Metamorphosis book interpretations
The selected question to answer is “How can two different readers read and interpret the text differently?". Next, various examples appear that will support the arguments, these come from the story entitled as metamorphosis. The book was published in 1915 by its author Franz Kafka.
The three points which we will base the arguments are the historical and cultural context of the text and its production, the cultural identity of the reader.
Before starting to develop the arguments, we must know the meaning of the word "interpret". According to the Spanish Language Dictionary, the verb "interpret" means conceiving, ordering or expressing reality in a personal way. In this case, we try to write how two different readers can conceive, order and express differently when they refer to the same book.
Metamorphosis focuses on the history of a merchant, Gregorio Samsa, who wakes up knowing that he has suffered a transformation, from a human to an insect. The book tells the events after his metamorphosis, emphasizing the nonsense of life, his loneliness due to the lack of communication between a human and insect being, among others.
One of the factors that most influence the interpretation of readers is the historical and cultural context in which the book production is located. Metamorphosis was published in 1915. During his production, Franz Kafka lived World War I. In his time, there were constant conflicts between the Slavic population and the minority of German origin. Kafka not only experienced the rape and discrimination against his religion, also the insecurity and the responsible man who fell on his shoulders, put to his father’s fall. Therefore, we can observe that the book expresses mostly negative feelings, showing the thematic characteristics of loneliness that accompany expressionism. Expressionism is usually explained how the distortion of reality to express certain repressed feelings. A representative factor of the story.
In addition, symbolism also appears. On the one hand, it aims at the search for the truth of the universe. However, the use of dreamlike elements (from the world of dreams) is contradictory to the idea of seeking the reality of life. Kafka justifies in his newspapers that many of his works came from his dreams, therefore, metamorphosis turns out to be also inspired by his dreams. On the other hand, symbolism is also used to express emotions. For example, Kafka symbolizes landscapes such as loneliness. This point can be related to his historical context, since landscapes can be expressed as scenes of the civil war, where people lose their loved ones, thus experiencing loneliness.
It is worth mentioning, Kafka describes Gregorio Samsa as the pillar of the family which is responsible for economic income, based on his own experience.However, part of Kafka’s formation in part is due to his relationship with his brothers since the death of two of his brothers felt guilty since he had desire to disappear. This point is reflected in Samsa when his family shows signs of disgust towards its existence.
Another prominent feature that affects the interpretation of readers is the cultural identification of each of them. Cultural identity is a set of customs, traditions, beliefs and other features that a social group shares.
Each reader has its own custom, belief, etc. Therefore, they receive different emotions and lessons. For example, a reader of Kafka’s time would have interpreted his work as a revelation of the true facet of the true world that then. Assumption that Kafka transmitted in his work the emotions lived during the time of war. On the other hand, a reader from the contemporary would have otherwise interpreted Kafka’s work, as a criticism of the internal world, the feelings.
Cultural identity is a factor that will always accompany when expressing an opinion, since our words start from our beliefs and these are influenced by the culture with which we educate ourselves. For example, a reader who supports naturalism, will not interpret the same way as a reader who follows symbolism, since they are two movements in opposition. Therefore, his visions will be different. Here social status is interferes, because it is a key factor that influences our perspectives. At present, social status is not as important as it was in times past. Before, depending on your social status, you received certain privileges that correspond to your status. Therefore, someone who has received education would not have the same interpretation as a low status citizen who may not have received education.
In conclusion, the historical and cultural context of the production of the book is an influential factor at the time of the interpretation of the work, assuming that affects the author’s emotions. For example, a story written during a time of war, the author can convey feelings of sadness in his words. In addition, the reader’s cultural identity is also an important point. Two people who were educated by two different cultures and the intervention of their social status will clearly not share the same form of interpretation.
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