Symbolic Similarities in "The Shunammite" and "The Metamorphosis"
Helthall 1
Travis Helthall
Professor Rich Carpenter
ENGL102-09 English Composition II
May 8, 2012
Symbolic Similarities
Research Paper The definition of metamorphosis as told by the Merriam-Webster dictionary is as follows “a marked and more or less abrupt developmental change in the form or structure of an animal (as a butterfly or a frog) occurring subsequent to birth or hatching.” (1) Whereas the Shunammite is just a woman hailing from Shumen, although the name is more so known for the biblical story of the Shunammite in the Book of Kings. That story was about a Shunammite whom was made to lay with the old and dying king David; she was a weak and vulnerable woman when it came to the idea of her being able to have children. So in the end she catered to all of King David’s wants and needs because he promised her a child if she did so. (Hampton 1-2) Although the actual meanings behind the names of the stories aren’t similar, the stories “The Metamorphosis” by Franz Kafka, and “The Shunammite” by Inés Arredondo, both share qualities that go beyond they’re literal names. Both “The Metamorphosis” and “The Shunammite” have very strong senses of symbol, of which are revealed throughout both of the stories. Even though some are different, there are still many symbols that can be seen as related between the two stories. Also there seems to be many biblical references in both stories as well, not even including the obvious one which is the name “The Shunammite”. Where the symbols may not all be the same, the way Helthall 2 in which they bring about certain changes in the protagonists and their surroundings is very similar due to the situations they are put into. The first instance of symbols rearing their heads trying to influence the protagonist, or rather, to show the overall emotion of their person are as follows: in the case of “The Metamorphosis”, as the narrator states, “His many legs, which seemed pathetically thin when compared to the rest of his
Travis Helthall
Professor Rich Carpenter
ENGL102-09 English Composition II
May 8, 2012
Symbolic Similarities
Research Paper The definition of metamorphosis as told by the Merriam-Webster dictionary is as follows “a marked and more or less abrupt developmental change in the form or structure of an animal (as a butterfly or a frog) occurring subsequent to birth or hatching.” (1) Whereas the Shunammite is just a woman hailing from Shumen, although the name is more so known for the biblical story of the Shunammite in the Book of Kings. That story was about a Shunammite whom was made to lay with the old and dying king David; she was a weak and vulnerable woman when it came to the idea of her being able to have children. So in the end she catered to all of King David’s wants and needs because he promised her a child if she did so. (Hampton 1-2) Although the actual meanings behind the names of the stories aren’t similar, the stories “The Metamorphosis” by Franz Kafka, and “The Shunammite” by Inés Arredondo, both share qualities that go beyond they’re literal names. Both “The Metamorphosis” and “The Shunammite” have very strong senses of symbol, of which are revealed throughout both of the stories. Even though some are different, there are still many symbols that can be seen as related between the two stories. Also there seems to be many biblical references in both stories as well, not even including the obvious one which is the name “The Shunammite”. Where the symbols may not all be the same, the way Helthall 2 in which they bring about certain changes in the protagonists and their surroundings is very similar due to the situations they are put into. The first instance of symbols rearing their heads trying to influence the protagonist, or rather, to show the overall emotion of their person are as follows: in the case of “The Metamorphosis”, as the narrator states, “His many legs, which seemed pathetically thin when compared to the rest of his
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