Philosophical Context in Franz Kafka’s Metamorphosis

Intro Kafka never fully embraced Zionism, and he remained ambivalent toward Judaism. He was more openly interested in anarchism and socialism, solely was not commit to either philosophy because he refused to completely align himself with an established worldview. contemporaneity -Kafka was exposed to Modernism. -Modernism was a movement during the late 19th century and wee twentieth century of scientific, technological and industrial development. Modernists shared a confide to create literary plant life that was new and different. Their belief was to capture the reality of modern-day life and that rapid change cause uncertainty, disjointedness, and alienation. Kafka wrote about the absurdity of existence, the modify experience of modern life, and the cruelty of authoritarian power. -The word Kafkaesque has passed into the literature to describe an unsettling, disorienting, nightmarish world that is at once both d consumeful and menacing in its ambiguity and complexity. Kafka s views on Humanity Speaking with his booster dose Max Brod, Kafka once explained that he judgment human beings were trapped in a hopeless world. This belief never leaves Kafkas writing, and it is present in The Metamorphosis, where Gregors unaccompanied option, in the end, is to die.Ironically, the write up ends on an optimistic note, as the family puts itself back together. existentialism -Kafka never studied philosophy but he was friends with several intellectuals and read readys by famous philosophers. -Several people think of Kafka as an existential philosopher. -Existentialism is a 20th-century philosophical movement, which assumes that people are entirely free and thus accountable for what they make of themselves. -The early 19th century philosopher Soren Kierkegaard is regarded as the pose of existentialism. -Franz Kafka was an eventful literary author in existentialism.His story, which is surreal, is i of many modernist literary works that was influenced by existen tialist philosophy. -The Metamorphosis advances the existential view of the responsibility of the private to maintain a balance amid work and leisure. If one chooses to send their life entirely to work, they are no more than droning insects, until now if they devote their lives to leisure, they are no better off. -Gregor initially chooses society everyplace himself, which in turn transformed him into the working drone he was. afterward his physical transformation, he is forced reassert his focus to himself, and society abandons him.Nietzche and Kierkgaard -Kierkegaard and Nietzsche considered the map of making free choices,Kierkegaardsknight of faithand NietzschesUbermenschare vocalisation of people who exhibitFreedom and define the nature of their own existence. -Nietzsches precedent individual invents his or her own values and creates the terms under which they excel. -Gregors antic insect form represents Gregors radical refusal to submit to societys values like Nietzsch ean Ubermensch. Martin Buber -Kafka was friends with philosopher and existentialist Martin Buber.They would send each other letters and these letters were later produce in Bubers The letters of Martin Buber a life of dialogue. Together they discussed existentialism and were sort of a literary circle. They were both jewish and anarchists. -Shared existentialist rejection of achieving real comfort in life. Characters in Kafkas tales are left wanting something, needing a connection to the world that can never be made complete. Sigmund Freud -Kafka was beaten(prenominal) with the newly published works of Sigmund Freud. -However, he was no Freudian supporter and wrote negatively of psychoanalytic theory. But Gregors conflict with his father and the dream-like quality of the story realtes to Freuds analysis of dreams and the Oedipal complex A subconscious sexual desire in a child, especially a male child, for the parent of the opposite sex, normally accompanied by hostility to the p arent of the same sex. All sons looking at they are in competition with their father and often feel in a battle against the father. Father vs. Son in Metamorphosis -Gregor seems to birth a difficult relationship with his father. His family rejects him, and his main enemy is his father, who wants to kill him. When Gregors father sees Gregor in his insect form, he shakes his fist at him and glares at him fiercely. subsequently he attacks him with a newspaper and a walking stick, and, bombards him with apples, causing him respectable injury. -He is likewise makes sarcastic comments, suggesting for instance that Gregors room is untidy. -It also turns out that he has deceived Gregor about the family finances, thus extending the length of Gregors employment at the hateful travelling salesmans job. -He also does not seem particularly appreciative of the money Gregor has been bring in. Gregors disappointment over the lack of appreciation is one of the few detailed thoughts he think s about his father. -He also thinks briefly that the money his father hid from him could bedevil been used to free him from his job sooner, but he quickly dismisses the thought by saying that no doubt his father knew best. -Basically Gregors father abuses him, but he suppresses his angry responses and accepts his downtrodden state. Marx and Kafka -Karl Marx believed alienation is a result of capitalism. Kafka was influenced by his semipolitical philosophy of Marxism. A Marxist would read Gregors inability to work as a protest against the dehumanizing and alienating effects of working in a capitalistic society. -Gregor Samsa, the protagonist, signifies the proletariat, or the working class, and his unnamed manager represents the bourgeoisie. -The conflict that arises between the two after Gregors metamorphosis, which leaves him unable to work, represents the dehumanizing structure of class relations. -Finally, the results of Gregors inability to work is abandonment by his family a nd death. -The words he chooses to describe his job, torture, worrying, and miserable install his discontent with his job.He says, If I didnt hold back for my parents sake, I would wee quit long ago. It is only economic necessity that keeps him qualifying to work everyday. Historical Context -In 1912, when Kafka was writing The Metamorphosis, Prague was a city of ethnical tensions, primarily between Czechs and Germans and between Czechs and Jews. -Economically, the late nineteenth century attach the climax of the Industrial Revolution in Europe. -Industrial development within the Austro-Hungarian Empire, was not as advanced as in Europe but Prague was one of the most advanced and prosperous cities in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. However, along with the prosperity created by the new industrialism came dislocation and disruption of the old ways, largely as a result of the shift of large numbers of people from the countryside to the city. Industrialization also meant the appearance of large numbers of jobs, for both factory and office workers, which was hardwork. And the indoctrinate system enforced a system of routine learning that seemed unrelentingly joylessat least it seemed joyless to young Kafka, who hated school, fairish as he hated his first full? time job. farseeing hours at boring jobs create alienation. And oppressive employers like Gregors were normal.