The Metamorphosis

Franz Kafka
1883-1924
Lived in Prague, Czechoslovakia
Jewish
Worked selling insurance, writing on the side
The Russian Revolution occurred in 1917, with the communist takeover of Russia and Eastern Europe to follow in the years to come. This short story/novella takes place as these events are still in development and infancy, and capitalism is a unique idea in this part of the world.
Kafka (Cont.)
Kafka wrote much about man’s struggle to survive in a world of political upheavals.
Kafka” died in 1924 before the major changes in Europe occurred in the 1930s-1940s.
Several of his family members died in concentration camps in the 1940s.
Symbols
The number 3: segments of a bug; parts of the story
Boss/work: employer looks down on employees; consequences of capitalism
Woman’s picture/couch: last elements of “humanness” in Gregor’s room
Time/clock: human acceptance of time as running one’s life
Themes
Gregor as a universal human: Man lives a life of futility in an absurd, barren world that lacks true meaning.
Faceless forces: These faceless forces crush man and his ability to be successful.
As a religious allegory: God causes suffering; Man must endure.
Capitalism is evil: Look what happens to a man who works hard and is dedicated. Greedy, money hungry evil businesses will be the world’s ruin.
Characters
Gregor Samsa: protagonist; works hard; turns into a dung beetle; the main wage earner
Grete: Gregor’s sister; she plays the violin; she relies on Gregor; he was to send her to music school
Mother: quiet; allows father to run the house; freaks out but still loves Gregor
Father: doesn’t work; gets mad at Gregor for being a bug; low self esteem that turns to violence
Characters
Charwoman: the maid who must clean up after Gregor after mom refuses to and sister gives up
Chief clerk: one of the employees in Gregor’s office
Boss: Gregor’s boss who doesn’t understand why he isn’t at work; accuses Gregor of some wrongdoing
Significance
An early attempt at the bizarre. The story does not follow typical literary conventions. The characters are not as developed as in a novel, but the reader is given more information regarding characters and their aspirations.
Kafka’s characters are both dynamic and static. He uses the bizarre to make a point or to suggest what might happen if his society continues in the direction of capitalism or socialism. In other words, he suggests neither as positive, just what might happen if one takes control.
“The Metamorphosis”
Chapter 1:
Protagonist is Gregor Samsa, a salesman.
He wakes to discover that he has changed. He’s a dung beetle. He stays in his room as mother, father and sister knock and try to get him out.
Gregor worries that they’ll know because his voice is different.
“The Metamorphosis”
Chapter 1 cont.:
Gregor cannot get out of bed or roll over. He thinks his new state is all a dream (he hopes so anyway.)
He is late for work, and tries completely to ignore his situation. He hates his job, but it’s his only source of “being.”
He still lives at home, but is an adult (just like Kafka.)
“The Metamorphosis”
Chapter 1 cont.: The chief clerk tries to talk sense into Gregor saying that he’s worrying his family.
Gregor’s speech is now no longer understandable, but he is able to open the door. This causes Gregor’s mother to panic and the clerk leaves (after telling about Gregor’s poor work habits of late).
“The Metamorphosis”
Gregor is shoved back into his room with a stick the clerk has left behind. All is then silent.

