"When Gregor Samsa woke up one morning from unsettling dreams, he found himself changed into a monstrous vermin."
As I read the first lines of The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, I tried to imagine what kind of "monstrous vermin" Gregor had become. It was hard for me to actually visualize the overnight transition, I tried to come up with some conclusions as to why and how this could happened to a seemingly normal person. My thoughts began to drift on to broader aspects of what this "metamorphosis" could be as I continued to read. I concluded that Gregor's metamorphosis was state of mind that enveloped his entire being, changing his physical humanness into a "monstrous vermin." His change reminds me of Rihanna's "We Found Love" music video that showed her metamorphic state of mind that literally consumed her because she was so in love with that "Chris Brown wannabe".
Out of all the animals and creatures in the world, why did Gregor manifest into a insect? To think that a man could be cast into the shadows of a permanent physical solitude. Imagine the type of creatures we would turn into on a daily basis if we had this type of "metamorphosis" power. Right now, I would probably turned into a honey bee since I'm always busy and I can never find time for things. What kind of creature can you see yourself changing to?
Althought we should be happy that there are very few classes left in our senior year, our English class has been slightly depressing. The modernist text, "The Metamorphosis" forces us to realize the injustices and harsh realities of our society through a man who transforms into a "monstrous vermin." While reading, we've frequently discussed the mistreatment Gregor faces along with our sympathy for him. The sadness we feel at his situation makes me think of how we as a people usually feel sadness when it is already too late. Gregor has already transformed into a bug which makes it easier for us to see how much he has been walked all over and isolated from his own family. Even though his family did some particularly heinous actions toward him, we are sometimes guilty of doing similar things on a smaller scale.
One thing Gregor's family does is exclude him. He is only a part of the family as long as he can contribute. As members of today's society, we tend to be focused on our own agenda. This can sometimes cause us to be so wrapped up in our own lives, that we do not stop to assist and include others. This is not necessarily wrong but excluding people, intentionally or unintentionally, is a pretty mean thing. No one has it easy, and by isolating others it just makes it harder for them to feel accepted by their peers and society.
Another way Gregor is rejected by his family is when he can no longer work. This can be compared to having a friend for convenience. Sometimes people only come to certain people when they need a favor or something they have. Under the right circumstances, this can be acceptable, however, using someone for your own benefit without considering their feelings, is selfish and disrespectful.
Many of us are guilty of doing things to avoid the things we find socially unacceptable. Although we may not be as severe as Gregor's parents, we do have moments where we choose not to deal with the people who are to different or difficult to understand. Since almost all of us are going to college in the fall, I hope that we can shed these habits and be even more accepting people. We all felt saddened by Gregor's transformation and how it affected him, but we are forgetting that the individual injustices are what caused him to change into a bug. The sympathy we feel for Gregor should be the same sympathy we feel for all those we face injustice due to our own prejudices.
***the video is from "What Would You Do?" on ABC. This is one of the less serious topics, but it shows who sometimes a simple prejudice can cause issues and hurt others. Because white barbers are not accepted, he is subjected to discrimination.
"We alone can devalue gold by not caring if it falls or rises in the market place. Wherever there is gold there is a chain, you know, and if your chain is gold so much the worse for you. Feather,shells, and sea-shaped stones are all as rare. This could be our revolution: To love what is plentiful as much as what is scarce."
-Alice Walker
While reading "The Bet" and "How Much Land Does a Man Need?", I was struck with a feeling of nostalgia. Memories of my eighth grade English class came rushing in and immediately I thought of this poem. Both "The Bet" and "How Much Land Does a Man Need?" teach us the dangers of seeking material wealth. No matter how much we have or how much week seek the end result is never satisfaction or happiness. The lawyer in the end of "The Bet," learns to "devalue gold." He realizes that the pursuit of earthly possessions is a pointless one. In his letter he says, "Everything is worthless, transient, illusory and as deceptive as a mirage." Those words could not be any truer. We go to school, to get a diploma, to get a degree, to get a job, while holding on to the false idea that we can satiate our wants with the wealth we might gain. But it's never enough. And it will never be enough. Our true desires cannot be bought. Like Pahom, we leave it all behind.
