Existentialism and Metamorphosis Essay

Existentialism is defined as a modern philosophical forepart stressing the importance of wizs experience and accountability. Its focus is the make on the personal formulateions that these make on the individual, who is seen as a free cistron in a deterministic and seemingly meaningless universe. Its philosophy is precise that, in a nutshell, advocates a diverse arsenal of responses and solutions to the existentialist strength which, essentially, is what an individual feels when confronted by the absurdity of life. Throughout hu opusity, rumination and self-proclaimed ultimate truths curb assumed various forms poetry, religion, and numerous other doctrines and textual works.In The metabolism, Franz Kafka narrates the ramifications of a metamorphosis in which the subject and protagonist, a man named Gregor Samsa, is transformed into a bug. Despite the novellas literary methods and influences, the most prominent be the way Kafka so nonchalantly describes such irregularity in hi s life, The Metamorphosis is also hailed as a prime textual work of existentialism, the previously mentioned philosophical movement. Both prior and subsequent to the transformation, Kafka portrays Gregor as a man who seems lost within himself, and lacking identity element. The reminiscences of his past are neither wishful nor poignant his human life is seen to revolve solely around fruitless matters. His social life pays the price from this, his failure to assert a concrete and consistent existence. The extent of his lack of individuality is further exemplified by his reception to the metamorphosis finding himself transformed in his bed into a immense insect (Kafka, 296), he prioritizes work over all else, even in his newly equated insect form.Furthermore, he panics because the next train went at vii oclock to catch that he would need to hurry the like mad and his samples werent even packed up (297). Gregors identity crisis is a device for conveying Kafkas belief of an imper sonal ball club where individualism is drastically mitigated as a result of inordinate materialism. Gregor, in the context of Fyodor Dostoyevskys Notes from Underground analogy, would be the ant in the anthill thus rendering his metamorphosis ironically. Another dominant question prevalent throughout the novella is the absurd situation Gregor is confronted by. These nonsensical happenings (296-327) reflect the world as seen from the existentialist perspective a world transfer of a rational and comprehensive objective. Jean-Paul Sartre postulated that every existing thing is natural without reason, prolongs itself out of weakness, and dies by chance.This meaninglessness is precisely what Gregor is victim to in the microcosm of society that Kafka generates Gregor flounders about, beleaguered by absurdity and helplessness, presumably because he is unaware of Nietzsche and Kierkegaards somewhat consoling conclusions that one must devise meaning for ones own existence ex nihilo. Onc e again, Kafka utilizes a combine of plot and character to convey his angst concerning an apparently pointless existence. Freedom or or else the lack thereof is another existentialist tenet that Kafka addresses. Gregor is depict as someone constrained by self-imposed burdens, the most demanding be the role as the financial pillar of the family. Despite having the freedom to forsake this role, Gregor instead pursues it with feverish ardor to the extent that it becomes his sole desire (310). only his harangue regarding his career (297-298) reveals that this is not due to personal desire, but rather the belief that he must replace his father financially, regardless of preference. Gregors delusion regarding an absence of choice contradicts what Kafka perceives as the truth that freedom is omnipresent in spite of any ethical obligations we may be evaluate to adhere to, and that the individual defines his or herself via ones decisions. A quasi-motto of existentialism coined by Sart re, existence precedes essence. In conclusion, Kafka employs the fictional literary elements he constructs to address the very non-fictional, existentialist aspects of society and life. Akin to Dostoyevskys Notes from Underground, it kindle be interpreted as both a rumination and philippic against impersonal communities, restriction of freedom, and the absurdity of life.