Metamorphosis and the awakening quotes Flashcards
Metamorphosis - Franz Kafka Marxist interpretation
Through a Marxist interpretation of Franz Kafka’s surrealist novella The Metamorphosis (1915), I believe that it serves as a dark critique of the dehumanising and alienating nature of capitalism. Due to the text’s universality, it is tangibly echoed in our modern society.
Metamorphosis summary
To comment on capitalism in his context, Kafka presents Gregor, whose sole motivation in life is working to pay off his parents’ debts. This is to a degree as extreme as not even feeling free to call in sick, as he is afraid of being called lazy. Subsequently, Gregor’s metamorphosis into an insect is a symbol used to demonstrate his dehumanisation and exploitation by society. Despite being aware that he is no longer physically human, Gregor tries to reason that he is still able to work. The absurdity of the situation highlights Kafka’s dark humour and the value placed on work in the society in which the protagonist lives, to the point where health is no longer a concern.
Metamorphosis opening quote
Metamorphosis beings with the sentence “When Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a monstrous insect. Anomaly is the tone of mundane normalcy as Gregor shows no surprise or human emotion.
Metamorphosis concluding statement
Ultimately, Gregor’s workaholic lifestyle and eventual isolation due to capitalism is highly reminiscent of that of subcultures existing in the world.
The awakening summary
The sea’s sensuality represents Edna Pontellier’s awakening to her independent self: “the touch of the sea is sensuous, enfolding the body in its soft, close embrace.” Its voice calls to Edna with an unceasing whispering that “speaks to the soul.” The sea also represents freedom. In the sea Edna learns to swim independently, an important milestone in her move toward liberation. But she also learns of the dangers posed by swimming too far out; the downside of freedom is risk. As a spiritual metaphor, the sea represents birth and rebirth, the emergence of life from the primordial ocean. On all these levels the sea has a powerful draw for Edna. She looks out at it often and ultimately ends her life in it.
The awakening sensuous quote
Depictions are abundant with sensual qualities; for example, the sun and sea, “The sun was how low in the west and the breeze soft and languorous that come up from the south, charged with the seductive odour of the sea.
The awakening birds
In the Awakening, captive birds symbolize women, caged and broken by the limitation’s society places on them. The opening image of the novel is of two caged birds: a parrot and a mockingbird. Later in the novel, Mademoiselle Reisz tells Edna Pontellier that she will need strong wings to fly if she is committed to defying traditional women’s roles.
