Metamorphosis is about a man name Gregor who takes care of his families finances. His parents are capable of working but instead choose not to while Gregor works to pay off their debts. One day Gregor wakes up as a cockroach and no longer can work. His family alienates him and confines him to his room. In the end Gregor dies and his parents begin to work again. This story resembles human nature. When someone continually gives you something, most people do not want to change that. Gregor’s family took advantage of him. Because he kept working they had no motivation to find a job for themselves. Eventually we see there capability of working after Gregor dies.
Monthly Archives: May 2013
The markets
At this time I am deciding to write about the stock markets across the globe. I have been an investor for 4-5 years and I now begin to realize that reality isn’t key, what people perceive is important. My qualm with perception is that what someone perceives doesn’t have to be the truth, Europe has a record high unemployment level but if we are to look at that stock market you’d think things are awesome. Better yet, I take a look at America and the Job report, the terrible thing is the job report says that unemployment is at a level seen before the crisis in 08′. The reality is that I do not look around and see businesses performing that way; my father owns a mechanic shop for 36 years and again I will say that I do not see business in the same light as I did on 08′. Nonetheless, we see the stock markets of America at an all time high. What do the stock markets really symbolize? Do the markets symbolize manipulation?
MOMA–The Starry Night
I had gone MOMA for so many time when I was in high school. I still could remember the first time I visited MOMA, I did not know any thing about those arts and why we needed to go to MOMA during the class time. since I just arrived NYC and I had so English , so instant of asking question I just like looking around on alone. After a few time later, I saw an art with a big tornado which made me interest to know the background and why the artist painting this, at first I did not know the name and the history of this art. Until the last two week I went to MOMA again, I realized it is call The Starry Night painted by Vincent Van Gogh. I also knew this painting was Van Gogh painted for his bother when he was ill. This paint saw the dream world of Van Gogh because when he was ill he could went out side, so he only imaged the world and painted down what he saw in his mind. In Van Gogh’s paint, I always can see the both safe and unsafe images in one paint. This is why I like his painting, because he always told to watcher both side of thinking.
FREE Write
This week we discussed “Drown” by Junot Diaz and it really got to me. I am a Dominican-American and reading about Junot it really sparked my curiosity of my culture and made me start to do research on history to uncover things that i was not aware of prior. I believe this class does that a lot to many of us. I feel that we have read a story in the class that can relate to the culture of everyone in the classroom. I really enjoy this.
I was not sure what to write this week but i felt like telling the class how i felt about the readings thus far.
The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
According to the Merriam Webster dictionary the definition of METAMORPHOSIS is:
1
a : change of physical form, structure, or substance especially by supernatural means
b : a striking alteration in appearance, character, or circumstances
2
: a typically marked and more or less abrupt developmental change in the form or structure of an animal (as a butterfly or a frog) occurring subsequent to birth or hatching
The definition of the work adapting is:
to make fit (as for a new use) often by modification, to become adapted
In “The Metamorphosis” by Franz Kafka, I believe that Gregor was the hero. Gregor was a person that took the role of being the supporter of his family when his father was not able to because of the fact the he was simply “not motivated to”. That comes off kind of striking to me because if a person simply makes the excuse of not being motivated to work then they will most likely be kicked in the ass by society because no one is going to put up with crap. Working is a necessity in order to have a home. Gregor’s father was lucky enough to have a son like him to be the provider.
I do believe that Gregor is the hero in this story although he suffered both in life and death. I believe that Gregor is a very kindhearted individual which is the reason why he took the responsibility as the provider in his home. I believe that Gregor took into account that he has a younger sister who needs a provider. I do not believe that the rest of Gregor’s family truly cared about him. Although his mother and father both wen to knock on Gregor’s door, neither of them went in and this to me shows a sign of not caring. If they did care, they would have went in the room and see what was wrong with Gregor.
Gregor’s family waited until the last moment until his death to stand up and do something about their living situation. I believe that by Gregor dying, it made him the hero because it made his family have no other choice but to get up and get a job. However, I also believe that all the pressure he had on himself was his own fault because he took on all the responsibilities and set no boundaries for his family.
“Metamorphosis”
According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the word “Metamorphosis” means a major change in the appearance or character of someone or something. In biology, it means a major change in the form or structure of some animals or insects that happens as the animal or insect becomes an adult, for example, the metamorphosis of tadpoles into frogs.
It is obvious that “metamorphosis” refers to the change that happens on Gregor’s body. But in my opinion, “metamorphosis” also happens on Gregor’s family members, father, mother, and his sister. Although their appearances do not change, their major changes happen on their behavior and spirit. After Gregor became an insect, the story recalls the time when Gregor is working, “They had been good times, and they had never returned, at least not in that magnificence, even though Gregor went on to earn so much money that he was able to bear, and indeed bore the expenses of the whole family. The just become used to it, both family and Gregor”(Kafka 224). Gregor’s family members just like insects; they only accept the money and life which Gregor makes and take it for granted. Contrary to the ending of the story, the author states, “Setting back comfortably in their seats, they discussed the prospects for the future; it turned out that on closer inspection these were not at all bad, because the work of all of them, which they had yet to talk about properly, was proceeding in a very encouraging way, particularly in regard to future prospects” (Kafka 241). Their life changes from caterpillars to butterflies. Gregor’s death teaches them how to live on themselves.
I like the story because it reflects the real life. I strongly agree with the situation when Gregor become useless and even the extra burden for the family, all of his family members change their attitudes to Gregor. It is true. I can be filial obedience to my parents, but for my siblings I cannot promise it. It also makes me remember the wedding vows,” I, ____, take you, ____, to be my lawfully wedded(husband/wife), to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part”. In reality, how many couples can keep their promise when they meet with the similar situation as Gregor’s change?