The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka - 1572 Words

Franz Kafka is said to be one of the most influential writers of his time. His short story ‘The Metamorphosis’ is considered to be his best work by many scholars and readers. He was a German-language writer of the 20th century who had a heavy influence on certain categories like the basic concepts or ideas involved in any human alive, like the significance of a personal experience in an individual’s life, the various responsibilities that are there on one’s shoulders and the demands that we make as individuals. In the year of 1915, this short story was first published and till now, it is taught in many of the English literature classes in various colleges and universities. The book is very interesting to read and it is also a good topic to write a review on. The story of this book revolves around a businessman named Gregor Samsa, who one fine morning wakes up to find himself transformed into a monstrous vermin. Over the decades, this vermin has been portrayed by scholars to be a beetle or cockroach. The reason as to why this transformation happened, was never explained by Kafka in the book neither did he ever tell his readers about the fate of Gregor. Some of the scholars are of the view that the story’s biographical and historical context conveys Kafkas own process of self-alienation. This is because Kafka was a German writer who lived in Czech Prague, and always had the desire and the pressure to become a successful businessman just like his father. Thus, theShow MoreRelatedThe Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka1052 Words   |  4 PagesFranz Kafka wrote one of his most popular books, The Metamorphosis, during the literary period and movement of existentialism. His novella stresses many existential ideals. The most predominant ideal that is seen through Gregor Samsa and his father in The Metamorphosis is that choice is the opportune of the individual. One’s ultimate goal in life is to successfully find a balance between work and leisure. It is through the juxtaposition of Gregor Samsa and his father, the conceding tone of the authorRead MoreThe Metamorphosis By Franz Kafka867 Words   |  4 Pagesincluding rapid growth spurts. Metamorphosis is a biological process by which an animal physically develop after birth or hatching. Involving a conspicuous and relatively abrupt changes in the animal’s body structure through cell growth and differentiation. The author Franz Kafka, who relatively wrote little in his short life and who published less has been enormously influential on later writers. He is considered an export of German expressionism. The metamorphosis is Kafka’s longest story and oneRead MoreThe Metamorphosis By Franz Kafka Essay1496 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"The metamorphosis,â €  is a story by Franz Kafka, published in 1915 is a story divided in three chapters: transformation, acceptance, and the death of the protagonist. There are many interpretations that can form this tale as the indifference by the society that is concerned with different individuals, and isolation pushing some cases to the solitude. Some consider The Metamorphosis as an autobiography of the author, which tries to capture the loneliness and isolation that he felt at some pointRead MoreThe Metamorphosis By Franz Kafka1246 Words   |  5 PagesIt can be hard to understand the meaning of the novella â€Å"The Metamorphosis,† written by Franz Kafka, without thinking of the background. Due to the fact that, â€Å"using† and knowing â€Å"[the] background knowledge† of a story is important to read a â€Å"text† (Freebody and Luke). In the novella â€Å"The metamorphosis†, â€Å"Kafka’s personal history† has been â€Å"artfully [expresse d]† (Classon 82). The novella was written in 1916, before the World War 1 in German {Research}. When the novella was written, in the EuropeRead MoreThe Metamorphosis By Franz Kafka1380 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"I cannot make anyone understand what is happening inside me. I cannot even explain it to myself†: A Psychoanalysis reading of â€Å"The Metamorphosis† by Kafka The Metamorphosis is known to be one of Franz Kafka’s best works of literature. It demonstrates the interconnection between his personal life and the protagonist, Gregor Samsa, of â€Å"The Metamorphosis.† Franz Kafka was born in 1883 and grew up in a financially stable Jewish family in Prague. He was the only son left after the death of his youngerRead MoreThe Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka656 Words   |  3 PagesMuch of Franz Kafkas story â€Å"The Metamorphosis† spends its time talking about Gregor as he struggles to live his new life as a bug. Gregor tries to find a analytical reason as to why he has taken upon this form but later on finds on that he has to accept the truth. From being an ordinary travel salesman and provider for his family to a abomination, Gregor becomes hopeless as he cant work or provide for his family. His new life as an insect causes a hardship as he is faced with isolation from hisRead MoreThe Metamorphosis By Franz Kafka783 Words    |  4 Pages In the story â€Å"The Metamorphosis†, written by Franz Kafka, Gregor’s family represents the causing factor that prompts Gregor to become a cockroach. Gregor’s family is a symbol of a repressive structure that inhibits Gregor’s every thought and action. When Gregor gets up in the morning to get ready for work and finds that he has been transformed into a cockroach, he ponders about how maybe he should just go in to work late and get fired, but then realizes that he cannot because â€Å"if [he] were not holdingRead MoreThe Metamorphosis By Franz Kafka947 Words   |  4 PagesThe Metamorphosis is a novella written by German author Franz Kafka which was first published in 1915. The novella tells the story of Gregor Samsa, a traveling salesman who one day awoke to discover he had transformed into an insect like monstrosity. Throughout the story, Gregor struggles with the horrible prospect of coming to terms with his situation, as well as copin g with the effects of his transformation, such as the fact that his family is repelled by his new form, and that he is no longerRead MoreThe Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka1021 Words   |  4 PagesFranz Kafka’s, The Metamorphosis, is a novella about Gregor Samsa, a man who devotes everything to fulfilling the needs of his family. Kafka’s existentialist perspective on the meaning of life is illustrated through the use of the protagonist of Gregor Samsa. Existentialism is a philosophy â€Å"concerned with finding self and the meaning of life through free will, choice, and personal responsibility† (Existentialism). Gregor is unable to fulfill the existentialist view of finding meaning in one’s life;Read MoreThe Metamorphosis By Franz Kafka1050 Words   |  5 PagesOn the surface, â€Å"The Metamorphosis† by Franz Kafka is an evocative story of a man transformed into a â€Å"monstrous vermin†. It seems to focus on the dark transformation of the story’s protagonist, Gregor, but there is an equal and opposing transformation that happens within Gregor’s family. Although Gregor has physically changed at the beginning of the story, he remains relatively unchanged as the novella progresses. The family, on the other hand, is forced to drastically change how they support themselves