“The Metamorphosis” Ch 2
Gregor’s sister Grete has brought him a bowl of milk with bread in it, but he finds it distasteful.
He finds food in the trash and cries because of his own hunger.
Grete brings him food each day and cleans his room. She leaves a chair by the window for Gregor to look out the window.
“The Metamorphosis” ch 2
His mother and father won’t come in and Grete prides herself on being able to look after Gregor, but she doesn’t like the sight of him, so he hides under a sheet.
The family had been supported by Gregor’s job. Gregor wanted to help send Grete to music school.
Gregor’s new pastime is crawling the walls.
“The Metamorphosis” ch 2
While moving the furniture, Gregor shocks his mother, and is cut by a falling bottle. When the father comes home, he chases Gregor around the room, throwing apples at him. Gregor is injured.
Gregor loses consciousness with his mother crying at his side.
“The Metamorphosis” Ch 3
3 months have passed, total. (1 since ch 2)
Mother, father and sister are all working and are in good health, but they are overworked. They begin to become indifferent to Gregor.
Gregor’s room is filthy as no one spends any time with him.
A char woman (maid of sorts) is hired to clean and she makes comments to Gregor.
“The Metamorphosis” Ch 3
3 boarders are taken in and Grete plays for them. Gregor moves toward her music and the borders are disgusted.
They want to be rid of Gregor.
He returns to his room and dies there at 3 in the morning. The maid finds him dead. The body is taken away. The boarders are told to leave.
The family goes out for a walk.


“The Metamorphosis” Ch 3
The family decides to move. The parents look at Grete and mention about how she has changed.
No mention is made of Gregor or their loss.

Crime and Punishment short summaries

CP: Part Summaries
Part 1
Rask is introduced as a handsome young man; a former student and tutor who has quit the above because of lack of money and he doesn’t think his appearance is good enough to continue. He lives in a very small room alone, but has a mother and sister close by.
Part 1
The pawnbroker is introduced as an evil woman who takes advantage of others. R. is already planning her murder.
Marm’ is an alcoholic and out of work. He married Katerina who used to be very well off and has tb. Their oldest Sonia has been forced into prostitution to get money for the family. R. meets Marm in a bar.
Part 1
R. wants to break off Dounia’s wedding because he thinks she is doing it only as a sacrifice.
The mare beating dream seems to suggest to R that the murder of the pawnbroker is necessary. He has convinced himself that it will not be a crime but a necessity for humanity.
Part 1
He feels that criminals get caught because of “disease of will” that interferes with their ability to reason.
He plans the murder for 7, when Lizavetta is out of the apartment, but is half an hour late. He kills Alyona with an ax, freaks out a bit, takes her keys and looks for the money. Liz. Returns and he kills her, too. He escapes and immediately falls asleep at home.
Part 2
He is obsessed with what he should do with the money. Landlady appears with police (he thinks he’s caught), but it is for a summons to appear because he hasn’t paid rent.
He thinks he is being tricked into a confession and even hears discussion of the murder at the police station.
He becomes very ill and Razhumikin takes care of him.
Part 2
Zossimov comes to see R. He and Raz. Discuss the murder and say that the painters have been accused. R. becomes excited at this news, but the doctor thinks it’s because he has recovered.
Luzhin comes to speak with R. R. really shows his dislike of him and says he wants Dounia only so that she will be indebted to him.
Part 2
R gives up any thoughts of suicide and leaves the apartment. He meets Zametov, the police officer. They discuss the crimes, Z. refers to it as “amateur.”
He sees a woman attempt to drown herself at the bridge, but decides it isn’t a good enough death for him. He resolves to go and confess.
Marm has been run over by a carriage.
Part 3
R. says he won’t allow Dounia’s marriage. Zossimov decides that R. is not really insane.
Mom and Dounia visit R; R gives the ultimatum that it is either him or Luz.
Sonia comes to ask R to attend her father’s funeral. She is embarrassed when she realizes he gave Marm money.
Part 3
Porfiry asks R. about an article that he wrote about crime. He wrote that crime comes along with illness and that only extraordinary men can accomplish it.
Porfiry attempts to trick R.
He returns to the apartment to make sure there isn’t any evidence and then falls asleep. He has a dream that he strikes the pawnbroker, but she doesn’t die. Svid is there when he awakes.
Part 4
Dounia tells Luz to leave her. Raz. Defends Dounia and stays by her, suggesting his love for her.
Raz. Wants to start a publishing business.
Sonia is taunted by Ras, and here we see religious elements.
Part 4
The conflict between Ras and Porfiry continues. P. tries to convince R to confess his crime, using a lot of psychology.


