Unit 2 Lesson 4: Kafka s Metamorphosis: Existentialism & Kafka s Work. Louisiana Student Standards: RL W L

Transcription

1 Unit 2 Lesson 4: Kafka s Metamorphosis: Existentialism & Kafka s Work Louisiana Student Standards: RL W L

2 I. What is Metamorphosis? Metamorphosis is a novella written in 1912 by Franz Kafka. It uses magical realist techniques long before the style was popular. It is a early Modernist/experimental work What is a novella? Longer, more complex than short stories Focuses on a limited number of characters and events

3 II. Who is Franz Kafka? Born in Prague in 1883 The oldest of 9 children. Jewish parents Father was a successful merchant but overbearing.

4 III. Sad Kafka Described as having been sensitive and suffering from feelings of isolation. Jewish, but felt unconnected to his religion Minority in his country Unsuccessful in personal relationships Physically weak, attempts to hide it

5 IV. Kafkaesque Anything having to do with alienation, absurdity, anxiety or isolation (Themes that came to characterize Kafka s life and works)

6 V. Being Jewish in Prague during Prague called The City of Three Peoples. Ethnic Czechs (spoke Czech) 6% German speakers 5% Jews, some spoke German or both Kafka was a minority because he was a German speaking Jew. He also didn t readily accept the teachings of Judaism.

7 Anti-Semitism Surrounded Prague When he was 16, a Christian girl was found murdered in Prague. Many said that her throat was cut by Jews, then they used the blood to make food during Passover. Created riots! As a result, Jews were harassed, shops were destroyed

8 VI. Kafka s father! Was hard on Kafka. Kafka developed lifelong guilt, anxiety and lacked self confidence. Felt he could never live up to his father s standards. Lived with his parents after graduating from college Turned anger and anxiety inward by isolating himself from family

9 VII. Difficulty writing Kafka found it difficult to write because: Family tensions (Father told him he was never good enough) Parent s getting older/ill Self doubts (felt ugly, stupid, etc) Would write, then destroy work, then write again

10 VIII. Last Years The last years of Kafka s life was marked by periods of intense writing activity, family tensions, unsuccessful love relationships, and worsening health. Was a hypochondriac, but developed Tuberculosis when he was 35. Died in a rest home at the age of 41.

11 Kafka-the Holocaust Kafka was continuously tormented by the cruelness of the world. He died before Hitler came into power, but his family and friends did not escape the Holocaust.

12 Kafka-the Holocaust Since he was Jewish, much of his work was burned by the Gestapo. Many of his friends died in concentration camps. Three of his sisters died in concentration camps.

13 IX. Kafka Today His work is read throughout the world. Best known for describing obscure situations with simple, mathematical precision. This adds to the chilling, understated irony that characterizes his writing. Never explained what he meant with ideas and concepts, thus his work is continuously discussed.

14 Existentialism: definition A philosophy of thought that began in Christian philosophy in the late 1800 s and later, in the 1960s, became popular world-wide as part of the cultural revolution of the 60s. Emphasizes both the uniqueness of each individual s experience and his/her isolation in an indifferent universe. Because the events in human existence can not be explained, one has freedom of choice and complete responsibility for his/her actions.

15 Existentialism: definition Remember the Hero s Journey? Well, take all those ideas about the Grail, the Quest, and all the archetypes: Hero, Savior, Guide, Guardian Trials, Underworld, Threshold Normal World vs Netherworld The Return...and turn it INWARD. Life s ultimate quest is, in a sense, to find YOURSELF. These symbols become psychological.

16 Existentialism Basic Explanation Back in time, a person s purpose in life was defined by God or history. For example, if your grandfather was a shoemaker, and your father was a shoemaker, odds are, it was your purpose to be a shoemaker. Everyone had a purpose and God was the driving force.

17 Existentialism & the Existential Crisis After the World Wars, it was a reaction to the dehumanization of many aspects of society (industrialization, rise of bureaucracy). Ex: Students value is determined by standarded tests. Your are put into groups, such as Gifted, Honors, or Regular. Ex: We often find ourselves in trouble or accused by large, inhuman forces we do not understand (taxes, corporations, prisons, electoral college, college entrance exams)

18 Why are we reading The Metamorphosis? This book is a kind of existential experiment. Does Gregor turn into what he was all along, or does his transformation help him die a more self-aware human being? This is the time of year we do our best to be kind to one another most importantly, our families. As a family satire this book teaches valuable lessons about the dangers of capitalism s influence on the family (money, greed, wanting to appear successful). Gregor is a young man in the story barely out of his teen years. He is an allegory for the doubt and anxiety that comes with youth, and the challenges of youth.

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21 Kafka Project: Existentialism PROMPT: and the middle class Gregor soon had the opportunity to test the strength of his decisions, as early the next morning, almost before the night had ended, his sister, nearly fully dressed, opened the door from the front room and looked anxiously in.

