much he still wanted to protect his family even if it meant hiding his real self from the world. At first these two objects seem very insignificant, that they are just two pieces in of furniture in Gregor's room, but they represent so much more than that. Kafka used the blanket to represent how he had to hide himself from his father because he was always so disappointed in him. In the article “The Metamorphosis”, the author, Timothy Sexton writes, “that is to say, Samsa, having been a successful salesman, was once the pillar of his family, but now, being helpless, his sister assumes in the eyes of his parents, the role of leadership and reassuring strength that he had once occupied” (Scott 37). Kafka spent his whole life trying to please his family, mainly his father, but never could, he eventually settled for protecting them, which is what the couch and blanket represent. Not only did he have to hide himself from his family, but also from society, the world around him, so his family wouldn't