A Comparison of Isolationism in The Metamorphosis and Paradise of the Blind. A Comparison of Two Passages from The House of the Spirits

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A Comparison of Isolationism in The Metamorphosis and Paradise of the Blind

        The feeling of loneliness resonates universally and across cultures. The theme of isolation with the main character carries through literature, signifying a change the protagonist must undergo before continuing on in the novel. For Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis, Gregor Samsa experiences an alienation from his family throughout the novella causing a “metamorphosis” in his appearance and attitude. Additionally, Gregor’s isolation instigates metamorphoses with his family in the way they deal with and react to Gregor. In Duong Thu Huong’s Paradise of the Blind, Hang’s isolation comes as a result of a feud between two sides of her heart, a feud between her families. The isolation with Hang is a manufactured isolation from her family, while Gregor’s is a self-made alienation from society. The two protagonists deal with their separation from society in different ways; however, both still experience change in their outlook on life as a result of the way they deal with their experiences. This similarity in alienation links the two works, while the result of it shows the difference in the writers and their cultures.

        For Franz Kafka, Gregor Samsa is the direct representation of the author. His alienation from society is Kafka’s alienation from society, growing up as German-speaking Jew in Prague, Bohemia, then a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Being Jewish would be alienating enough, but in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the separation from society is heightened. Furthermore, Kafka’s relationship with his father matches the relationship between Gregor and his father, since both are disapproving and resentful. Kafka’s father never respects the works of his son, and the father disapproves of his son’s desire to become a writer rather than something more “angible. Kafka’s authoritative and demanding father mirrors Gregor Samsa’s father. Both deny acceptance to their sons because of their jobs, which Kafka shows in the novella by not having the family bail themselves out of the debt, and instead allowing Gregor to work the debt off as a traveling salesman. Furthering the similarities between author and protagonist is Gregor’s sister, Grete, who takes care of Gregor during his transformation. The same happens when Kafka is ill with tuberculosis and his sister Ottla cares for him during his sickness. This parallel shows how the isolation of Gregor is the isolation of Kafka. The two are linked as equivalents of each other.

        For Duong Thu Huong, Hang serves to show the author’s distaste for the communist government. In fact, Huong claims to stay in Vietnam she can insult the governments power. With this in mind, the reader knows the way the author feels about communism, and in the writing, portrays communism in a bad light. The splitting of the family shows the affect communism has on Vietnam’s people. Moreover, the split of the family leads to Hang lying in between two families, undecided about which one to choose. Aunt Tam and Que divide Hang’s attention by showing different forms of love. Aunt Tam shows love through gifts and kindness, while Que’s love monopolizes Hang to family activities with Uncle Chinh, relying on Hang’s unconditional love rather than developing love. These two forms send Hang in different directions, but Huong shows the life of Aunt Tam in a better light because it is the life without communism. Life with Hang’s actual mother is a life of poverty and struggle, a representation of the everyday citizen of Vietnam. Kafka and Huong’s representations of themselves in novels serve as different representations. For Kafka, Gregor mirrors the author, while Huong uses Hang to show a specific characteristic of the author. The extent of representation is the difference, but the functionality of the protagonists is the same.

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        The subject of both books revolves around the estrangement of the protagonists. For Hang, the cause of her isolation is the division of her family structure. The mixed messages from her mother push her to Aunt Tam, in spite of Hang’s unconditional love for her mother, Que. Conversely, Gregor’s separation comes from within, since the protagonist gives up on himself. The reason for Gregor’s transformation to an insect is that he lives a mechanical, insignificant, uncourageous, emotionless, apathetic, and lonely life. For that reason, he becomes an insect, triggering Gregor to distance himself from his family. Gregor’s isolation is self-inflicted ...

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