Franz Kafka | The Metamorphosis (part 1) | Existentialist Philosophy & Literature
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- Опубліковано 1 жов 2014
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In this video, I discuss the central theme, characters, and plot of Franz Kafka's classic existentialist short story, The Metamorphosis.
Gregor Samsa, a commercial traveler, wakes up in his family's apartment, to find himself transformed into a gigantic bug. The sole income-provider, after his father's bankruptcy, at first he attempts to find some way to fix the situation and get to work. . . and from there, it just gets worse for him and for his family. . .
The Metamorphosis is a particularly important work not only in Existentialist literature, but in modernist Western literature more generally. Nearly the entirety of the story takes place within the confines of the Samsa family's apartment, where Gregor finds himself stuck after his transformation or metamorphosis.
0:03 - Introduction
9:16 - The Characters
29:35 - Part 1 of the Story, Plot, Themes, Character Development
41:59 - Part 2 of the Story, Plot, Themes, Character Development
51:18 - Part 3 of the Story, Plot, Themes, Character Development
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#Kafka #Philosophy #Existentialism #Literature #Modernism #Alienation #Guilt #Anxiety #Fantasy #Metamorphosis
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Jesus Christ man you are fucking awesome, first of all this is free, second of all it's so easy to understand and the flow is so natural. Keep it up and thanks for the hard work!
+Bob Pettersson Will do -- and you're welcome!
+Gregory B. Sadler Yeah I just checked out your other videos, I've been looking for something like this for years. Like a channel that goes through philosophy in this academic style and there are literally hundreds of videos. I feel like this will be my bread and butter for some time to come.
Good!
@@bobpettersson5422 This breakdown is where I found him. Its funny too im back at this video realizing this its the first one i watched XD Been an improved few years hasn't it 🤙
"You ever have one of those mornings?"-- Gregor Samsa
Anthony Hunt It is tough to get and drink coffee as a bug
Gregory B. Sadler That's true and presumably he no longer had a taste for coffee in his new body. Lol
Anthony Hunt
Maybe the grounds
Thank you for analysing this incredible, gut wrenching piece. Very precise depiction. Love from Serbia.
+Vuk Tucakov You're very welcome! Glad you enjoyed it
Where my education fails me, this lecture has helped me a lot. Thank you for helping to give me some new insights and depth on this topic!
You're very welcome!
Gregor's affliction is fantastic, but it applies to so many real-life situations. That makes the story so sad!
True
Tell it darling. When I read it and before I read any reviews from anyone I understood Metamorphosis in relation to how my son change on me as he approached adulthood. He became bad. He completely disrupted the image in my head that I had for him. Of course I was one of many who visualised success thru our kids. I could not cope because while in this, I saw the gap widen of this success being realised but I also wanted to normalise the situation for my other kids in order for them no to freak out. I am a single mother and NO this is not why things were going pear shape, Kafkas has already removed that Illusion that only single parents brings up beastly kids. The beast can be caused by all sorts ; as Kafkas dad was and he was someones kid, being a human being can bring out the beast in any one. Anyway it got so bad to contain that the other kids had no choice other than pick up the emotional and physical challenges that this Metamorphosis season was bringing forth. My kids being kids were divided on what I ought to do as the head of the family. Some sought refuge in silence and withdrawal, others took the burden to my friends with a chat which left me feeling exposed but I now know they did the right thing but I knew one thing thanks to a song that a famous boys band had created well before I had my kids. Its a song that advised parents not to discard their kids when this Metamorphosis period comes because you the parent know this child when it was being Metomophosized by love and you did not complain and it is likely to come more than ones as we journey thru life. So I held on it and thanks to mobile phones because whenever I had an opportunity, when I felt positive, i left him a message to remind him to hold on as life had a way of sorting things out and to also remember that one can always start from where they recognise that they are on the wrong path. One can go back and gather momentum. After a few years that felt like eternity the boy is working on himself and the turn around is impressive. If there is a parent here or a child going thru crap, the first thing is to recognise it as such and refuse to nourish it and it will die away to no more. Gregory did end his bugness and life was set free manifest.
Very much enjoyed your analytical summary of one of the strangest stories I have ever read and re-read! Looking fwd to part II.
+Eric Swolgaard Glad to read it!
THANK YOUUUU 😭(this was literally so sweet and kind of you to do tytyty)
You're welcome!