This is our chance to start a revolution. Let us devalue gold. Let us release the chains of greed that drag us to our grave. Whether rich or poor we face the same end. There's a choice to be made. This could be our revolution. To love what is plentiful as much as what is scarce.
In "The Bet" by Anton Chekhov, there is a young lawyer who has imprisoned himself because he makes a statement saying, "The death penalty and life imprisonment are equally immoral. But if I had to chose between execution or being locked away for life, I'd opt for the second, without any doubt. Any sort of life's better than none at all"(960). The young lawyer made a bet know as "The Bet" with the banker, and this bet requires that the young lawyer will stay in the banker's lodge for fifteen years without any communication with the outside world. I do not know about you, but I would have kept my mouth shut and never taken it. While the lawyer is in confinement for fifteen years, he tries to search for an answer to this BIG question. Is any life better than no life at all? I believe everyone has their own opinion to this question. Ms. Whitley asked this question as an exit ticket. This question is constantly replaying in my mind because I think a lot of us would jump to yes because anything is better than being in a grave. But is it really? After fifteen years, before his time was almost up, the lawyer writes a letter to the banker, and it basically says he has attained so much wisdom and knowledge but he could not answer his dying question. He says, "You may be proud, wise and handsome, but death will wipe you from the face of the earth, together with the mice under the floorboards" (964). We can infer from this statement that the lawyer believes anyone can have all the wisdom, be prideful, and beautiful but it all means nothing because death with kill you and the earth will go on. Reading this I agreed for a bit, but then I realized the world will go on but it is what you do to leave a mark on this earth that will never be wiped away from this earth. According to the lawyer, no life is better than life at all. What do you believe? I think its what you do with the life you have will determine wither or not your life was worth living. The lawyer was dissatisfied because he was looking in the wrong place to find a answer only he himself and his actions to impact this world could answer. I want to know what everyone thinks, tell me.
This week we began to read Faust. In the prologue, we were able to see the relationship between God and Mephistopheles. Honestly, in my opinion, Mephistopheles reminds me of Satan. Does anyone else feel that way? He has an interesting relationship with God. It's strange but the rivalry over humans between God and Mephistopheles seems like a game. "What do you wager? You will lose him yet,/Provided you give me permission/To steer him gently the course I set." Mephistopheles mentions a wager, which makes this seem like a game between rivals. It is almost as if there is some sort bet over who is to be tempted by evil and who is to remain good. The relation between them is really complex. They are both discussing Faust's fate. Mephistopheles decides to try to tempt Faust and God allows him to do so. As it was said in class, it shows that even in the end God has the ultimate control and makes the final decisions. The only question I have is why? Why would God allow one of his people to be tempted and corrupted? It is interesting to be able to see an interpretation of how God thinks. The way the prologue ended made me want to know what is going to happen in the story. I really want to find out the reason God has allowed Mephistopheles to tempt Faust.
During the Age of Rationalism, there was a constant search for enlightenment. It was a time to question any and everything. Questions led to answers which ultimately led to a better understanding of things. Many famous philosophers were able to write and share their ideas with the public during this time. It was a time to inspire and be inspired. The thirst for knowledge was at an all time high. People grew so passionate about learning. So why does Romanticism reject the ideas of Rationalism, if the Age of Rationalism bore some of the best erudite of our time? During the Age of Romanticism, what the heart felt meant more than analyzing every single situation. I think it is safe to say that if you like overthinking and overanalyzing situations, the concept of Romanticism would probably not appeal to you. I think we can all agree that overthinking a situation before or after it has happened can suck all the fun right out of it! Instead of thinking things through, Romantics lived spontaneously. You know that sappy saying, "Follow your heart," yeah well that is probably something that the Romantics would have encouraged. In addition, Romantics were very fond of nature. They took out of their day to smell the flowers and embrace the beauty of nature. Let's not forget the admiration Shug Avery also felt for nature back when we read The Color Purple! "I think it pisses God off when you walk by the color purple in a field and don't notice it." Shug would have fit in so well with the Romantics! Haha
The connection I am trying to make, however, is between the two poems we read that were written in two completely different time periods. Paradise Lost which was written by John Milton during the Age of Rationalism and "Ode: Intimations of Immortality" which was written by William Wordsworth during the Age of Romanticism. Although I discussed how these time periods contrasted each other, the poems written during these two times share many of the same ideas. The Age of Rationalism and the Age of Romanticism are linked through these poems/stories.
