great works ii – 2850 jta 12:25-2:05: love letters from the world

Thesis Statements for Essay #2

1. Throughout the story “Metamorphosis” the theme of alienation is presented when Gregor’s family alienates him once he turns into a bug, which ultimately leads to his tragic death.
2. In Kafka’s “Metamorphosis,” Gregor displays loyalty to his family, however when he turns into a bug, the limits of family loyalty are questionable, which ultimately leads to a tragic ending.
3. In Kafka’s “Metamorphosis,” symbolism is used when Gregor is exemplified as a cockroach; the most hated bug, which creates a situation where his family finds it impossible to accept him, which ultimately leads to his tragic death.

In Kafka’s “Metamorphosis,” there is a striking difference in the reactions of both the Chief Clerk and the father of Gregor, to his metamorphosis as an insect. The Chief Clerk ran in fear of Gregor, and his father became defensive once Gregor’s current state was revealed to them which left Gregory to be all alone in his room. Once Gregor began his plea to the Chief Clerk to save his job, The Chief Clerk turned his back on Gregor and left. “All the while Gregor was speaking, he wasn’t still for a moment, but, without taking his eyes off Gregor, moved towards the door…” (218). From here we see that the Chief Clerk kept his eyes on Gregor to watch his own back, in fear of what Gregor was capable of. Towards the end of part 1 of “Metamorphosis” we see that Gregor’s father’s reaction was to send Gregor back to his room, for a purpose unknown. “It was possible that his father was aware of his good intentions, because he didn’t obstruct him, but even directed the turning maneuver from a distance with gestures from his cane” (220). From here we can see that Gregor’s father wanted to send Gregor to his room, possibly to process all that had just been revealed and perhaps to form a solution to the fact that his son had just turned into an insect. Although he hissed at Gregor, which is a reaction one might have when trying to make an insect scurry away, he seemed to understand that Gregor had good intentions throughout this ordeal. Although both the Chief Clerk’s reaction and Gregor’s father’s reaction are different, both seem to be appropriate.

In Tagore’s short story Punishment, Tagore explores the idea of ethical issues related to justice. Chidam tries to save Dukhiram from a crime he committed, by blaming it on his wife Chandara, devising a plan so that she would not be charged as guilty, but ultimately leads to her tragic death. One instance where we see that an ethical issue is about to arise is when Chidam asks Ramlochan to help him lie about his brother’s crime. “Thakur, if I lose my wife I can get another, but if my brother is hanged, how can I replace him?” (895). This quote proves that Chidam was ready to give up his wife’s life, so that his brother who committed the crime, would not be sentenced to death. Ethically, this is completely wrong. To blame an injustice on someone who is completely innocent is a crime in itself. More so, it is ethically wrong to lie in court, and so he is causing a group of people to be accessories to the crime. Ramlochan learned the real truth, but to no avail, when Chandara came to testify in court, she lied and said that she committed the crime and it was not self-defense. Chandara was so hurt that her husband was ready to give her up in an instance, that she would have rather died than spend another minute with him during her lifetime.

In Feng Meng-Long’s, “Due Tenth Sinks the Jewel Box in Anger,” a lot of tension is displayed due to the difference in values systems between Du Tenth and Li Jia.

In Saikaku’s “Life of a Sensuous Woman,” the narrator seems to show feelings of both penitence and pride towards her life as a prostitute.

In Henry Ibsen’s play Hedda Gabler, Hedda portrays many strong characteristics one of which is manipulation. Throughout the play Hedda’s manipulation and power over her friends and family is very apparent. She is used to get what she wants and therefore strives to control every situation and the people around her. Since Hedda is in a loveless marriage in a time period where women cannot live as freely as men, she takes her cynicism out on her husband constantly. She takes advantage of him when all he does is try to please her and she does the same to the men whom she is emotionally involved with other than her husband. She takes advantage of them to the point of caring more about her selfish desires for beauty, adventure and romanticism than she does the life of another and her own. At the end of the play Brack reveals to Hedda in secret that he knows she is the one who gave Ejlert Lövborg the pistol which went off and hospitalized him. Once aware of her possible conviction she realizes she has lost the upper hand.  She says, “So I’m in your power now Judge.  You have a hold over me from now on…But in your power. Totally subject to your demands – And your will. Not free. Not free at all…No, that’s one thought I just can’t stand. Never! (4.837) When Hedda realized her position, and that she no longer controls the situation, she told Brack she was at his disposal, to which he replied that he would not take advantage of his newfound control over Hedda. The fact that he admits that he has any leverage over Hedda brings her to a defeating realization and she goes on to say “No, that’s one thought I just can’t stand.” The thought of someone else, specifically another man having control over her scared her so much, that she took her own life.

Feng Menglong’s, “Du Tenth Sinks the Jewel Box in Anger” is a story about a prostitute named Du Tenth who falls in love with one of the men who encountered her named Master Li. Tenth and Li wanted to get married but she was still under contract by Madam, who was her employer. Li has spent every last tael and was unable to pay Madam 300 taels in exchange for Li’s freedom and hand in marriage. Tenth was a very strong woman and we can see her strength in the way she responds to various distressing situations that she and Li encounter. She tells Madam, “…I’m sure he can raise three hundred. But three days is such a short time. Give him ten, and you’ve got a deal” (Menglong, 502). On another occasion, when they were at sea, Tenth has discovered how easily swayed the love of her life was by money, and almost gave her up for one thousand tales to a man named Sun Fu. Tenth was a smart woman and immediately reacted by throwing all the jewels she had hidden for her and Li’s future into the river. She said, “You have abandoned me at midjourney and betrayed my earnest heart. Today, before these many eyes, I open this box to reveal its contents, so that you may learn that a thousand tales is no great thing…” (Menglong, 516).

Saikaku’s, “Life of a Sensuous Woman” portrays an atypical, strong female character as well. The narrator is an aged, resigned prostitute who is reliving her story by telling her tale to two young men who came to see her. She tells them of the many lovers she has encountered and all the various types of jobs she had as a mistress. The narrator is a very adventurous woman who knows what she wants and sets out on a journey to find it the only way she knows how, in hopes of finding her one true love.