White Privilege By Paula Rothenberg - 1954 Words

Racism is still a very prominent issue in America today. Yes, it has improved from the days of slavery, and we do have a black president; but society is nowhere near equal, and that is not acceptable. White Privilege by Paula Rothenberg truly opened my eyes to the extent of the social injustice on African Americans. Just by being white, one is oppressing another race because the privilege and respect that comes with the skin color. Whether intentional or not, the racism is still there and present and that is not acceptable. Being white, I’ve never suffered from the repercussions of racism, but after reading and becoming more aware of the suffering of African American’s, it is significant to write and spread the knowledge about racism and especially implicit racism. Everyone is surrounded by racism on a daily basis, and it’s important to be aware of your actions and the effects they have on society. I identify as a white female. I never thought about why I identify as white, partially because I never had to and as Tim Wise says, â€Å"Being white means never having to think about it† (Wise 1). My family is not entirely sure of our racial ethnicity, I know my mother is Jewish and my father is Christian, and by looks we are â€Å"white.† All born with blonde hair, blue eyes, and I am very pale. No one has ever questioned my looks other than telling me I need a tan. I never had to think about my racial identity or ethnicity because I am accepted as white. The idea of White Privilege isShow MoreRelatedRace as a Social Construct646 Words   |  3 Pagesracialization add to her  credibility as a source. Morning’s denial of any objectivity in racial classifications and unique outlines and critiques of racial beliefs lend to a coherent discourse on racial distinction. (119 words) Frankenburg, Ruth. White Women, Races Matters. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1993: 11-16 Print. Frankenburg considers race as socially and politically constructed, yet nonetheless with profound and real consequences. Her work is significant for a social constructivistRead MoreInfluence Of The Body Features Of Barbie On The Ideal Feminine Body1275 Words   |  6 PagesUnited States and other countries. In fact, because of its appearance, Barbie is not very popular in some regions, such as Middle East and China. There are critics from all over the world, questioning the Eurocentric nature of Barbie and the white privileges she presents. This research paper is an analysis of the negative influences generated by the anthropometry of Barbie and some social problems demonstrated by her popularity. II. Review of Literature 1)Unattainable Body Shape of Barbie Is itRead MoreRacial Inequality797 Words   |  4 PagesAmericans, and Latin Americans. Whereas as European Americans were granted privileges by law, also known as â€Å"white privileged†. During the founding of the United States, many non-Protestant European immigrants such as individuals from the Jewish, Irish and Italian descents suffered exclusion and other forms of discrimination in American society. Race still plays a major unspoken role in the way our society is organized (Rothenberg). The existence of different genders, races and cultures within a societyRead MoreThe General Themes Of White Privilege1287 Words   |  6 PagesThe general themes of â€Å"White Privilege† by Paula S. Rothenberg are the idea that America is and has been a white dominated country, where being white is the norm. It talks about how this socially accepted idea has oppressed and discriminated against anyone who did not fit the majority or privileged group, which continues that cycle of racism. Issues in this book brought to light, how white people take their mentality and actions for granted. This in return oppresses anyone who does not fit the privilegedRead MoreEssay on How White People Became White1043 Words   |  5 PagesHow White People Became White Paula S. Rothenberg William Paterson University of New Jersey Abstract Biologically speaking, it’s just as possible for a given white person in Florida to have genetics similar to his neighbor down the street as it would be for the same white person to have genetics similar to a black person in Nigeria. We could just as easily disregard skin color and pay attention to hair and/or eye color. Sociologists make this claim because they argue that the definitionRead MoreBeverly Daniel Tatum Describes Racism As A System Of Advantage1485 Words   |  6 Pagessystem of advantage based on race (pg. 107). Jean Baker Miller believes that once a group is defined as inferior, the people above them or the superiors tend to label them in various ways. In other words, blacks are considered less intelligent than whites. The incarceration rates have grown tremendously since the last time someone can remember. The largest jailer in the world is the United