The Metamorphosis Q2

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School

Florida International University *

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Course

1102

Subject

Arts Humanities

Date

Oct 30, 2023

Type

docx

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Uploaded by CommodoreMoonLark23

Q2 0342054 P.3 If a member of society does not meet the expectations placed upon them, they become alienated from society. Irony and symbolic imagery characterize patient and accepting Gregor Samsa. Verbal and dramatic irony emphasize the satire that Gregor, the breadwinner of the family, has become a burden to them, and as such was outcasted. For instance, the verbal irony of the phrase “what a strenuous career it is that I've chosen! Travelling day in and day out,” alludes to the detail that Gregor did not choose his career and is being forced to work as a travelling salesman because he needs to provide for his family. Despite Gregor not enjoying his time working as a travelling salesman, Gregor had been patient and weathered through his job to be able to give his family a peaceful life. Even if Gregor had wanted to “quit long ago,” Gregor had to keep being the breadwinner of his family, so his family that takes advantage of him like this does not have to work—even though they could. Furthermore, the dramatic irony of the manager’s speech exemplifies the comedic aspect of a hopeless situation. After the manager’s speech and realization that Gregor was in fact a beetle, the manager had run away screaming. As a result, the comedic tone of the reader knowing the situation, but the “outside world” did not know about the situation, leaving the audience with a comedic tone. Gregor cannot possibly go to work in the state he is in and as such, become a disappointment to society—his family. Even though, Gregor is more worried about the fact that he might be fired and has become a burden to his family, than having turned into a bug. The breadwinner has become a parasite to the family and is now being alienated.

The symbolic imagery exemplifies the life of exile and alienation that is forced upon one when they have not met the expectations of society. For instance, the imagery of the hard-shelled back of the bug symbolizes the hard life that Gregor has had to live because of his family’s expectations. Other travelling salesmen do not have to work as hard as Gregor does and it became quite clear he had become the outcast of society. Gregor has always been alienated from society, whether it be as a human or as a bug. Furthermore, the door to Gregor’s bedroom symbolizes the separation from the “outside world” and the world Gregor lives in—his bedroom. Gregor was abandoned in his room because of his appearance, but he has always been alienated from society. However, this self-alienation had been caused because he had become a burden to his family and thus, he had been exiled. Not only was Gregor alienated from society as a while but was self-alienated from his family because of his new condition—that turned him into a parasite. The alienation that Gregor has had to suffer through because of the burden of familial expectation has been apparent throughout the first chapter. Kafka’s imagery and irony throughout the first chapter characterizes Gregor Samsa as a accepting and patient person. The time period this novel was published in was during World War I; thus, the book symbolizes the isolation and displaced most people felt during that time, in Europe. The angst and existential dread Kafka have managed to capture in the Metamorphosis is still present in society to this day. The title The Metamorphosis reflects the change the culture in Europe was experiencing, which created this sense of alienation. Gregor reflects the feelings the people felt during this time perfectly through his struggles of alienation because his roe as the sole provider of the family was taken from him leading him to become a parasite to the family.

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