A Theme of Dehumanization Illustrated in The Metamorphosis and a Late Encounter with the Enemy 'O'Connor, although the various aspects of dehumanization differ between the two works. Dehumanization plays a role in the deaths of Gregor and General Sash; the two authors describe the enormous pressure exerted on the characters by society, particularly through each character's view of their own dehumanization. This degradation is accompanied by consequences, both positive and negative, which affect the families of each character. The extent of Gregor and General Sash's dehumanization is slowly revealed through exposition and the escalating action of both stories until, in a climactic moment, their deaths resolve their struggles and bring peace to their sick minds. Tragically, this corruption of their moral and even physical selves comes not only from their society, but also from their families; in fact, in both cases, the families take advantage of their dehumanization and cause it. Another point of contrast is Gregor and General Sash's different attitudes toward their impending deaths: General Sash is so corrupt that he accepts his dehumanization and even longs for it, while Gregor, a young man, still considers his dehumanization like a prison from which he cannot escape. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”? Get the original essay The dehumanization of Gregor in Kafka's The Metamorphosis is evident from the first sentence of the novel: “When Gregor Samsa woke up one morning in his bed after restless dreams, he found himself transformed into an enormous insect” (612). This transformation from human to insect creates the tension of the story, because Gregor is literally dehumanized from the start. The fact that Gregor transforms into an insect is also significant, because this creature symbolizes Gregor's spiritual transformation. Gregor's spiritual degradation is revealed in the exposition of The Metamorphosis through Gregor's views of his work as a traveling salesman and his boss, the Director. The director acts like a dictator over Gregor's life, and Gregor despises his work: "'Oh, my God,' he thought, 'what a strenuous profession I have chosen: traveling day after day!' The demands of work are much greater on the road than in the home office, and I am further burdened by the inconveniences of travel: the worry of train connections; irregular and bad meals; a social life limited to passing acquaintances who never become real friends. To hell with it!' » (612). Gregor's focus on his job security continues even after his transformation into an insect; he only seems to care whether he will be fired. This fear is significant in the presentation of Gregor's situation because it shows the influence that society's expectations have on his life. Gregor, like an insect, has a specific job to do, and if he can't do that job, he will be replaced. He abhors his situation and questions the merits of his profession after his transformation: “Why was Gregor condemned to work in a company where the slightest infraction immediately attracted the greatest suspicion? Were all employees without exception then scoundrels? Was there no loyal and devoted individual among them? (615). The significant word in this passage is “individuals”; no individual exists in Gregor's company, and therefore he, as an individual and as a human being, does not exist. Gregor's dehumanization is reinforced by his relationship with his family. His family's first reaction waswas of shock and horror; however, Grete, his sister, chooses to help Gregor survive. Although Gregor has to lock himself in his room, Grete still treats him like a human being, and her actions – for example, giving him a selection of dishes to eat – show her concern for him (623). Gregor also cares a lot about his family and tries to make his life more bearable for them: “[He was] consumed by worries and vague hopes that all led to the same conclusion: that for the moment he had to keep calm. . and, by showing patience and the greatest consideration for his family, try to make bearable the inconvenience that his current state would inevitably cause them” (622). Unfortunately, Gregor's transformation leaves his family stranded, both financially and physically; they find themselves with barely enough money to survive and have no way of moving in with Gregor. Furthermore, their efforts to please Gregor and treat him like a human being are detrimental to Gregor and themselves. The food they give him leaves less food for themselves; and the removal of furniture from his room, intended to allow Gregor freedom of movement, only reinforces Gregor's alienation. Gregor, expressing the tension between his humanity and his bestial nature, ultimately decides that he must keep his humanity alive: "Certainly he would be able to crawl undisturbed in all directions, but he would at the same time forget, quickly and completely , his human past” (628). This tension escalates until Grete, Gregor's last human connection, disowns him and convinces his parents that the insect is not a human being. "You just have to try to get rid of the idea that it's Gregor." Our real misfortune is that we believed in it for so long. But how can it be Gregor? If it were Gregor, he would have understood long ago that such an animal cannot live with people and he would have left voluntarily” (638). The tragic irony in this moment is that Gregor is able to hear his sister's debasement of him. Gregor, in his love for his family, is convinced that he must die: "His conviction that he must disappear was even firmer than that of his sister" (639). Gregor's dehumanization creates problems for both his family and himself which are an indirect cause of his death, but as he lies dying he finds himself in a state of "empty, peaceful contemplation", suggesting that, thanks to death, he is finally freed. Like Kafka, Flannery O'Connor uses the dehumanization of General Sash in "A Late Encounter with the Enemy" to show a man corrupted by modern Southern values. Social expectations of General Sash are very high: he is displayed at various events so the public can see him in his general's uniform and sword. For example, every year "it was bundled up and loaned to the Capitol City Museum where it was displayed in a musty room full of old photographs, old uniforms, old artillery pieces and historical documents." All this was carefully kept in display cases so that children would not get their hands on it” (139). The word "all" in this passage is intentionally ambiguous to include both the documents and General Sash himself, significantly showing that the general is merely a historical object to be displayed in a glass case. The passage goes on to say that "there was nothing about him to indicate that he was alive" (139), and in this statement the dehumanization of General Sash becomes evident. However, unlike Gregor, General Sash desires his dehumanization. The only significant memory in his mind is "the first" in Atlanta, when he received his general's uniform. General Sash likes., 1971.