States. Philadelphia, however, has the nation’s highest incarceration rates. Surprisingly, 60% of them are stillRead MoreThe Impact Of Media On The Media2801 Words   |  12 Pagesviolent traits. As slavery succeeded in America, any imagery of blacks dancing and an appearance of enjoyment, created illogical views that blacks needed and enjoyed enslavement. Similarly, the views of blacks rebelling against slavery was utilized by whites to say that they were unhappy and needed slavery. These images were an essentialism of how blacks were viewed and eventually became interchangeable with the color of their skin. Given that the first representations in America of Blacks were throughRead MoreRacism and Its Affects4803 Words   |  20 Pagesthe lives of Americans every day. The racist mindset in America stems from the times of slavery, where blacks were thought to be inferior to whites. Throughout history, the ideology of race and racism has evolved and developed several different meanings. Today, we can still see the devastating effects of racism on people of color, as well as whites. â€Å"Racism, like other forms of oppression, is not only a personal ideology based on racial prejudice, but a system involving cultural messages andRead More Stereotypes in the Film The Matrix Essay2389 Words   |  10 Pageslooks very much like a nursery for white children. Also, the only other woman of color present in the whole film is the woman seen in the Oracle’s house, whose sole assignment seems to be to answer the door. One may get the impression that I am simply ‘reaching’ for stereotypes in this film. However, the way in which the Wachowski brothers depict the Oracle seems to be a bit too familiar a pattern in films where black women are portrayed as servants to whites. Films such as Gone With the Wind (1939)Read MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 Pagesenvironment this way: â€Å"We are in one of those great historical periods that occur every 200 or 300 years when people don’t understand the world anymore, and the past is not sufficient to explain the future.† Almost no one would argue that â€Å"permanent white water† best characterizes our current environment. Almost everything is in flux, from our technology and methods of transacting business to the nature of education and the definition of the family. INTRODUCTION 3 Despite all this change in

Wild Beasts Free Essays

A general life in demons as ambivalent spirits or aspects of God was an original part of Israel’s theology which in later periods became separated into -?good spirits (angels) and evil spirits (demons). † (Anchor Bible Dictionary, Demons, p. 1) As history went on, the stories about these ambivalent spirits were embellished and evolved into tales of angels and demons. We will write a custom essay sample on Wild Beasts or any similar topic only for you Order Now The language used to describe the demons is incredibly poetic and uses references to natural phenomenon. This context raises the issue of how poetic references to natural phenomena should be interpreted-?as literal references to the physical phenomena, as poetic humiliations or personifications, or as references to actual demons or deities. Translation in general of terms dealing with demons is problematic. Translations are influenced by many factors: philological evidence and trends, theology, and previous decisions regarding understandings of the term demon and proper ways to interpret each particular text. Identifications and understandings of demons in the Old Testament are strongly influenced by the wider context within which demons are discussed; past contexts have included magic and witchcraft, popular religion, official patriotic rituals, poetic symbolism, and religious psychology. † (Anchor Bible Dictionary, Demons, p. 2) Since the words surrounding these spirits have so many references to nature, they were often associated with destruction and blamed for natural disaster. The most generally accepted understanding Is of demons as evil spirits who live In ruins and the desert and are responsible for Illness and natural disasters. † (Anchor Bible When I think of ruins, I think of destruction and decay. When I look at Gonzales demons, they look as If they themselves are crumbling and decomposing. He very destruction they are known to cause Is represented through their gruesome appearance. I feel that the aspect of nature Is represented In his organic use of the animal bones, teeth, and horns. There are a few specific, annalistic demons that nave Eden place together tongue various texts Dye Interpreters: â€Å"wool Deadest, howling creatures, ostriches, hyenas, Jackals. (Longboat 1949: 41-43)† (Anchor Bible Dictionary, Demons, p. 2) The term â€Å"wild beasts† reminds me of those snarling devil heads, and I can’t help but think Gonzalez was inspired by these annalistic demons himself. How to cite Wild Beasts, Papers

