Tuesday, March 15, 2011
The Metamorphosis and Death of a Salesman
While reading Kafka's "Metamorphosis", I am constantly reminded of Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman. Gregor's obsession with getting to work and being successful is similar to Willy's ambitious nature. Additionally, both Willy and Gregor experience a type of metamorphosis; Gregor's is physical, in that he transforms into a bug, while Willy's ambitions lead to his mental instability. To me, the largest difference between the characters is that Gregor is selfless, wanting to provide for his family. Willy Loman yearns for professional recognition and self fulfillment as a successful business man.
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It's hard to separate the two pieces because there are not many literature masterpieces with traveling salesmen, which is a very specific job description. The key distinction I see between the two, though, is their reactions to the work environment and promotions which stems from their basic natures. Loman had a very selfish attitude and thus desired more attention at work. Rather than feeling accomplished, he yearned for greater success. This desire drove him mad and lead to his suicide. Samsa, on the other hand, has a very providing and selfless nature. And when he was promoted from a clerk to a traveling salesman, he said that he was able to solely and fully provide food for his family.
I agree. They are incredibly similar. However, Willy's intentions are based on his own pride and reputation where as Gregor's are based on providing for his family, never thinking of himself. I also think of Happy, the son with a misnomer. In The Death of a Salesman, he is quite misunderstood by his father, Willy, just as Gregor is misunderstood by his family.
Parts of "The Metamorphosis" greatly remind me of Balzac's "Father Goriot." When Gregor transforms into an insect, the Samsas are not worried about losing a family member; instead, they only care about how they will survive without Gregor's income. This theme is reflected in Balzac's piece, where the daughter and son-in-law's first concern is about how they are going to provide for themselves, rather than the loss of a loved one. Both these stories reflect poor family values, and for "The Metamorphosis," the emptiness of 19th century capitalism.
Whenever I think about Death of a Salesman, one particular quotation frequently comes to mind. In Act I, Linda Loman tells her son (I think Happy?) "So attention must be paid. He's not to be allowed to fall in his grave like an old dog." I feel that this quote applies to Gregor's situation as well as Willy's. I agree with the comparisons made above; Willy and Gregor, the breadwinners for their respective families, find themselves rejected by society. Willy cannot find the attention and success he craves, while Gregor cannot even escape incarceration in his own room! I think the chief difference between Willy and Gregor in this regard, however, is that Gregor rarely seeks recognition, whereas Willy fails to make an impression on others.
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