Essay on Indifference in Franz Kafkas The Metamorphosis

Killing Indifference in The Metamorphosis    Even before the beginning of the story, each member of the Samsa family in Franz Kafka ¹s Metamorphosis serves a specific purpose. Gregor Samsa, the tragic protagonist of the story, performs his job with routine precision. It is this role as a provider that sustains his relationship to his family. But at the onset of the story, Gregor is inexplicably transformed into a  ³gigantic insect. ² (p.67) In addition to jeopardizing his role in both society and work, this transformation severely effects his relationship with his family. The consequent indifference, alienation, and finally hatred that he elicits from his family is the source of his demise. For without the emotional sustenance and the essential role within the family that Gregor had occupied previous to his metamorphosis, he is not able to sustain life.    Even after Gregor has become an insect, his initial reaction is not one of alarm. Surprisingly, his first response is to devise some sort of plan to secure his job and hence his role in the family. The only call to urgency that interrupts his  ³cool reflection ² is the arrival of the chief clerk (p.73). Accordingly, Gregor laments his fate of  ³being condemned to work for a firm where the smallest omission can give rise to the highest suspicion ² (p.74). It is as if he would most likely entirely overlook his more immediate and pressing condition of being an insect if it did not impede his ability to go to work. Gregor, in fact, finally risks bodily harm only due to the  ³agitation ² he feels over the thought of his parents becoming unsettled by their son ¹s tardiness and the pres... ... ² implores Grete to her father while she is persuading him to exterminate the bug(p.125).    But the damage is already done. The Samsa family ¹s exclusion of Gregor is what causes his demise. Even though the description of his death does involve physical characteristics, it is Gregor ¹s memory of his family that effects him the most. During his final moments, he describes the apple which is embedded in his back as  ²...hardly troubl[ing] him ²(p.127). He then proceeds to  ³[think] of his family with tenderness and love ² (p.127). This thought process represents Gregor ¹s need to be at peace with the family of which he was such an integral part prior to his metamorphosis. For without the love and affection and nurture that Gregor both provided and received, he is forced to succumb to his physical demise.

A Nuclear Family Vacation

Putin’s Russia is, and may never be ready to open its doors completely to the rest of the world, just yet.   When the hand of welcome is that of the United States’, Russia is wary.   While both countries have pledged cooperation to promote mutual interests, the two have remained passive and obviously lacked sincerity.Take the case of the US-funded Sarov Technopark, where the Russian nuclear scientists and their western partners will do their research and conduct their tests.   The joint project was to ensure that the scientists would not work for the terrorists.   Five years after groundbreaking in 2000, US representatives have not gained access to the facility, which was supposed to be an open zone.   The Russians gave the Americans a runaround, before finally turning down the request for a visit.The Russians are highly security-conscious and infinitely protective of their talents, skills, and expertise.   They cordoned off sensitive sites or closed sites a nd never allowed anyone through.   Analysts understood the attitude.Russia would not want their experts on weapons of mass destruction to gain outside contact.   While this may not have been acceptable to the US-Russian partnership, the Russians appeared to have a point as far sparing nothing for reason of security.   The Russians would rather err on the side of caution.The US foreign policy had not been encouraging either.   They showed no visible signs that the US pursued these initiatives with the same enthusiasm as before.   The US led allied forces in the Gulf, Afghanistan, and in Iraq.   It will stop at nothing to oppose the use of weapons of mass destruction.What seemed to be a strong alliance between the US and Russia against the proliferation of nuclear technology had not progressed beyond take off.   Where has it gone wrong?   We will never know, as Russia would not provide the answer and the US would not even ask the question.

The American Dream Is Hard to Achieve in the Great Gatsby...

The American Dream is hard to achieve The Great Gatsby†, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, portrays a world filled with rich societal activities, love affairs, and dishonesty. Nick Carraway is the busy narrator of the book, a curious choice considering that he is in a different class and almost in a different world than Gatsby and the other characters. Nick relates the plot of the story to the reader as a part of Gatsby’s circle. He has hesitant feelings towards Gatsby, despising his personality and corrupted dream but feeling drawn to Gatsby’s wonderful ability to hope. Using Nick as an honorable guide, Fitzgerald attempts to guide readers on a journey through the novel to show the corruption and failure of the American Dream. To achieve†¦show more content†¦101). Gatsby is disappointed that the woman he loves is not really who he wants her to be. Gatsby wants a better life and he thinks he can do it if he puts his mind to it, which is also a part of the American Dream. Nonetheless, Gatsbys dr eam collapses when he fails to win Daisy and is not accepted by the upper class. All his money cannot help him when old man Wilson fires a gun at him. Gatsby sees himself as a failure when Daisy chooses Tom instead of him. The failure of Gatsbys hoped for life relates to the failure of the American Dream. Without his dream Gatsby has nothing, nothing to keep him going, no direction, and no purpose to live. Myrtle, who represents the low and ignorant class of America, tried to break the social barriers and thus pursues wealth by any means necessary. Using her sexuality and crude appearance, she becomes false for abandoning and dismissing her own social foundation, and like Nick, we as readers are disgusted by her monstrous approach to entering the rich class. At one point, and quite humorously to the knowing onlooker, Myrtle complains about a service done for her that was so expensive. Obviously misusing her wording, it is comical only because she is trying so hard to fit into the stuck-up upper class personality, and failing miserably. Her rudeness becomes moreShow MoreRelatedThe American Dream Is Just a Dream in F. Scott Fitzgerald ´s The Great Gatsby818 Words   |  3 Pagesadvantages that [others have] had† (Fitzgerald 5). In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald explores the idea of the American Dream – the ideal life – the dream of every American to be rich, prosperous, famous, loved, all those amazing imaginations that one could have. In this novel though, Fitzgerald portrays this dream as reachable and possible for anyone, but he also shows that this dream is not as great as everyone thinks it is. 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