The Metamorphosis is similar in the fact that again the women characters have no power but they are treated very differently from Nora. The Mother in particular has no power throughout the whole novella. A particular section in the novella where this becomes apparent is where Gregor is concerned. The first time the Mother saw Gregor in his new state she reacted very badly. “Oh God, Oh God! and as if giving up completely she fell with outstretched arms across the couch and did not stir.” This quote shows that the Mother fainted on seeing Gregor for the first time after the metamorphosis. This could possibly be a metaphor for her lack of power within the household. Although the Father and Grete were repulsed by the site of Gregor they were able to remain conscious unlike the Mother, so perhaps this is a metaphor indicating her weakness within the household. Another main point showing the Mothers lack of power is the fact she is not included in any decisions made about Gregor. The father and perhaps Grete don’t see her as an equal so don’t value her opinions.
In both pieces of literature the women characters have to make personal sacrifices. For instance in A Doll’s House Nora has to basically sacrifice her life for Torvald. She is not allowed to think for herself, make her own decisions and her only real purpose is please Torvald. “Helmer: Hasn’t she paid a visit to the confectioner’s?” (Act 1, Ibsen) In this dialogue Torvald is suggesting that Nora isn’t even allowed to make the decision to go to the sweet shop by herself. This would show an audience that Torvald controls every accept of her life, Nora has sacrificed everything for Torvald. This idea is again shown in Act 3: “ Helmer: But no man would sacrifice his honour for the one he loves. Nora: It is a thing hundreds of thousands of women have.” By using this dialogue the author portrays the societal beliefs very well. Women of the time period were expected to sacrifice everything for their husbands. They would have to give up their lives for them, as symbolised by Nora. However men of the time period would not be expected to sacrifice anything simply because they were seen to be of greater importance than women. The idea is reinforced by the fact that the other women characters in the play also have to make sacrifices. The nurse has to give up her child because she became pregnant within being married. So she had to give up her baby in order to fit in with the societal beliefs. Mrs Linde also has to make sacrifices; she has to give up the man she loves to marry for security in order to fit in with society.
Although in The Metamorphosis it is Gregor who has to make the ultimate sacrifice both the Mother and Grete also have to make sacrifices in the novella. The character Mother is very similar to Nora in A Doll’s House in the fact that they both have to sacrifice their lives. Throughout most of the novella the Mother serves very little purpose, however towards the end her role changes. This development in her character establishes the Father as the alpha male, much like Torvald. “The women obeyed him at once, hurried over to him, fondled him, and quickly finished their letters.” (57-8, Kafka) This quote shows that the Father is now the head of the household and the Mother will look after him. This means that she will have to sacrifice her life in order to please him. The Mother’s role changed after Gregor’s death, this shows that Gregor was sacrificed so the family could develop. After the metamorphosis the Father becomes the head of the household and the Mother looks after him, this shows that the family now fits in with the societal beliefs. Grete also makes sacrifices in the novella. Soon after Gregor’s metamorphosis Grete makes a personal sacrifice and chooses to look after Gregor. However the Father has very little contact with Gregor in his new state which shows, linking back to the idea in A Doll’s House, that men of the time period didn’t believe they had to make sacrifices for their loved ones.
Finally both authors use the development of the women characters to show the societal beliefs. In A Doll’s House Nora has to rebel in order to gain power within the household. This shows the extent women had to go to in order to make a life for themselves free of sacrifices. From the very beginning of the play Nora begins to take over the man’s role in the household. She sorts out a bank loan and signs her father’s name; theses are both tasks that the man would have taken care of. In the first Act Torvald is teasing Nora about the work she carried out last Christmas, however Nora simply replies “I didn’t find it dull.” (Act 1, Ibsen) This suggests that Nora enjoys working and being productive. I think what the author is trying to symbolise by this is that women from that time period were not happy playing the trophy wife role.
In The Metamorphosis Grete also tries to take over the man’s role within the household. She becomes the sole provider for Gregor. However the societal beliefs were that the man would be the head of the household and supporter of his family. So perhaps by taking on this role she is trying to rebel, like Nora in A Doll’s House. As well as providing Gregor with food she takes on the responsibility of making all the decisions where he is concerned. Making important decisions would also be a task that the man would traditionally take care of. Both Nora and Grete rebel in the two pieces and both are successful in gaining their freedom at the end of the play/novella. However in The Metamorphosis at the end of the novella the family lies within the restraints of the societal beliefs whereas in A Doll’s House it does not. “They thought that it would soon be time, too, to find her a good husband.” (58, Kafka) This quote shows that although Grete has gained her freedom she is still trapped by society.
Overall in both pieces the authors are successfully able to highlight the societal beliefs of the time period by using the women characters. Ibsen and Kafka do this by showing the women characters have no power, by highlight the sacrifices the women characters must make and finally by showing the extent the women characters must go to in order to escape the societal restraints. I think in both works the authors use the women characters as a symbol for all women in society. They highlight the problems women face in trying to gain their own identity and not to just be associated with a man.