The topic of metamorphosis in literature is not a unique concept, in fact more than one great piece of literature have used this topic to talk about the theme of morality and identity. to show In his novella The Breast Philip Roth uses the story of the fantastic and somewhat ridiculous transformation of Professor David Kepesh into a 155 lb human breast to show the changes in one’s moral identity and the identities of those close to them over a period of metamorphosis. Roth uses three stages or crises in The Breast, new and insatiable sexual urges, exposure to less virtuous persons & the struggle with madness and yearnings for earthly delights & the acceptance of reality, to highlight these changes in morality and identity. After, of course, the initial shock of waking up in hospital and being informed he has transformed into a 155 lb. breast the first crisis Kepesh experiences is regarding his sexuality and sexual pleasure. Although he has transformed physically, Kepesh retains a male consciousness. Earlier in the story Kepesh tells us about his sudden increase in sexual appetite with his girlfriend Claire Ovington that he described as “a kind of pleasure that made me writhe and claw at the sheets, made me twist and turn in the bed with a helpless abandon that I had previously associated more with women than with men—and women more imaginary than real.” (Roth 11). This is the first we learn of Kepesh’s sexuality and sex drive, and also the first sign of the impending
According to Peter Wood the historian the “Terrible Transformation” was realization of slaves that their children will be slaves, too, or in another word when slavery became racial. Based on the rule of Virginia a child born in colony is going to be slave or free based on the condition of mother(whether she is slave or free). Settlers were divided in two categories: free settlers and indentured servants. Free settlers could pay for their own expenses or their own passage and owned land, while indentured servants were workers who voluntary gave up their freedom and signed a contracted with free men to work for them. In s sense, servants and slaves were almost the same with one difference, servants could be free after the termination of their contract, and also receive freedom dues like land, while slaves had to work
turns out to be a punishment for that rebellion. The Metamorphosis is a story of
In Mary Shelly’s epistolary Frankenstein and Franz Kafka’s novella “The Metamorphosis,” the authors explore the dangerous impact of society and rejection. Both creatures are rejected and isolated by their families have been defined as monsters. But, the authors force the reader to look past physical appearance to uncover who the real monster is, society; it defines what make us human. Society defines others solely based on what they see, disregarding any humane characteristics they may possess.
For many centuries, a vast dispute has iced the world over whether genes or environmental inspirations might affect one’s disposition, development, and deeds. As crucial as canvas in art, the philosophy of nature and nurture come together as the fundamental structure to one’s personality and genetic makeup. In the novella, Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, the association of the exterior appearance and inner feelings are openly linked. The hideous creature that the science addict, Victor Frankenstein, makes is initially innocent yet severely deformed. His nature is to be benevolent and sympathetic, however, society only views his external appearance, which is of defect. The natural act of mankind is to judge based on exterior appearance, thus the creature is quickly detested and branded as an abnormal mutant due to his peripheral look. Mary Shelly’s efficient utilization of nature vs. nurture conflict ultimately serves to emphasize that the nurturing development of an individual gyrates around nature.
Many people have sometimes found themselves in some really terrifying situations, only to wake up shortly after and realize that they were dreaming. In “The Metamorphosis” by Franz Kafka, the main character Gregor Samsa is a traveling salesman who had devoted his life to taking care of his mother, father, and sister. That is, however, until he woke up one morning and found himself transformed into an insect. At that point, he became useless to his family and had to come to terms with his new identity as a bug. This, of course, was a totally different life to have then the one he previously held. Identity is an issue that most people encounter at some time or another, so the “metamorphosis” is somewhat a day-to-day occurrence for these individuals.
The Metamorphosis and the Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, respectively by Franz Kafka and Robert Louis Stevenson, are novellas discussing transformations of two individuals into worse characters or creatures in regard to levels of morality and appearance. Despite both novellas discussing the absurdity of a bureaucracy and social restrictions leading up to destruction and isolation along with complete disregard to principles, Henry Jekyll’s transformation in The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a consequence of the protagonist’s desire to stray away from society’s expectations and oppressions while Gregor’s transformation in The Metamorphosis is a result of the dehumanizing effects of society.