Part 5
The reader hears a lot of socialist ideas from Lebeziatnikov.
Luzhin give 10 rubles for Marm’s family. Leb witnesses this. He also saw Luzhin put something else in Sonia’s pocket. Leb is not aware of Luzhin’s plan to scandalize Sonia.
Katerina host a funeral banquet for Marm. She is insulted by the guests who show up (or don’t show up). She acts ridiculously and insults her landlady.
Part 5
Luzhin accuses Sonia of stealing 100 rubles. Leb speaks on her behalf of what he saw. Luzhin leaves, a goblet is thrown that hits the landlady and Katerian is evicted.
R confesses the crime to Sonia. She promises to follow him to Siberia. He refuses to asks for forgiveness for his sins and won’t accept the “cross” she offers to him. Svid hears the conversation.
Part 5
Sonia finds her mother and siblings on the street. Katerina has lost her mind and is dancing and singing (forcing the kids to do so as well) for money.
Katerina collapses; Svid promises to pay for the children at an orphanage after Katerina dies.
R discovers that Svid knows his secret.
Part 6
Dounia received a letter from Svid.
Porfiry again visits and explains to r why the painters could not have done the crime. Porfiry tells R to confess.
R finds Svid in the tavern.
Svid confesses his past in regards to his marriage and Dounia. He discusses his fascination with children and his impending marriage to a 16 year old. He is still obsessed with Dounia.
Part 6
Svid tricks Dounia into coming to his apartment. Dounia grabs the gun and shoots him twice but misses. The 3rd time she realizes she cannot kill someone. Svid realizes there is no way she could ever really love him, gives her the key and lets her go.
Part 6
Svid gives money to Sonia for Siberia. He has a dream about a 5 year old. Then shoots himself and dies.
R visits mom and asks her to pray for him. He has decided to confess.
R accepts Sonia’s cross, goes to the police station, and Sonia follows him.
Epilogue
(added later by the author)
R and Sonia are in Siberia.
The trial is described. R told everything, even admitting to where he hid the money under the stone. They are amazed that he committed the crime, but didn’t use the money.
We learn of the positive aspects of R’s character, including the fact that he saved some children from a fire.
Epilogue
His sentence was 8 years servitude in Siberia.
Pulcheria becomes ill and, while Dounia hasn’t told her the truth, she does seem to “know” something of her son’s situation. She later dies.
Dounia married Raz.
Sonia and R will wait out his punishment. R. takes to the New Testament and looks back over his and Sonia’s past and future.

Frankenstein notes

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Published in 1818; it was her first, and most famous, novel
She was vacationing with her husband, poet Percy Shelley and his friend Lord Byron, and she wrote the story as entertainment for them.
Background: Technology was beginning to take off, and this scared people. There is a struggle of men vs. women and money vs. lack of money, which also represent the time in which she lived.
Characters
Victor: the creator of the monster; spends most of his life trying to destroy what he regretted making almost immediately
The monster: is rejected by his creator and society, which pushes him towards revenge
Henry Clerval: Victor’s friend and helper; unaware of the monster and what Victor has done
Margaret Saville: sister to Robert; Robert writes to her

Characters
Robert Walton: explorer; He finds Victor near death, listens to his story and writes it to his sister.
Elizabeth: child raised by Victor’s family with Victor; marries Victor later
Alphonse: Victor’s father
Caroline: Victor’s mother who died when Victor was 17
Justine: Frankenstein family housekeeper and maid
Characters
M. de Lacy…Felix…Safie…family who has been exiled for treason…become monster’s “family”

