Changes of Human Mentality and Construction of the Physical Body: Diary of a Madman and Metamorphosis Jessica Lester College

Lu Xun and Kafka’s utilization of the physical body allows for the presentation of personal criticisms towards aspects of modernity and the social, political and economic changes of the movement. Modernity, due to its nature of bringing about change, encourages the development of thoughts and feelings across the ‘body’ of humanity, which in turn is reflective on the personal mentality of each individual. Kafka and Lu Xun, by creating protagonists which show such stark physical, through physiology and behavior, invite their readers to think about the changes for themselves, and not only how they reflect on the mentality of the characters but also on themselves as ‘victims’ of modernity – relating to the victimization of thousands through recent war, uprising and revolution. Kafka’s own introduction to his text, ‘Metamorphosis’, portrays the need for internalized mentality to be brought out through the physical in order to make it plain and understandable. He writes: “I cannot make you understand. I cannot make anyone understand what is happening inside me”1 - as if he cannot find a way to explain the changes of modernity in relation to himself – it would be difficult to convey such a feeling through thought alone, so there is a...