Metamorphosis Franz Kafka

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HL808 Introduction to Magical Realism Mid Term Essay Thong Kay Wee U0930413L 4) Discuss the use of magic in any ONE of the following: Metamorphosis, Of Love and Other Demons, OR Amélie. What kind of magic does the author/director employ, and what do you think its thematic significance might be? Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka In Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, Gregor Samsa, the main character, undergoes a transformation from a human being to “gigantic insect”. This change is inexplicable and illogical, and no explanations are offered to address the reasoning behind it. This is where the element of magic comes into the play, where the seemingly implausible and supernatural feat has been achieved, as seen in Gregor’s case. It is a naturalistic kind of magic, nothing fanciful or spectacular, but based on a certain ideal that is taken for granted as a fact that cannot be denied. By employing this type of magic, Kafka clearly does not want the magical element to distract the readers from focusing on what is really important. The ‘magical’ represented in the novel is basically limited, because it only serves as a pretext in bringing out the thematic issues Kafka intends to explore. In narrative terms, it serves as the catalyst for the introduction of the realistic concerns evident in the context of the novel. The magical allows the visualisation of the metaphor by bringing to life a literalized metaphor in the narrative. It helps to magnify the truth to huge proportions, allowing the readers to examine it and see it more clearly, thus forming a better understanding of Gregor as a character and the issues that he is facing. For Gregor, his metamorphosis from man to insect is representative of the ‘dehumanisation’ he is undergoing in his life. He is trapped in a situation where his work consumes his life;
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