Essay / A Theme of Dehumanization Illustrated in The Metamorphosis and a Late Encounter with the Enemy 'O'Connor, although the various aspects of dehumanization differ between the two works. Dehumanization plays a role in the deaths of Gregor and General Sash; the two authors describe the enormous pressure exerted on the characters by society, particularly through each character's view of their own dehumanization. This degradation is accompanied by consequences, both positive and negative, which affect the families of each character. The extent of Gregor and General Sash's dehumanization is slowly revealed through exposition and the escalating action of both stories until, in a climactic moment, their deaths resolve their struggles and bring peace to their sick minds. Tragically, this corruption of their moral and even physical selves comes not only from their society, but also from their families; in fact, in both cases, the families take advantage of their dehumanization and cause it. Another point of contrast is Gregor and General Sash's different attitudes toward their impending deaths: General Sash is so corrupt that he accepts his dehumanization and even longs for it, while Gregor, a young man, still considers his dehumanization like a prison from which he cannot escape. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”? Get the original essay The dehumanization of Gregor in Kafka's The Metamorphosis is evident from the first sentence of the novel: “When Gregor Samsa woke up one morning in his bed after restless dreams, he found himself transformed into an enormous insect” (612). This transformation from human to insect creates the tension of the story, because Gregor is literally dehumanized from the start. The fact that Gregor transforms into an insect is also significant, because this creature symbolizes Gregor's spiritual transformation. Gregor's spiritual degradation is revealed in the exposition of The Metamorphosis through Gregor's views of his work as a traveling salesman and his boss, the Director. The director acts like a dictator over Gregor's life, and Gregor despises his work: "'Oh, my God,' he thought, 'what a strenuous profession I have chosen: traveling day after day!' The demands of work are much greater on the road than in the home office, and I am further burdened by the inconveniences of travel: the worry of train connections; irregular and bad meals; a social life limited to passing acquaintances who never become real friends. To hell with it!' » (612). Gregor's focus on his job security continues even after his transformation into an insect; he only seems to care whether he will be fired. This fear is significant in the presentation of Gregor's situation because it shows the influence that society's expectations have on his life. Gregor, like an insect, has a specific job to do, and if he can't do that job, he will be replaced. He abhors his situation and questions the merits of his profession after his transformation: “Why was Gregor condemned to work in a company where the slightest infraction immediately attracted the greatest suspicion? Were all employees without exception then scoundrels? Was there no loyal and devoted individual among them? (615). The significant word in this passage is “individuals”; no individual exists in Gregor's company, and therefore he, as an individual and as a human being, does not exist. Gregor's dehumanization is reinforced by his relationship with his family. His family's first reaction waswas of shock and horror; however, Grete, his sister, chooses to help Gregor survive. Although Gregor has to lock himself in his room, Grete still treats him like a human being, and her actions – for example, giving him a selection of dishes to eat – show her concern for him (623). Gregor also cares a lot about his family and tries to make his life more bearable for them: “[He was] consumed by worries and vague hopes that all led to the same conclusion: that for the moment he had to keep calm. . and, by showing patience and the greatest consideration for his family, try to make bearable the inconvenience that his current state would inevitably cause them” (622). Unfortunately, Gregor's transformation leaves his family stranded, both financially and physically; they find themselves with barely enough money to survive and have no way of moving in with Gregor. Furthermore, their efforts to please Gregor and treat him like a human being are detrimental to Gregor and themselves. The food they give him leaves less food for themselves; and the removal of furniture from his room, intended to allow Gregor freedom of movement, only reinforces Gregor's alienation. Gregor, expressing the tension between his humanity and his bestial nature, ultimately decides that he must keep his humanity alive: "Certainly he would be able to crawl undisturbed in all directions, but he would at the same time forget, quickly and completely , his human past” (628). This tension escalates until Grete, Gregor's last human connection, disowns him and convinces his parents that the insect is not a human being. "You just have to try to get rid of the idea that it's Gregor." Our real misfortune is that we believed in it for so long. But how can it be Gregor? If it were Gregor, he would have understood long ago that such an animal cannot live with people and he would have left voluntarily” (638). The tragic irony in this moment is that Gregor is able to hear his sister's debasement of him. Gregor, in his love for his family, is convinced that he must die: "His conviction that he must disappear was even firmer than that of his sister" (639). Gregor's dehumanization creates problems for both his family and himself which are an indirect cause of his death, but as he lies dying he finds himself in a state of "empty, peaceful contemplation", suggesting that, thanks to death, he is finally freed. Like Kafka, Flannery O'Connor uses the dehumanization of General Sash in "A Late Encounter with the Enemy" to show a man corrupted by modern Southern values. Social expectations of General Sash are very high: he is displayed at various events so the public can see him in his general's uniform and sword. For example, every year "it was bundled up and loaned to the Capitol City Museum where it was displayed in a musty room full of old photographs, old uniforms, old artillery pieces and historical documents." All this was carefully kept in display cases so that children would not get their hands on it” (139). The word "all" in this passage is intentionally ambiguous to include both the documents and General Sash himself, significantly showing that the general is merely a historical object to be displayed in a glass case. The passage goes on to say that "there was nothing about him to indicate that he was alive" (139), and in this statement the dehumanization of General Sash becomes evident. However, unlike Gregor, General Sash desires his dehumanization. The only significant memory in his mind is "the first" in Atlanta, when he received his general's uniform. General Sash likes., 1971.

Navigation

« Prev 1 2 3 4 5 Next »

Get In Touch