The Metamorphosis vs. the Dead Essay Example

this when his father injures him, thus sealing his fate as a disregarded family member. When he dies, the Samsa family is relieved and joyfully looks to their future elsewhere, as Kafka depicts in his text (244-245). Meanwhile, in James Joyce's "The Dead", protagonist Gabriel Conroy transforms from a confident individual of high status to someone who must reevaluate his perspective and relationships with others, a process highlighted at his aunts' dinner party where Gabriel struggles socially with Lily, the caretaker's daughter (studyhippo.com/franz-kafka-his-relationship-with-his-father-revealed-in-his-writing/).As Gabriel hands his coat to Lily, he tries to engage her in conversation. However, Lily responds sharply when he asks about her love life, causing the interaction to become uncomfortable. To end the exchange, Gabriel offers Lily a substantial tip, but the incident leaves him feeling anxious. Furthermore, Ms. Ivors also takes away his confidence.

According to Joyce's third person point of view, Gabriel becomes flustered and loses confidence after being accused by Miss Ivors. He tries to forget the unpleasant incident but is haunted by her attempts to humiliate him in front of others with her "rabbit's eyes". This characterization suggests that Gabriel is socially awkward and unable to handle criticism. Gabriel's social transformation is completed when his wife Gretta divulges Michael Furey's tragic love for her, which disturbs Gabriel due to its intensity and sad conclusion.

As Gabriel reflects, he becomes aware that his feelings for Gretta did not match the intense passion that Michael Furey had for her. Uncertain about his future, Gabriel struggles with the concept of how to live and cope with the memory of the deceased. In Joyce's words, "His soul swooned slowly as he heard the snow

falling faintly through the universe and faintly falling, like the descent of the last end, upon all the living and the dead" (271). Both Gregor and Gabriel experience epiphanies in their respective stories as they go through transformations that lead to new perspectives on the world.

The use of third person perspectives in the works of Kafka and Joyce creates an impersonal tone and provides insight into the authors' beliefs in contrast to those held by their protagonists. (DiYanni 2007)

The content inside the reads "225-71."