Davida:
The text “Kaspar” includes the recurring theme of illiteracy. Illiteracy, the lack of knowledge in a particular subject; ignorance is evident throughout the given works. Specifically, this theme is evident in the text “Kaspar” through the main character Kaspar Hauser’s inability to read and write, and even stand upright. Throughout the reading, I felt as if he was in a dazed and stupefied state. His life, in my opinion, and most likely in reality, was nothing but a blank page. Also, as I was trying to understand this text, I thought that it had to do with the majority of the population in the early 1900’s. Since obtaining access to information was not the big issue at hand, schooling was and I believe that this text emphasized or intended to mention how uneducated people of the early 20th century were. Due to Kaspar’s bland tone, depression and struggle is also present in the text, however the specific cause of the depression stems from the lack of knowledge.
Fritz:
Another root of depression that is witnessed through the text is Kaspar’s nihilistic nature. Kaspar is portrayed as a character that lacks motivation and has no meaning in life. In the beginning, he is seen as lazy. He constantly just sleeps and eats and does everything all over again, in a repeating cycle. He has no idea what to do with his life and seems to not care about it or even deeply consider the possibilities of the world beyond his cellar. Until a man in black appears and changes everything for Kaspar, his story remains the same. The man in black takes it upon himself to teach Kaspar how to read and write and shows Kaspar a new meaning in life. Kaspar has no idea why the man is doing this for him, but this immensely changes his life. Kaspar starts leaving his cellar and begins to have a slight awareness of the outside world, because the man in black gives him a little push of hope. However, once Kaspar is left alone once again, he simply acts like a trained dog, finding no point in using his brain and thinking a little further of what to do next.
Brian:
“Acrostic” by Killofer has a similar theme of being somewhere with poor conditions with no chance for change. The characters discussing relocating gives them hope over where they live because they don’t have any sort of opportunity. This theme connects to “Kasper” since the characters are dependent on their surroundings to provide for them and they have limited abilities. The dialogue in “Acrostic” is depressing and gives a feel for the hopelessness that the people of this setting might’ve felt that would make them feel like they are already dead. The black and white visuals of the comic along with the rain give this depressing message of poor living conditions. The emphasis of words in each box also show the desperation of the narrator to seek somewhere else to move but they make it seem like a dream and that it doesn’t exist. “Going home is just like dying” is the final message of the comic, but the glasses of what could be alcohol and the rainfall make it seem unlikely that there will be change.
5 responses so far ↓
s.tangirala // Apr 2nd 2016 at 10:06 am
Reply to Fritz:
I like your connection of depression to Kaspar’s nature. I think that because Kasper started with no life meaning that the author may be suggesting that we depend on other people to show us a better way of life. I think it is interesting that you suggested that Kasper has a nihilistic personality, since I just assumed he acted so lazy because he knew no other way of living. Kaspar’s depressed life is evident at the beginning, which is why I agree that the man in the black plays an integral role in his life, trying to remove his depression and show him how the world works.
lh154081 // Apr 2nd 2016 at 10:32 am
Reply to Davida,
I agree that Kaspar’s nature exemplifies the theme of illiteracy. Throughout the entire text, the author depicts how Kaspar is unable to think and do things for himself and must depend on authority in order to guide/lead him. He appears to be lost throughout the story and I also agree that he is drawn in a “dazed” and “stupified” state. His inability to think on his own and the bland way in which he describes his daily routine in life illustrates how he is lost in life and lacks the basic knowledge to think on his own.
lh154081 // Apr 2nd 2016 at 10:33 am
Reply to Davida (contd)
Kaspar lacks a real role in life and his lack of knowledge in specific subjects makes his life to seemingly be lost and meaningless.
m.mccann // Apr 2nd 2016 at 11:08 am
Reply to Fritz:
I think that Kaspar has a nihilistic nature because that is all he knows. It seems his life is meaningless until the man in black comes and teaches him new things. The man in black teaching Kaspar new things makes his repeating cycle of doing the same thing everyday change. Without the man in black he would still have a meaningless life. You made a really good point on how once Kaspar is left alone he acts like a trained dog. The man in black showed him there is more to life and he still doesn’t understand that.
JMERLE // Apr 2nd 2016 at 11:19 am
This group does a fine job pinpointing another important theme here (along with the sense of hopelessness and Nihilism) and that is the importance of knowledge/education. As one of you stated, it is as if Kaspar (and he was a real person) is a “blank” page. This can be both positive and negative, so I want you to think about that, and think, too, what Gregor (“The Metamorphosis”) would have thought about this. Thanks to the last post for using a quotation! Even though I didn’t expressly ask for them this time, I want this to become second nature to your responses to any text (inside or outside this class). Think about your responses in terms of the visual texts on our blog space, and in terms of “The Metamorphosis,” which will finish discussing on Wed.
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