In Paradise Lost, Adam and Eve must face the fact that they have lost something that they will never be able to get back: their innocence. Similarly, in Ode (too long to keep retyping lol) Wordsworth's grief is over the fact that he will never be able to experience the glory, innocence and purity that he once possessed as a child. Both poems deal with the lost of things that were of great value. Things we will never be able to repossess. Second, in Paradise Lost we see how blissfully ignorant Adam and Eve were. They had no responsibilities, burdens, or anything to worry about. We are able to see the same type of ignorant bliss in the children Wordsworth describe in his Ode poem. I think it is fair to even compare children and infants to Adam and Eve before they experienced their downfall. Before growing up and losing our glory(or forgetting it perhaps), we were celestial beings like Adam and Eve once were. When they ate the forbidden fruit, it forced them to open their eyes to how chaotic the world really is. Similarly, when children grow up, it is the same as them eating the forbidden fruit, except they are not given a choice. Whether they like it or not, they are forced to see, understand, and even experience all the things wrong in the world. The new knowledge that the forbidden fruit (also my metaphor for growing up) provided in both of these poems seems to hurt us more than it actually benefits us ("knowledge is pain"). Lastly, I noticed how both poems deal with the loss of innocence, but they also deal with what we gain after our loss. In Paradise Lost, we gain Free Will. The freedom to be able to think for ourselves and make our own decisions. In Ode, we gain a "philosophic mind." The ability to understand complexed matters, think deep thoughts, and provide solutions to problems is not something that most children are able to do. It is something that we learn to do as we go through the many obstacles we must face in life(which involves us losing our innocence). It is ultimately up to you whether to decide if what we gained is better than what we loss or vice versa. It is all a matter of opinion so there really is no right answer. These poems make it evident that after every tragic loss, there is a chance to rise. It is up to you how you choose to see this acquired knowledge. Is it burden or a gift? Or is just another gray area?
Ode: Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood
In Ode: Intimations of Immortality, we are able to see how Wordsworth has a strong feeling about childhood. He says that children try to grow up so fast and he does not understand why would they want to grow up so quickly and begin the struggles that adults have to eventually face. In stanza 7, he says that children play pretend funeral and wedding. As we discussed this in class, I realized I used to do the same thing. As a child, I was always playing pretend cooking. Where I would get mud and rocks and pretended I was making mashed potatoes with meat. Others days, I would pretend I was a doctor and I would prescribe my patients (teddy bears) with pills (sweet tarts) for their terrible cough. I remember I wanted to grow up so bad and do all the "cool" things adults were able to do. Now, however, I realized growing up will not be as fun as I thought it would be when I was 5 years old. As children we are not able to see and appreciate how precious life is before we are faced with all of life's struggles. Therefore, I believe we should enjoy life instead of rushing everything we do, rather just sit back and enjoy an episode of Spongebob Squarepants.
