Metamorphosis And Zaabalawai - 1307 Words

The Metamorphosis and Zaabalawai: An Exploration into the Meaning of Life What is the meaning of life? Many philosophers and religions have attempted to answer the question of what, if anything, gives an individual a purpose. Nevertheless, contrasting metaphysical interpretations have created a perpetual discussion on the ontology of an individual. Consider western monotheistic ideology, existentialism and nihilism. Western monotheistic ideology outlines the purpose of existence as living to the standard of perfection defined by the religion’s god and exemplified by the religion’s messiah1. Contrarily, Existentialism is based on the proposition of existence coming before purpose: an individual will give himself purpose through his own†¦show more content†¦The investigation begins by introducing The Metamorphosis, a story that depicts Gregor Samsa’s absurd metamorphosis into an insect. Through an external force, Gregor is faced with a contradiction he cannot resolve and seizes to be understood by the world around him. However, through this isolated torment, the reader connects further with Gregor, as his only form of communication is through internal dialogue as the story progresses. Moreover, Gregor has no extraordinary qualities and is shown to be a selfless individual, as his anguish before becoming an insect was brought forth by a job he was only employed at because of his yearning to support his family (Kafka, 1205). As Gregor is such an average and self-sacrificing individual, the audience is forced to question the motive of the author. That is, why is Gregor Samsa the target of such an absurd punishment? And that is Kafka’s thesis in the story. Kafka is daring the audience to question his motives, forcing the audience to contemplate how such an average person can be chosen to undergo such cruelty. All individuals have an insect they can morph into and it is analogous to the absurdity of life. The conflict between an individual’s tendency to seek an inherent value in their existence a nd their inability to find one creates a fundamental dissonance, shown metaphorically as an insect.