However the central theme of the masterpiece “The Metamorphosis” is change. The novel illustrates the idea of change and transformation through its main character Gregor Samsa who transforms into a large insect. The real
In Mary Shelley’s gothic novel, Frankenstein, three different positions are portrayed in the story of Victor Frankenstein’s creation. Shelley presents the story through letters that Robert Walton writes to his sister as he is hearing the retelling of the story from Frankenstein himself. While discovering Frankenstein’s and the Creature’s backstories, the reader witnesses the inevitable nature of man and the crucial effects of one’s environment; nurture is a problematic component in the Creature’s life while Victor’s inevitable nature overrides his upbringing.
The most obvious metamorphosis is that of Gregor. Throughout his entire life, Gregor has let other people make his decisions for him. The physical metamorphosis that he undergoes is the first occurrence in his life that no one in his family has told him what to do. This change allows Gregor to find his inner self and disconnect himself from the orders and hardships brought out by his family. By means of his transformation into a giant insect, Gregor has been released from his responsibility to support his family without having to assume the guilt of letting them down. He has also changed from the provider to the dependent. Richter brings up the point that the transformation of Gregor was not necessarily a bad one.
The analysis that The Metamorphosis may be a warning that as time goes along society will steal our identities is a viable analysis. It can be
The novel “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley involves the complex issues with the creation of life through an inanimate life. Shelley uses these character archetypes to develop a deeper meaning of the characters intentions. Shelley does an excellent job at allowing the reader to have a peak at the characters inner thoughts and feelings. The archetypes presented in Frankenstein allow readers to identify with the character's role and purpose.
story. While he had expressed earlier satisfaction with the work, he later found it to be flawed, even calling the ending "unreadable." Whatever his own opinion may have been, the short story has become one of the most popularly read and analyzed works of twentieth-century literature. Isolation and alienation are at the heart of this surreal story of a man transformed overnight into a kind of beetle. In contrast to much of Kafka's fiction, "The Metamorphosis" has not a sense of incompleteness. It is formally structured
In Mary Shelley's novel, Victor Frankenstein suffers an extreme psychological crisis following his violation of what is considered a fundamental biological principle. His creation of life undermines the role of women in his life and the role of sexuality, and allows existing misogynist and homosexual tendencies to surface. Victor represses what he has uncovered about himself, and it merges into a cohesive whole in his psyche that becomes projected on the instrument of revelation, the monster.
The horror classic novel Frankenstein has gathered a great deal of critical and commercial attention since first being introduced in 1818, and naturally there has been many academics who have analyzed many of the novel’s biggest themes, symbols, and motifs. This also includes in analyzing the author herself, Mary Shelley. Marcia Aldrich, who has her Ph.D. in English from the University of Washington, is one of the academics to underline the role of being a female writer in the 19th century and what importance this plays on the novel Frankenstein. In her article, co-written by Richard Isomaki, “The Woman Writer as Frankenstein” analyzes the significance of Mary Shelley being the daughter of a writer and how this contributed to her writing Frankenstein, which they speculate as her, Mary Shelley, envisioning herself as the Monster. Aldrich and Isomaki’s “The Woman Writer as Frankenstein” makes valid and persuasive points, which effectively argues that the novel is semi-autobiographical in the sense that Mary Shelley pictured her as the Frankenstein Monster, for many of the concerns that the authors bring up in their article highlight the insecurities, doubts, and inexorable frustrations of a young woman writing in the 19th century.
Is someone’s appearance an accurate definition of who they are? Do people’s circumstances affect the way they interact with themselves and others? Are we products of our environments? Arguably, it is human nature to be shaped and formed by our surroundings, to be changed by our environments in ways that we may not expect. The same can be seen in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, novella written by Robert Louis Stevenson, and Psycho, a film directed by the renowned Alfred Hitchcock. The basis of both stories is the duality of the mind, and how society molds the alter personality. Thus, in both Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Psycho, Robert Louis Stevenson and Alfred Hitchcock use diction and symbolism to illustrate how society shapes an individual’s mind, leading to the creation of two personalities.