Essay Proposal of “The Metamorphosis”
The novella, “The Metamorphosis,” is written by Franz Kafka. The conflict between Gregor’s body and mind makes a tremendous change in his life, as it is a second change after he becomes a cockroach. His mind has to adjust to the requirements of his new body and new life as a gigantic insect. He recognizes the limits of his new body. He starts hating milk that he likes when he is human. He gets personal feelings for his sister, feeling of guilt, and feeling sorrow when he hears his father discussing the family’s financial condition and plight.
Gregor’s transformation completely changes his physical appearance, but it does not change his mind, making strife, or lack of harmoniousness, between his body and mind. When he attempts to stand straight, his body cannot help him to stand straight. He wants to go to work, but he is not able to do so. When his wife keeps milk for him, he does not like it, though he likes milk when he is human. His mind thinks like a human, but his body fails to behave like a human. He cannot conciliate these two incarnations. When he is accustomed to his new body, his mind starts to react to his physical desires and needs. However, he cannot get his body and mind into harmony. His good nature never vanishes totally. He has to select an option of emotional comfort or physical comfort. Overall, his body and mind become opposed to one another. Finally, he selects emotional comfort, guiding him to adhere to the portrait of a woman in fur.
Annotated Bibliography
Haugen, Hayley Mitchell. Readings on The Metamorphosis. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven, 2002. Print.
This source consists of fifteen analytical essays that analyzes the psychology and art of “The Metamorphosis” by an Austrian author Franz Kafka, in which a human is transformed into a cockroach. In addition, it includes a bibliography and a chronology.
Kafka, Franz, and Stanley Corngold. The Metamorphosis: Translation, Backgrounds and Contexts, Criticism. New York: W.W. Norton, 1996. Print.
It reflects contexts and criticism of the novella The Metamorphosis, which is about a human who transforms into an insect and the changes in his life due to this transformation.
