I have also used the family angle because of the well documented relationship that Kafka had with his own father. The most obvious change that occurs within Metamorphosis is Gregor becoming a monstrous vermin at the beginning of the novella. Even though he has changed beyond recognition he does not panic, there is an uncomfortable calm, he thinks he can still function normally. He is worried about catching the next train and getting the samples ready but then ironically being the boss’s creature, stupid and spineless. His physical change as far as he can see will not change his enjoyment of life, there will be no difference as he was a bug before, towing the line for the boss.
CAPITALIZATION IS VITAL; TANGIBLE CONSTRUCTION IS SECONDARY Frank Capra’s 1956 film “It’s a Wonderful Life” carves out a hero who’s only obvious failure is not seeing himself as a success, addressing the question of how we as a society evaluate the worth of ourselves and each other. George Bailey seems to think of his work at the Building and Loan as menial and emasculating. Although he esteems his father, he admits to him that he never wants to end up trapped in a shabby little office, chasing after “nickels and dimes.” The film portrays a man who doesn’t understand who he is and as a result is constantly at war with himself. He is unable to reconcile what he thinks he should be and what he feels he is becoming at the Building and Loan. Eventually George comes to regard the capitalization and cooperation the Building and Loan embodies, as vital and rewarding work, and actual building as an important but lesser labor.
Since his father Unoka was not a hard working man and did not live a productive life, Okonkwo had nothing to learn or inherit from him. Instead, he had to work very hard himself to get to the position he was in. He had only one fear and that was “to resemble his father” (17, ch.2). His obsession with success, which is one of his tragic flaws, stops him from seeing what is really going around and from having a better outcome. Many times, tragic flaws cause the tragic heroes to die or face downfall and Okonkwo’s case was not any different.
The Hunger Artist knows that although he is honest and true to his work, his peers can never truly understand his accomplishment. In representation of Kafka’s personal life, the Hunger Artist himself loses much of his freewill. In his time, professional fasting has lost its icon. Before, any Hunger Artist could manage their own performances but as the profession loses touch with spectators, management is required
His father refused to give Paul money and argued that he has a job, so he can pay his own expenses. Therefore, his son felt a lack of importance in his father’s life.
Barry: He doesn’t care at all about the starving people in the countries suffering from poverty. Ron: Ron doesn’t really care about the starving millions. Claire: Claire sort of cares about the poorer people in the world. Family Ron: Ron is unhealthy because of his weight and the affects of stress from his work. He ends up having a heart attack.
The roll of the woman is very different and the refugees are very surprised that Carrie is an independent woman that works for its own and doesn’t have a husband because in their culture, the man (also called Chief) is the one who maintain and protect a family. The clash of values isn’t positive or negative, each country and society share different values that nobody can say if they are right or wrong, there are different. The cultural identity isn’t respected in the US. For example, when Jeremiah, works in a supermarket, he has the value of not throwing the food away and when he tells that to his boss, he is fired. The reaction of the Americans don’t show much respect and tolerance to this culture because they aren’t accustomed to cultures that are much more different from theirs and aren’t able to understand their context and their situation.
Neither understands having though, passion, feeling, or emotion in life. The Myth of Sisyphus helps explain some of the meaning of some of the events taking place in The Stranger. In The Stranger the main character Meursault takes life for granted in a way of not enjoying it. He seems more satisfied with the usual as if no excitement lives in his life. The death of his mother doesn’t even bother him so show sadness.
He does not see his alienation because he is so used to it. Gregors guilt kills him knowing he is now no of use. As the novel progresses, Gregor tries to rebuild himself that he had lost by living for others and ignoring his desires. He cannot, however, escape what he sees as his family duty, and continues to serve his family by doing his best not to trouble them Gregor manages to escape his sense of duty only in the last chapter, when he realizes that his family has been neglecting him. Gregor's search for his identity seems hopeless, but, because he never had an identity to start with.
His father even stated “that boy has nothing on his mind but business”. (Kafka, 10). Being a traveling salesman is “a grueling job” (Kafka, 4) which is dissatisfying. Gregor stated that “If I didn't hold back for my parents’ sake, I would have quit long ago, I would have marched up to the boss and spoke my piece from the bottom of my heart”. (Kafka, 4).