Essay on "Franz Kafka"

Essay 3 pages (1000 words) Sources: 0 Style: APA

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Franz Kafka could be said to have been the definitive magic realism writer, not only of his own time, but of all times. His works are still enjoyed by many ardent admirers today, while many writers profess themselves to be inspired by the man and his work. One of these writers is Gabriel Garcia Marquez, author of "The Incredible and Sad Tale of Innocent Erendira and her Heartless Grandmother." When comparing this story to Kafka's "Metamorphosis," some interesting parallels emerge, especially in terms of giving great importance to the senseless, while apparently disregarding the important as somewhat meaningless. In both stories, the outcome is freedom, while the devastating price of such freedom is all but ignored by the main characters.

What is most interesting about Marquez's story is the emotional distance between the omniscient narrator and the story being told. Most notably, this occurs on two key occasions in the story: where the house where Erendira lives as little more than a slave to her grandmother burns down, and secondly, where Erendira breaks down during a long session of selling her body to whomever has enough money to give her grandmother. On both occasions, the narrator relates the story in completely neutral emotional terms. When the house burns down, the grandmother blames Erendira and the result is her further servitude as sex slave to her grandmother, who collects money for the pleasure of her granddaughter's body. When she breaks down, the grandmother does not attempt to force her to continue, but quietly lets her rest for her future endeavors. Erendira never rebels or questions what is happening to her or the reason for her slavery. She simply accepts her fate as best she can until she is "rescued" by the missionaries, in which case she simply moves from one type of slavery to another.

The author gives many details of Erendira's situation, but never connects any deeper meaning or desire for escape to them. Hence, the all-important theme of escape is all but ignored up to the very end of the story, where Erendira unquestioningly receives the gift of freedom from Ulises. This sacrifice is also rendered meaningless when Erendira escapes without turning back to thank the young man, or accepting him as her companion through the rest of her life. In this way, what could have been profoundly meaningful for both young people becomes meaningless. Her escape becomes meaningless and almost anti-climactic, forming a sharp contrast to the highly emotional, violent content of the murder and its aftermath. As she entered her life of sexual slavery, Erendira emerges from it without much emotion or apparent care.

Kafka's "Metamorphosis" also includes a sense of meaninglessness, slavery, and escape. In the case of this story, Gregor Samsa finds himself transformed into an insect when he wakes up one day. This even has occurred without any apparent reason. Throughout the story, neither Gregor nor his family members give any consideration to the two main important issues that might be considered as most… READ MORE

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