22 --KAFKA QUIZLET

23 Kafka Project: Existentialism USE THIS AS A GUIDE TO START MIND MAPPING YOUR PROMPT: PROJECT. and the middle class Gregor soon had the opportunity to test the strength of his decisions, as early the --KAFKA QUIZLET next morning, almost before the night had ended, his sister, nearly fully dressed, opened the door from the front room and looked anxiously in. MEASURE TWICE, CUT ONCE

24 20-Minute Discussion # 1: Symbolism of Metamorphosis: The Apple In Metamorphosis, when the main character Gregor Samsa is hit by an apple, thrown by his father Mr. Samsa, the collision brings forth this sudden realization within Gregor and his family, as told in the Bible, 'by the apple "Your eyes shall be opened"'4: their eyes are opened. Gregor can painfully see that his life has changed, he no longer holds the position as the son; he is not useful because he cannot earn money anymore, he is just a gigantic cockroach that is taking up space in the house. Realizing the same truth, the Samsa family sees that they cannot depend on their son anymore, they have to leave the warm house and go to work. To Gregor's father's dismay, earning money is similar to an exile. The family has depended on Gregor for a long time, treating him like a bank account, a tree with dollar bills as leaves, thus to leave the green house, paradise and be exposed to the harsh reality is worse than anything. Actually, Gregor has never been Gregor, he is "changing all along"

25 20-minute DISCUSSION # 2: Symbolism in The Metamorphosis: 3, the magic number ~3 family members other than Gregor ~3 lodgers ~3 parts ~3 rooms (bedroom,the living room and his sister's room) insects undergo three steps of metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult) as does Gregor (realization, coping, surrender)

26 20-minute DISCUSSION # 3: Who Truly Transforms? The Samsa family is a middle class family much like the one Kafka grew up in. Rather than Gregor dying an immediate death, the story is of a long, slow death. Gregor s health decreases gradually throughout the book, but the family only really notices that he becomes less and less like them! If he had just died then it would have been a shock to his family members, and we would have a different picture of the family. Insteadhe started to become a burden or actually, not even a true burden, but an inconvenience, so that it was almost a relief to his family. Consider the lodgers: They all seem like the same person: The disapproving middle class that pressures families to reject Misfits, artists, or true love Consider Grete: She is the only other character with a name She shows the most pity She shows the worst rejection Some argue she changes the most So, who really changes in this book?

27 20-minute DISCUSSION # 4: The Insects From Nabokov s Lecture: Gregor's dead, dry body is discovered the next morning by the charwoman and a great warm sense of relief permeates the insect world of his despicable family. Here is a point to be observed with care and love. Gregor is a human being in an insect's disguise; his family are insects disguised as people. With Gregor's death their insect souls are suddenly aware that they are free to enjoy themselves. " 'Come in beside us, Grete, for a little while,' said Mrs. Samsa* with a tremulous smile, and Grete, not without looking back at the corpse, followed her parents into their bedroom.'' The charwoman opens the window wide and the air has a certain warmth: it is the end of March when insects come out of hibernation.

28 GREGOR is he a Christ Figure? He becomes his FATHER He sacrifices himself as the SON He must give up his spirit (his sister)

29 As a satire the middle class and Judeo-christian values,gregor s Journey is not a Hero s Journey but a Misfit s journey inward, downward. He must devolve from the civilization that was killing him. He discovers his potential or not by becoming more and more alienated, in phases driving him toward adulthood (as does Grete, who parallels his transformation_. Does he transcend? SAMSA HOUSEHOLD FLOOR PLAN FREE ASSOCIATION: 3 Bible Trinity.3 Influences on Gregor HE IS FATHER/ HE IS SON/Sacrifice Christ figure archetype: --Gregor dies for his family --Description of death parallels crucifixion (ironically): : APPLE : Attended by a woman (woman in furs) HE GIVES UP HIS SPIRIT/PNEUMA He remained in this state of empty and peaceful rumination until he heard the clock tower strike three in the morning. He watched as it slowly began to get light everywhere outside the window too. Then, without his willing it, his head sank down completely, and his last breath flowed weakly from his nostrils.

30 20-minute DISCUSSION # 5: Threshold Imagery As it turns out, there are several doors to Gregor's room, not just the one that leads out to the main living room. Gregor's room seems to be a central room in the apartment, and the other bedrooms also have access to this room, though no one would dare enter the room now. Gregor is literally central to their lives, yet closed off by doors that are perpetually closed against him. The are many thresholds in the novel: The doors. The door is a protection for Gregor. It shields him, most of the time, from the ugliness, anger, and hostile curiosity of whoever is on the other side of the door. The tragedy, of course, is that these negative emotions emanate from his family, the people who should be most supportive of him. The presence of the door ensures his privacy; it also ensures he can be neglected by those who should take care of him.

31 20-minute Discussion # 6: Gregor s Body Further, he has strong mandibles. He uses these organs to turn the key in a lock while standing erect on his hind legs, on his third pair of legs (a strong little pair), and this gives us the length of his body, which is about three feet long. -V. Nabokov, Lecture on the Metamorphosis

32 Curiously enough, Gregor the beetle never found out that he had wings under the hard covering of his back.

33 Further Discussion Metamorphosis definition: a transformation that is ongoing in stages What stages are present in the novella? What symbols connect or signify these stages? external changes and internal changes (biology term) External changes in character? Internal changes in character? Changes that are unique to a species How are Gregor s changes unique to the human species?

34 HOW WE STUDY THIS WORK PART II: Existential themes. Capitalism and war and the feeling that we are alone in the universe with only ourselves as guides--led to the rise of existentialism. Treat this as an existential satire on capitalism s effect on the middle class. What is being satirized? Is Gregor an existential success or failure.? PART I: MAGICAL REALIST STYLE. How does the book s magical realist STYLE help the author reveal the existential truth behind Gregor Samsa? Use Arachne and A Very Old Man to draw comparison that explain magical realist style.

35 --KAFKA QUIZLET