“Existentialism is a Humanism” In the bizarre novella, The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, the author portrays the fundamental tenets of existentialism through its main character Gregor. He starts the story off with the semi-isolated traveling salesman, who wakes up one morning as an insect or type of vermin. Since he and the reader have no clue as to how that happened, one experiences a sense of an existentialist crisis of sorts. Through the perspective of Gregor, the author writes about the process of adaption to change. Kafka as a writer brilliantly lays out the foundation for modern existentialism, and helps illustrate the futility in the search for meaning in a radical and absurd society. In a world such as ours, it is most advisable to
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He dies when Grete was the one to rally him back into his room. This would go on to suggest that there is some difference between physical or materialistic feelings and knowledge, and that Kafka recognizes it: “His conviction that he would have to disappear was, if possible, even firmer than his sister’s...Then, without his consent, his head sank down to the floor, and from his nostrils streamed his last weak breath.” (51). With this quote, Gregor finally gives in to death only when Grete hurts his feelings. If his loving sister no longer cared for him, what was he to do with life? The sole purpose that he had managed to retain from the start of the book was to ensure the safety of his sister. Just as described in the movement of existentialism itself, materialistic items are to be tossed aside while knowledge and emotions are given power. Karl Marx, a german economist and journalist, brought up the corruption of capitalism and the government. He argued that as an entity it told people to do certain things, buy certain products, etc., and that the way out was to get rid of those materialistic needs; they were obsolete. Now here, with the main character, the physical items with which he is hit hardly affect him. But, the emotional pain felt by him at the end of the story was, ‘the straw that broke the camel’s back.’ Kafka uses symbolism to hint towards the greater context of these events. Once Gregor realized the situation he was in and what he had done to offend himself and his family, he perished. This goes to show that emotions, and feelings are important tenants to
He dies when Grete was the one to rally him back into his room. This would go on to suggest that there is some difference between physical or materialistic feelings and knowledge, and that Kafka recognizes it: “His conviction that he would have to disappear was, if possible, even firmer than his sister’s...Then, without his consent, his head sank down to the floor, and from his nostrils streamed his last weak breath.” (51). With this quote, Gregor finally gives in to death only when Grete hurts his feelings. If his loving sister no longer cared for him, what was he to do with life? The sole purpose that he had managed to retain from the start of the book was to ensure the safety of his sister. Just as described in the movement of existentialism itself, materialistic items are to be tossed aside while knowledge and emotions are given power. Karl Marx, a german economist and journalist, brought up the corruption of capitalism and the government. He argued that as an entity it told people to do certain things, buy certain products, etc., and that the way out was to get rid of those materialistic needs; they were obsolete. Now here, with the main character, the physical items with which he is hit hardly affect him. But, the emotional pain felt by him at the end of the story was, ‘the straw that broke the camel’s back.’ Kafka uses symbolism to hint towards the greater context of these events. Once Gregor realized the situation he was in and what he had done to offend himself and his family, he perished. This goes to show that emotions, and feelings are important tenants to