This week in English class, shared our independent reading books. I read Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi. It is about Juliette who inadvertently killed a little boy with her deadly touch. Ever since that moment, Juliette was locked away for 264days and deemed a danger to the public. That is, until the Reestablishment decided she was useful in their quest for control. The actual idea of the book is amazing but I was not impressed with the result of that idea. One problem I had with the book was the writing. I felt as though the author was trying be fancy with her description of things but it came off as much. For example, "He shifts and my eyes shatter into thousands if pieces that ricochet around the room, capturing a million snapshots, a million moments in time. Flickering images faded with age, frozen thoughts hovering precariously in dead space, a whirlwind of memories that slice through my soul." This is how things are constantly described throughout the book and sometimes it feels as though it's too much. My next problem is with the main character Juliette. Juliette is so insecure it becomes annoying. Most of the book seems to be about her complaining, asking why she's alive; she wishes she could die and she doesn't deserve love, etc. It seems as though every one has to keep reassuring her that they love her and she doesn't deserve to die including one her love interest, Adam. He has to continually tell her that he loves her but she can't seem to grasp what he is saying. She acts so weak throughout the book and when you finally thinks she grows a backbone she goes back to being insecure. Juliette actually reminds me of Bella from twilight. Just like Bella, Adam has to continually be by her side to protect her and just like Bella, she needs someone to continue to reassure her about everything. I was expecting that once she gained courage and had a backbone we were going to see this strong character like Katniss from the hunger games but the total opposite happens. Overall, I did not enjoy this book. There were so many times where I just wanted to throw this book away and I honestly don't recommend it.
This week in class we finished up with "Paradise Lost," by John Milton by talking about the change in Eve. As seen in the reading, the serpent manipulates Eve into eating the forbidden fruit. Eve obviously made a poor choice but she believed she developed knowledge and free will. Now at the end of "Paradise Lost," Eve is debating whether she tell Adam about the powers of the forbidden fruit or should keep it to herself. Eve is starting to have the same concept of freedom as Satan when she says, "And render me more equal, and perhaps, a thing not undesirable, sometime Superior: for, inferior, who is free?" (822 line 445)Eve has gone bad! Now she feels that she should keep the secret of the forbidden away from her partner so she can become Superior. However, Eve realizes something. "This may be well: but what if God have seen and death ensue? Then I shall be no more, and Adam, wedded to another Eve, shall live with her enjoying..." (822 line 448). In other words, she's saying what if God had seen her eat the fruit and punishes her? Then Adam will be wed "to another Eve" and she does not want that. She realizes she has worked against God's wishes and knows she will be punished for that. But then, she realizes she can't leave her baby Adam behind. So she finally comes to the conclusion that she's just going to bring Adam down with her. This brings me to my connection. Have you ever done something you know you were not suppose to do? Then you try to blame someone else for it? Or even bring them down with you because you refuse to be punished alone? If you have done this then you can easily understand Eve's thought process. For instance, I babysit my cousins all the time. I have noticed that when one of them does something wrong they blame on their siblings. I know they mean no harm to each other (let's hope not) but they just do not want to be on "time out" by themselves. This can be seen through Eve's decision. She does not want to be on "time out" alone.
As we began to wrap up Hamlet, I made a connection between the characters and Psychological and Personality Disorders that I learned about in Psychology of Personality with Ms.Kenney. For one , I think its quite obvious that Hamlet suffers from depression. He is in a serious state of depression at the beginning of the play when we first see him . That depression then turns to anger which causes him to be violent and that violence caused him to kill Polonius. It seems to me like our friend Hamlet might also be a bit bipolar too. In Act III, we read his long soliloquy of him contemplating suicide. Then, he turns around in Act IV saying his thoughts will "be bloody" !! The image below features a man with half his face painted red and the other half painted black. This symbolizes Hamlet's two sides. The black is his depression and state of melancholy and the red is his violent and vengeful side. Another character who suffers from a disorder is Claudius. Claudius clearly has Narcissistic Personality Disorder. We are all familiar with the Greek Myth of Narcissus and how he was forced to stare at his reflection in the lake forever until he died. Narcissistic Personality Disorder is a personality disorder in which the individuals who have it are all about themselves, lack empathy for others , and obsess over power.If this isn't Claudius then I don't know what is !!!!! Claudius definitely cares only for himself. He lacks empathy for Hamlet when Hamlet is grieving the death of his father. He also obsesses over power . This is evident because he kills his own brother !!! HIS OWN FLESH AND BLOOD! Lastly, in the final death scene when he gets stabbed with the sword he tries to brush it off like he's invisible. Ugh!!!!! The nerve of this guy !!! What do you ladies think? Do you agree with me? Do you disagree? Why or Why not? Do you think any other characters have disorders?