Novel Basis
The novel is a Romantic one. This means the author has a focus on spiritual expansion and knowledge. It does NOT mean that there is romance and love in the book necessarily.
Confidence in what nature really is and free will to do what humans want to do are also Romantic notions.
The Letters
The letters from Robert to his sister serve to FRAME the novel. In other words, they set up the story ‘s beginning, but also allude to what will happen at the end.
In the letters, Robert says that he sees the man “of gigantic stature” and, thus, he begins his story.
Chapter 1
The reader is given background on Victor, his family, his father and his mother. Victor’s childhood is described, as well as how his parents met. Finally, we are told that the family adopts a little girl, who is Elizabeth, who will be raised with Victor as his cousin.
Chapter 2
The family settles in Geneva, Switzerland and the younger boy is born.
Henry Clerval is noted as Victor’s best friend.
Victor becomes interested in chemists and scientists like Agrippa. (Important as his interest in science is beginning.)
Victor sees the lightning storm that sets his mind in motion. (The catalyst of his plan.)
Chapter 3
Victor is ready to become a student at Ingolstadt University in Germany. Then his mother and Elizabeth get scarlet fever, and his mother dies. Victor finally sets off for school, with Elizabeth left to care for the family. (Significant for Victor’s first loss and dealings with death.)
Victor meets Krempe and Waldman, professors, and immediately likes Waldman.

Literary Devices
With the interest in science, the storm, and the university you can see the interest that 19th century society had in science. The Industrial Revolution was the beginning of these new thoughts and interests.
Romantic authors often focus on nature, even destructiveness of it, and what it can do to humans, like the storm with Victor.
Chapter 4
Victor focuses on chemistry. He decides to study whether life can be created from death via reanimation.
Victor becomes so absorbed that he shuts himself off from society (another Romantic notion and fear).
He loses touch with his family, doesn’t answer letters, and fails to contact them.
Themes
Technology can be evil (Romantic ideal).
Taking knowledge and using it for the wrong purposes is problematic.
Humans have to be the ones to control technology.
Allusion: Victor as Faust: Faust made a deal with the devil and was finally rescued by God.
Chapter 5
Victor brings his creation to life. He runs away when he sees the creature. (This will fuel the creature’s desire to “get” Victor.)
Henry finds Victor and they return to the apartment to find the monster gone.
Victor falls down ill because of his own guilt.
(This chapter is the first one that Shelley wrote. Ch 1-4 were added later…)
Chapter 6
Victor receives a letter from Elizabeth. He learns about Justine, the housekeeper, and how she has become like a member of the family.
Henry and Victor study together, mostly languages. )(Important because Victor rejects science.)
Chapter 7
Victor receives a letter telling him to return home immediately as William has been murdered.
2 years have passed since the creation of the monster.
Victor realizes his creation murdered his brother. Justine is accused. Victor doesn’t step forward because he knows she is innocent and thinks justice will prevail.
Chapter 8
The trial is held for Justine.
Victor appears helpless, and still says nothing about his monster.
Justine proclaims innocence, but is convicted of the murder. Justine gave a false confession, and goes to her death without fear. (She is shown as an innocent victim of Victor’s “passion.”
Justine’s character
People often wonder why Justine is such a martyr. Why does she admit to something she didn’t do and why is she so calm about it?
In reality, she did it so that she wouldn’t be thrown out of the church (Catholic),so she would be forgiven and sent to heaven. She goes to her death later that day.
Chapter 9
Victor is haunted by guilt.
He cannot rest or exist normally.
He leaves to try and gain some sense of himself again, but the guilt will continue to haunt him.
Victor’s return to nature is another Romantic notion. By going back to what is “real” he might be able to fix the bad that he has caused.

