Self-Transcendence In James Joyce's 'The Metamorphosis'

Register to read the introduction… Thus, his job is the “cataract” that disables him from truly living, and keeps him from establishing relationships with those around him and wholly expressing his creativity. Gabriel Conroy experiences similar feelings of disillusionment in James Joyce’s The Dead. Gabriel lives in a “cloud” of misperceptions, and constantly suffers from obsessive misinterpretations of how others perceive him. As a result, Gabriel possesses a close-minded and defensive attitude, which affects his ability to experience true love and wholly appreciate his life. Gregor’s obsession with his job, and Gabriel’s constant fear of being judged by others, hinder their abilities to reach self-transcendence. Once they break these barriers, they learn to possess this theory of self-transcendence, and ultimately seek to espy the true essence of …show more content…
Music is the creative art form that enables Gregor to rekindle his love for his sister Grete, and also provides Gregor with unknown nourishment that satisfies the need for beauty in his life. Grete’s violin playing “forces Gregor out of his confinement, and moves him to show his appreciation for the beauty of her violin playing that no one else could express.” (Pg. 46) Gregor’s persistence to “inch himself farther onto the immaculate living room floor” (Pg. 46), despite being physically soiled and “completely covered with the dust that blanketed his room” (Pg. 45), suggests his dire craving for human love, and his determination to further draw himself to the splendor of his sister’s music. Gregor’s exposure and admiration to music temporarily moves him from his depression, and his metamorphosis serves as the medium through which he feeds his longing. After Gregor’s metamorphosis, Gregor undergoes dejection in which he finds himself uncomfortable, uncertain, and lost due to the lack of compassion that others