I stick my fingers into existence - it smells nothing. Where am I? What is a thing called
the world? Who it is that lured me into the thing and now leaves me here? How did I come
into the world? Why was I not consulted?"
Existentialism is a philosophical movement of the 19th century that portrays the stress on individual existence and, consequently, on subjectivity, individual freedom, and choice. What you are (your essence) is the result of your your choices (your existence) rather than the other way around.
16 comments:
Exestenialism esentially questions the existence, and importance of one's surrondings, thoughts, and his self. This questioning is extremely prevalent throughout Kafka's Metamorphosis. Gregor's transformaion from human being to bug is one that the reader never gets to see. We are introduced to Gregor in his "bug-like" state, so we have to frame of reference to use in comparison. It is ironic that Gregor does not pay much mind to the fact that he is a bug. He is so overcome with worry that he will not be able to go to work and be the bread winner for his family, so the fact that he is no longer human escapes him, which is rather absurdist. Gregor's purpose for existing seems lost when his family, essentially, deserts him. They relied so heavily on Gregor for economic stability and comfort, however, when he was no longer able to provide that comfort for him, they were extremely quick to forget about him. His family's dismissal of Gregor's being makes one question if he was ever really important or essential to their lives at all.
In the novel, perception is a huge a huge theme.Gregor happens to see the window as a mocking object to his freedom. He is unable to escape from his room, yet is always caught staring wistfully out of his window. After his "transformation", Gregor gazes mournfully at the window,"but unfortunately there was little confident cheer to be had from a glance."(8) But Gregor's family always look upon the window with a sense of relief or comfort. Grete rushes to open the window as soon as she enters Gregor's room. And after Gregor's metamorphosis, Gregor's mother, "had pulled open a window... and leaning out with her hands on her cheeks, she pushed her face far out of the window." (26) Kafka's use of the window to demonstrate different emotions definitely has some existentialist aspects to it. Things are subjunctive in the existentialist world; how one views something could be completely different from how another does. Kafka takes advantage of this fact by using the window.
I love the window idea above.
The quote doesn't seem to relate to The Metamorphosis. While the poem is entirely about questioning the world and where we come from, Gregor does not question his circumstances. He never wonders what magic turned him into a bug; he simply accepts it and lives in the present. This also interferes with the Existentialist idea that your choices determine who you are.
However, The Metamorphosis is very much in line with the Existentialist focus on the individual, and the individual's trials. This makes sense because the novella is a documentary of Gregor's final months and decay into complete bughood, of course it focuses on him.
The other Existentialist quality that The Metamorphosis has is that of symbolism. In my experience, existentialist novels are far more allegorical than others, every action and character has a deeper meaning. This is obviously true of The Metamorphosis.
I can't disagree more.
The purpose of the quotation by Kierkgaard is to establish the relationship between the individual and his external circumstances. Yes, Gregor was not wholly concerned with the purpose for his metamorphosis, but as the story developed, he began to question the reality of his identity. This issue of identity is delineated by Kierkgaard when he questions the conditions of his existence. Gregor's conflict with identity is paramount as he begins to realize that he, in fact, has no identity. His existence served only to provide fiscally for his family. Furthermore, he also realizes that those decisions he made while still in his human form, such as willingly giving himself to support his family, are consequently affecting his existence in his bug-like form; he is not able to work, and therefore his family rejects him as useless because they had grown so accustomed to Gregor earning money, which again is a choice that Gregor made.
One part of existentialism found in The Metamorphosis is the aspect of having freedom as an individual to express yourself while also having a social responsibility. Gregor's responsibility was to support and provide for his family. Gregor was very much an individual but he was also very alone. He limited his individual freedoms by being the only family member with any financial success. Gregor may have liked being able to provide because it gave him a sense of purpose in life and that was taken from him when he became the bug and was no longer capable of providing.
Gregor's entire existence is a tribute to existentialist philosophy. We soon realize that he has no sense of self-identity because he has become a vacuous shell living only to provide for his family, which is the most important thing to him. Ironically, his family is dysfunctional and cannot work with each other, but Gregor does not realize how disjointed his family is until he transforms into an insect and has time to reflect upon their lives.
Existentialists stress self-identity based on the perceptions of the others around you. At the end of the story, when Grete finally rejects Gregor in insect form as her brother, it signals the end of his desire to live; once he is worthless to his family about whom he cares so much, he essentially becomes worthless to himself and must die.
According to Kafka and existentialism, people have both an individual side and a side with the commitment of society. It is our choices that must be in moderation of the two, to maintain balance. If a person chooses himself over society, he will loose the support of society; however, if a person chooses society, he will lose his individuality. Gregor initially chooses society over himself, which in turn transformed him into the working drone he was. After his physical transformation, he is forced reassert his focus to himself, and society abandons him. Gregor learned to live for himself too late to become a whole person. Gregor begins to look for entertainment and fun in the form of a bug, a form that knows nothing but work. By ignoring the purpose of being an insect, Gregor defeats the purpose of living in his new form of life, and in effect, dies.