Chapter 10
Victor is faced with the monster on Mount Montanvert. Victor would like to fight him to the death, but instead listens to the monster’s story.
Victor follows the creature to his hut and listens to his story.
Chapters 11-16: Monster’s Story
The creature tells how hard life has been in trying to find food and shelter. He has watched the DeLacey family, and begins to care for them. He learns French by watching them.He even helps them with repairs and wood collecting, but always at night.
He tells also of the plight of the DeLacey family and how they were banned from France for helping a Turkish merchant. (He connects to them because he is also a man without a home.)
Chapters 11-16
The monster reads books that he found in the briefcase. (All of the books are Romantic in nature including Plutarch’s Lives and “Paradise Lost” by Milton.)
From Victor, the creature also learns about his own creation.
When the monster tries to show himself to the family, he is beaten by Felix.
Chapters 11-16
The monster waited for the family to leave, and then burned down their home. He then left and met William. He realized who William was and killed him, and then planted the locket on Justine.
The monster finally asks to have a mate.
Chapter 17
The monster says, “make me a mate or I will destroy you.”
Victor decides to make another creature. He has gotten himself so far into this situation that he doesn’t see any way out. This will cause Victor to again go into the depths of despair and guilt.
Chapter 18
Victor has returned to Geneva and is studying how to make the second creature.
He promises to marry Elizabeth, but pushes her off until he finishes with the creature’s mate.
He sets off with Henry on a trip, and he arrives in London in December.
Victor seems to do this because he knows the monster will follow. It’s a way to get it away from his family.
Chapter 19
Victor visits the scientists in London who have all the latest technological information.
Victor and Henry part in Scotland. He goes to Orkney Island to make the second creature.
Victor is disgusted not only with what he must do, but with the fact that he is the one who created this whole situation.
Chapter 20
He begins to make the second creature, but then destroys it in front of his first creature.
The monster threatens with, “I will be with you on your wedding night.” It’s an obvious threat.
He disposes of the body parts while on the water. When he returns to shore, he is arrested.
Chapter 21
Henry is found dead, and Victor is imprisoned.
Victor is released after magistrate Kirwin defends him. The time of the murder and Victor’s presence in his lab prove he couldn’t have murdered Henry.
Victor heads home. He never thought Henry was in danger and his guilt worsens.
Chapter 22-23
Victor arrives and tells Elizabeth that he is ready to marry her. They marry 10 days later.
Victor knows the monster will be there soon and recalls the threat that he made. While Victor is out, the monster slips in and kills Elizabeth. Victor shoots at the monster, but it flees.
Chapter 23-24
Victor searches out the monster. He senses that the monster is always close. (Like his guilt, the monster never leaves him.)
The chase begins in and around the Mediterranean and finally north through Russia. They are separated by ice that breaks. Explorer Robert Walton finds Victor. Victor tells him to continue the fight to destroy the creature if he cannot.
Ending Letters
Robert is the narrator for the rest of the story via his letters. Victor proves his story to Robert with the letters.
Robert is told by Victor that he [Robert]needs to continue his quest for the creature.
Victor wants to remain there, but Robert’s men want to return home.
Ending Letters
Victor dies and the creature breaks into where his body lies.
The creature tells his side of the story, but gets no sympathy from Robert. He says he has suffered because of Victor’s selfishness. He says Victor made it seem like the evil he did was good and that the creature was all evil.
What is
Ending Letters
The monster promises not to harm the people on the ship. He then jumps overboard and disappears.
The story ends with the last of these “frames” that tie up the story. Robert’s letters serve to confirm Victor’s story and make it all seem more believable.
The importance of Walton is to show that he has time to turn his ambition around and not let it control him like Victor did.

Literary Elements
Allusion: many references to other pieces of literature in this novel, especially Milton’s Paradise Lost.
Themes: Technology can be bad; The poor are often trampled upon; Sometimes things that appear good are actually evil; Sometimes men go too far in the quest for knowledge.
Literary Elements
Romantic writers: Focus on nature, human emotions, being compassionate, individual rights and freedoms, and free will. In the case of this novel, the monster is really the ideal of Romantic society. He bears the difficulties for all of the ills that have been done to him.
Literary Elements
Gothic: Gothic novels and anything Gothic focus on mystery, superstition, and the supernatural. There is an atmosphere and setting of gloom and doom (think misty, fog, covered hills and ponds). Anything gruesome, like raising the dead and using body parts, is certainly Gothic. Gothic writing was popular in the late1700s through the mid-1800s.