Atypical Existentialism Anonymous 11th Grade

Atypical Existentialism Gregor Samsa was a person. A shockingly normal person. He dredged to work every day in spite of his general dissatisfaction, his home was nice enough, his family was there (if nothing else), and, like most things which have lost novelty, the course of his life simply occurred without a thought. Because of this unremarkableness, it was most surprising when he awakes one day translated into a bug.

Kafka’s The Metamorphosis follows the events following this occurrence to Gregor’s consequent demise and family’s rebirth. More interesting than the literal storyline itself is the immense parallel between Kafka’s personal struggles and his character, Gregor’s. While The Metamorphosis is commonly regarded as a paragon account of existentialism, it is apparent that Kafka stumbled into the denotation simply by recording a fancified version of his deteriorating social relations. Paradoxically, it is cookie cutter existentialism without the intent to be. Kafka having never publicly condoned or condemned the philosophy gives no nod to whether or not he would have agreed, but his own writings serve as evidence to his forlorn sentiments. Rather than exist on its own, The Metamorphosis supplies a case to link mental...