The Metamorphosis advances the existential view that choice is the opportune of the individual. It is the responsibility of the individual to maintain a balance between work and leisure. The Metamorphosis lends the idea that, if one chooses to devote their life entirely to work, they are no more than droning insects, yet if they devote their lives to leisure, they are no better off. A balance needs to be found. As rational beings, moderation between value to society and value to self must be assumed by the individual. One must be productive in order to be valuable to society, and one must have leisure in order to be valuable to themselves.
Existential beliefs stress that an individuals choices determine who he is and what his place is in the world. Gregor exemplifies this belief, as his existence revolves around his work. Providing for his family and paying off his father's debt becomes Gregor's reason for entering the world. When taken out of this world by being transformed into a vermin, he experiences alienation. This is evident when his mother and sister are carrying furniture out of his room. He discusses his attachment to the pieces, especially his desk. This is the place where he did all of his work from elementary school into business school, the work that defined his human life, a life from which he was being withdrawn. Without being able to work, Gregor had no reason to live. When Gregor realizes that all of his family, including his sister, see him as a burden and that his existence is no longer benefiting his family, he dies.
Existentialism, which is beautifully captured in The Metamorphosis, is wrapped around the pressures of individual existence, freedom, and choice. One of the major themes of existentialism that is portrayed throughout Kafka's novella is existence precedes essence. This explains that who you are is an outcome of your choices in life. Because Gregor is so work oriented and focused on pleasing his family he in exchange chooses to become a recluse in his life, consequently allowing himself to be overworked and excessively pressured from his family as a financial provider.
Adding to what Yousra has said, the door to Gregor's room also has extentialist aspects to it. It is perceived to Gregor as an outlet to the outside world, while Grete, Gregor's mother, father, and even the roomers see it as a barrier that they are all hesitant to cross, thus giving the door extentialist characteristics.
Kafka's Metamorphosis is a novella heavily influenced by existentialism. One essential quality of existentialism is that one's choices determine who that person is. Gregor is the embodiment of this sentiment in that he has made choices that completely undermine his individuality. Throughout the story we learn about what things Gregor has done. The only thing that Kafka tells the reader about Gregor's personality is that he is dedicated to his work and providing for his family. He is especially passionate about getting Grete into music school. Gregor does express regret at not pursuing relationships with others, especially when remembering a girl at a hotel he stayed at. Existentialism focuses on choices impacting the individual rather than the individual influencing their choices. Gregor has isolated himself from the outside world, so his physical shell begins to mirror his inside and ends up being permanently cut off from the rest of the world in the form of an insect.
Wow!!! I am immensely impressed by all the comments thus far! You are showing a keen awareness of existentialism by relating it meaningfully to Metamorphosis! I will be posting two additional threads about Metamorphosis. Feel free to respond to either one. If you are responding after this post, you must choose one of the new ones because the quote on existentialism is closed.
Existentialism is relative to the novel because of Gregor's questioning of reality and his existence. The gray plain outside his window makes him question the reality of his environment and its relativity to his new life. He realizes when he is a bug and is no longer able to provide for his family, that he had no other purpose in life. He was extraneous except for the need his family had of him and he was otherwise unimportant. Because he was no longer able to do fulfill his duty, and was eventually regarded as only a bother to Grete, he dies because there is no longer a reason for him to exist.
Kafka incorporated many aspects of existentialism into Metamorphosis, such as humanism and conflict between freedom and responsibility. Gregor deals directly with each of these issues throughout the novella as he begins to question his existence. He doesn't understand his sudden change into a beetle which leads him on a desperate search for his identity. Inner conflict between freedom and responsibility is another issue Gregor struggles with. His family was not economically stable and in order to support his them, Gregor worked tirelessly as a traveling salesman. As a result of his efforts, Gregor "went on to earn so much money that he was able to bear, and indeed bore, the expenses of the whole family. They had just become used to it, both the family and Gregor; they gratefully took the receipt of his money, which he willingly handed over" (113). Because Gregor felt a responsibility to care for his mother, father, and sister, he put aside his independent aspirations to earn a living instead. He gave up his freedom and providing money became Gregor's primary contribution to the Samsas; consequently, when he was no longer able to do so, his family abandoned him.
It is in the nature of human consciousness itself to be free, to be free to create and recreate itself at will. Defined only by our acts we are free to assign values to our actions, to give our lives meaning.According to Kafka and existentialism, Gregor had the choice to be be free at will or to form with the structure of society. Greogor chose to form to the ways of society and lived to work. His time to live for himself came to late as he had his metamorphosis.The Metamorphosis advances the existential view that choice is the opportune of the individual.
The quote Kafka presents asks why he has come into this world and why does he have little say in his reality. However Gregor does not ask these questions. The beetle simply is the main character, in a different form. The identified issue is not that Gregor is concerned with being an insect, but rather with how his family will percieve him. Exestenialism presents the issue of ones self worth and meaning. Gregor finally begins to face his lack of independent identification once he is isolated, with only himself for company does he confront these questions. However, he never truely comes to a conclusion, only a solution in the form of death.
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