“The Downfall of the Protagonist in The Metamorphosis and The Catcher in the Rye” Essay Example

into a dustbin, assuming that he only thinks like a bug and doesn't mind the filth. Throughout the room, one can see "Streaks of dirt [running] along the walls [and] tangles of dust and garbage" on the floor and surfaces (Kafka 55). In addition to making him live like a bug, they also treat him as one when they are face-to-face. Grete, who used to be his adoring sister, can't bear to look at him and only brings him food when he is hiding under a sofa.

When Gregor emerges from his room, his father drives him back into his room by waving the cane and the newspaper. His father also decides to bombard him with apples, and one of them hits Gregor's back hard. The extreme treatment of Gregor by his family destroys him, despite being their only son and past breadwinner. This demonstrates that when a person's quality or appearance diminishes, they are not treated the same as when they were in a better state, which applies to all levels of society. The treatment by surrounding individuals is determined by one's appearance and quality of action. At the beginning of his downfall, Gregor accepts his situation and tries to adapt. The only curiosity he shows is when he wonders, "What's happened to me?" He resists the natural urge to panic.

His family, however, rejects his transformation and therefore rejects him. This cruel treatment causes him to deteriorate mentally and physically. According to Kafka (37), his perception becomes increasingly unclear, and he cannot believe that he is looking out at a desolate wasteland from his window. At one point, he even crawls on the walls, but

when an apple becomes lodged in his back, he can barely move, spending minutes only to move a few feet. Eventually, his entire body aches, and he loses the ability to move altogether (Kafka 67). Inevitably, his head sinks down involuntarily, and his last breath escapes weakly from his nostrils (Kafka 68). Until his last moments, Gregor Samsa remains human and remembers his family with affection and love (Kafka 68). However, his family is blind to this compassion, seeing only a repulsive and pitiful creature wasting away in their home.

Gregor's demise brings a sense of liberation to his family, with his father, Mr. Samsa, thanking God for this outcome. It highlights society's ruthlessness and lack of empathy towards individuals who are victims of their own circumstances. In the societal context, image and performance outweigh everything else and those unable to fulfill these standards are seen as unimportant and valueless. Meanwhile, Holden Caulfield is a sensitive teenager trying to navigate his way in life at sixteen. During an age where many adolescents grapple with adapting to adulthood, Holden experiences exclusion from school, eviction from home and finds himself friendless. His sister Phoebe stands as his only ray of hope with her purity continuously providing solace.

Holden's inability to fit in at multiple prep schools and his discomforting demeanor contribute to his consistent failure and social alienation. Similarly to Gregor Samsa, Holden is unable to adapt to the adult world, which diminishes him in the eyes of others. He harbors repressed anger towards his roommates, Stradlater and Ackley. Stradlater, being a popular and privileged prep boy, possesses an active sexual life that Holden deeply envies. In the teenage

perspective, a boy's worth is often determined by his sexual prowess and camaraderie with his classmates. Sadly, Holden fails in both aspects, further solidifying his myriad of shortcomings. Consequently, he becomes worthless in the eyes of his peers, experiencing hurtful and hostile treatment. As evidenced by his encounter with a prostitute, Holden refuses to engage in sexual activity and dismisses her instead.

He not only obsesses over women and humiliates himself by speaking disrespectfully to a man at a bar, but he also fails to follow through with his actions when confronted. This failure in defining his masculinity in the imminent adult world further alienates him from society. Society deems those who cannot adapt and fit into the adult world as unacceptable and disregards their existence. Holden solely exists in his own imaginative world. The constant rejection he faces leads him to turn inward and fear the notion of continuing to live. Unable to seek solace in his parents, who view him as a problem, or rely on friends, as he lacks any. Holden is a suppressed and despondent young man whose only source of comfort is the innocent and sheltered world of childhood, devoid of sexual undertones and obligations.

The world mistreats him, excluding him and convincing him that he can never succeed - with friends, women, and school. Holden's anguish and mental suffering demonstrate to readers the profound impact that negative actions can have on even the most unimportant person (quote). Fortunately, Holden is fortunate enough to not succumb to his suffering. He overcomes his misery by taking the hand of his ten-year-old sister, who reveals to him that there is still hope and innocence

in the world. The increasing societal judgment of individuals who are different has not contributed to the betterment of those being judged. People who are deemed 'different' often become the target of such judgment, which only serves to hinder and destroy them. Gregor and Holden serve as perfect examples of the two ways individuals are judged in everyday society. Gregor is stripped of all traces of humanity, while Holden is so mentally disconnected from the world around him that no one can comprehend him.

Gregor and Holden are characters who find themselves outcast from society as a means of self-preservation. The oppressive treatment Gregor endures from his family eventually results in the loss of his human consciousness and physical abilities, culminating in his slow decline unto death - an event that brings relief to his family. In similar fashion, Holden's inferior social skills and nonconformity make him a misfit, leading to his dissatisfaction with life and decision to drop out of school. His unusual thought process contributes further to his isolation, resulting in depression and thoughts of suicide. Their tragic downfalls underscore the profound consequences that scornful mistreatment can pose on one's mental health.

In this situation, one person loses their life and another is left psychologically traumatized.