Philosophical Context in Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis
Intro
Kafka never fully embraced Zionism, and he remained ambivalent toward Judaism. He was more openly interested in anarchism and socialism, but was not committed to either philosophy because he refused to completely align himself with an established worldview.
Modernism
-Kafka was exposed to Modernism.
-Modernism was a movement during the late 19th century and early twentieth century of scientific, technological and industrial development. Modernists shared a desire to create literature that was new and different. Their belief was to capture the reality of modern life and that rapid change cause uncertainty, disjointedness, and alienation.
-Kafka wrote about the absurdity of existence, the alienating experience of modern life, and the cruelty of authoritarian power.
-The word Kafkaesque has passed into the literature to describe an unsettling, disorienting, nightmarish world that is at once both fearful and menacing in its ambiguity and complexity.
Kafka's views on Humanity
Speaking with his friend Max Brod, Kafka once explained that he thought human beings were trapped in a hopeless world. This belief never leaves Kafka's writing, and it is present in The Metamorphosis, where Gregor's only option, in the end, is to die. Ironically, the story ends on an optimistic note, as the family puts itself back together.
Existentialism
-Kafka never studied philosophy but he was friends with several intellectuals and read works by famous philosophers.
-Several people think of Kafka as an existentialist.
-Existentialism is a 20th-century philosophical movement, which assumes that people are entirely free and thus responsible for what they make of themselves.
-The early 19th century philosopher Søren Kierkegaard is regarded as the father of existentialism.
-Franz Kafka was an important literary author in existentialism. His story, which is surreal, is one of many modernist literary works that was influenced by existentialist philosophy.
-The
Kafka never fully embraced Zionism, and he remained ambivalent toward Judaism. He was more openly interested in anarchism and socialism, but was not committed to either philosophy because he refused to completely align himself with an established worldview.
Modernism
-Kafka was exposed to Modernism.
-Modernism was a movement during the late 19th century and early twentieth century of scientific, technological and industrial development. Modernists shared a desire to create literature that was new and different. Their belief was to capture the reality of modern life and that rapid change cause uncertainty, disjointedness, and alienation.
-Kafka wrote about the absurdity of existence, the alienating experience of modern life, and the cruelty of authoritarian power.
-The word Kafkaesque has passed into the literature to describe an unsettling, disorienting, nightmarish world that is at once both fearful and menacing in its ambiguity and complexity.
Kafka's views on Humanity
Speaking with his friend Max Brod, Kafka once explained that he thought human beings were trapped in a hopeless world. This belief never leaves Kafka's writing, and it is present in The Metamorphosis, where Gregor's only option, in the end, is to die. Ironically, the story ends on an optimistic note, as the family puts itself back together.
Existentialism
-Kafka never studied philosophy but he was friends with several intellectuals and read works by famous philosophers.
-Several people think of Kafka as an existentialist.
-Existentialism is a 20th-century philosophical movement, which assumes that people are entirely free and thus responsible for what they make of themselves.
-The early 19th century philosopher Søren Kierkegaard is regarded as the father of existentialism.
-Franz Kafka was an important literary author in existentialism. His story, which is surreal, is one of many modernist literary works that was influenced by existentialist philosophy.
-The