Like A Prayer Music Video Analysis Essay Example For Students

Like A Prayer Music Video Analysis Essay Madonna first arrived in the national popular culture in 1984 with her song Borderline. She moved very quickly in the ensuing years to make several records (many of which have gone multi-platinum) and to take several world tours with sold-out concerts, and has caused quite a bit of controversy in what she has done in the public eye. Examples include posing nude for Penthouse magazine (and announcing afterwards that she was not ashamed for doing it), marrying (and subsequently divorcing) actor and media-avoider Sean Penn, creating a fashion trend (which was primarily popular with teenage girls), and making truly atrocious movies which the critics hated and the people refused to see (the only two exceptions are Dick Tracy and Truth or Dare, her controversial yet fascinating self-documentary about her tour of the same name). It seems that Madonna seems to enjoy attention, good or bad, and it seems like she feeds on her own controversy. Her songs, and the music videos which accompany the m, are no exception to this. However, the things she does and the images she projects requests contemporary society to reflect on itself, and to possibly re-create itself in innovative and inventive styles. Perhaps she always breaks with convention because she sees things in a different light than the rest of society. This essay shall focus on the video which accompanies the title track from her 1989 album, Like A Prayer, which certainly had its share of controversy. Probably the most startling image in the music video was that of several burning crosses on a lawn or a hill. These crosses were in the background, while Madonna was facing the camera and singing. When I saw the music video for the first time, this particular section of the video made me sit up and intently watch my television screen. The first things I thought about were, Shes a very outspoken woman for doing this! Boy, shes got a lot of nerve! I believe she was raised Catholic, and shes making a mockery of the Catholic Church by doing so! The Pope would be offended, to say the least! The radical approach to dispose of any religion (or a persons religious or pious fervor) is at least shocking. The cross is the symbol of Christianity and all it stands for. Seeing the cross engulfed in fire which symbolizes (and is) a destructive force would be very disturbing for anyone to see, Christian or not. I sat up and took notice, and Im not even Christian I am Jewish. Furthermore, the fact that Madonna is singing in front of the crosses (and consequently, not doing anything to stop the crosses burning) implies that she condones cross-burning. This thought asks three questions. Does she also condone the Ku Klux Klan, which also burns crosses? Does she like the idea of religion and/or atheism in any way at all? Does Madonna believe in God? These are all very deep and probing questions, which can only be answered truthfully by Madonna herself. Another small piece of the music video showed Madonna kissing a black man. While I personally feel that love is blind and has no boundaries, a vast majority of America cocked an eyebrow to this scene. In recent years, a television situation comedy and a major motion picture have both built on interracial relationships as the core of the storyline. True Colors was on the Fox Network, built around a black man married to a white woman. Spike Lees movie Jungle Fever also had a black man and a white woman. Lees reason why he did a story of a black man and a white woman (and not a white man and a black woman) was that the white woman has been stereotyped to be the essence of all beauty, and that the black man has been stereotyped to be a stud. (It is true that films and television shows have been made which focused on relationships between white men and black women; an example is the film Soul Man.) Does Madonna have any feelings for men of other races? Should America care? Knowing Madonna s sexual liberalism (she confessed to having partial feelings for women in an interview), has she and/or will she seek out alternative methods to satisfy her sexuality and her sexual curiosity?Both Madonna and the controversy she causes are interesting to watch. The public keeps a sharp eye on what she does because she is an outspoken individual who knows how to market herself to the worldwide media. She always strays from the norm, and she always gives her brash opinions on particular establishments, and acts on those opinions afterwards. Many people have many opinions about her, and many people speak their mind about her. This is what she likes to listen to people talking about her. She loves the attention and uses it to her advantage. My opinion of Madonna is that what she doesnt have in pure talent (and I think that shes a little lacking in the talent department), she makes up for with creativity, controversy, intelligence (she attended the University of Michigan called by som e to be the best public school in the nation) and sexuality (she is an extremely beautiful woman I saw her Penthouse layout) to literally guarantee an audience. It is for this ingenuity that I respect her.