Thursday, December 1, 2016
The Metamorphosis - POV
The point of view of The Metamorphosis is important to the meaning of the story. Kafka uses third person limited narration to give the reader an entry into Gregor's thoughts and feelings. Through this, we are able to sympathize with Gregor better than anyone else in the story. Also, it keeps the story focused solely on Gregor and his interactions with others, rather than the interactions of others with him. If the story were told in first person, the story would be slightly different. The reader would be able to visualize and feel Gregor's physical state, and it would be easier to gain access and understanding of his feelings and thoughts about his situation. Furthermore, the story would likely be even more of a reflection of Kafka himself. However, the story would lose part of its objective perspective. Third person limited allows the reader access to Gregor's feelings, but it also allows for us to see interactions of Gregor with other people as well.
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I find it interesting because I sympathize with Gregor, but also feel a disconnect. He seems relatively calm upon awakening as a bug, focused more on pleasing his boss than fixing himself. Perhaps if Gregor was more alarmed, I would have been able to relate with him more. I know if I awoke to find myself a giant bug, I would be horrified and focused on becoming human. Also, Gregor does not seem too deeply saddened by his life in isolation. His parents basically turn on him because of his appearance, but he seems relatively content to live all alone. I know my relationship with my parents is such I would be devastated if they left me locked in a bare room. However, I think Gregor associates his interactions with his parents as him having responsibility, so maybe he finds peace the completely unattached life of a bug.
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