Extremely helpful. Very well presented, and a fantastic analysis that truly does assist in the study of this magnificent novel. Thank you for this video.
You're very welcome
Love your videos. Used them a lot to help me through my philosophy degree and am still enjoying them post graduation. Thanks for all you do!
You're very welcome!
Thank you for this great take on the Franz Kafka's famous short story. I just listened to the audio book version of The Metamorphosis; watching your video afterward helped me to reflect on the novella in a far deeper way than I would have otherwise. Keep kicking ass, Gregory.
Lewis K. Hahaha! I will indeed. You're very welcome
Thanks for showing how you break things down and analyze these works. After I read an interesting piece of literature, I'm at a loss for how to go deeper with the work. I think can now further apply these tools you've provided.
You're welcome
This was a very informative and in-depth analysis. Thanks for the lecture.
You're welcome
Amazing analysis! I'm really glad I found your video, it helps me understand this book even better. I will definitely check out more of your channel!
Also as a non-native english speaker I want to add, the way you speak is easy to follow and everything is just clearly explained. so huge thank you ! :D
You’re very welcome!
I’m writing a paper on this novella. The two lectures have been immensely helpful. Thank you so much for this.
You're very welcome!
you're a life saver for a procrastinator in ap language.
Glad it was useful for you
subscribed, excellent lecture!! queueing up the next one already
Glad you enjoyed it
Thank you so much for this. It helped me understand the story more
You're welcome!
Wonderfully analysed and explained - thank you!
You’re welcome!
the next installation in the Existentialist Philosophy and Literature video series (ua-cam.com/play/PL05AFD0350B70E4FD.html) -- look for part 2 (discussing the theme of alienation in the story) early next week.
I can't wait for the analysis of the theme of alienation.
HalTuberman It's out
Already saw it. Wunderbar! I especially liked the parallels drawn between Marxist alienation and Gregor's predicament. But it went a little deeper than that too, which I also enjoyed. Great job!
Thanks!
Very well done, good sir. You are one smart cookie. I look forward to watching more of your videos. Subscribed!
Glad you enjoyed it
hello sir............... i watched this video and grasped a lot of things from it. actually my research topic is from this novel so its too helpful for me. GOD bless you sir
Glad the video was useful for you!
Thank you for your effort. Great content!
You're welcome!
Thank you so much. I chose this novel for my classic novel assignment and I’m so interested, but I don’t exactly understand everything. This helps me so much thank you.
Glad it was helpful for you
Thanks for the explaination!
Just read the whole book and now I’m listening to this lecture, I love weird books like this, as a gen z person reading this book, some parts felt very similar to depression in my case, feeling trapped, lack of energy and etc,
this analysis is super interesting
Classic literature remains timely
@Catarina Vergueiro could also be about how I’m out current society those who can’t work and can’t fit in are seen as burdens, in capitalism those who can’t work and can’t conform are just left to rot and people avert their eyes? It has many possible interpretations
Excellent transfer of knowledge!
Thanks!
Thank you this is helping me so much with my English teaching!
Glad it's useful for you!
Interesting explanation, thanks!
+Linda Loo You're welcome!
Liked this video a lot. Well explained. Thanks for this,keep up the work!!
Thanks and you're welcome
Thank you for this excellent analysis T
You're welcome
Thank you for such an interesting discussion on The Metamorphosis, Gregory.
I’m an interaction design student currently working on an interactive storytelling project related to Kafka. The goals of the project are to experiment with the future of narrative, blur the line between fiction and reality, and create an experience for Kafka’s 2016 audience that hybrids between story and game.
At the moment, I’m in the early research and discovery phase and I’m wondering if you by any chance would be interested in chatting for a few moments, answering questions about your relationship to Kafka and his work? Some example questions would be:
How would you want to change, prolong, or alter his original stories?
How are you yourself becoming a part/reenacting his stories?
How are you involved in his work or how do you discuss it?
If so, it would be tremendously appreciated!
Many thanks,
Amanda
Why don't you email me - greg@reasonio.com - and we can discuss what you've got in mind a bit more.
Excellent, Mr Sadler.
Thanks!
Very engaging. Thank you!
You're very welcome!
Great vid! Thanks very much!
You're welcome!
Loved this so much, read this in one sitting
It is a great work!
Thank you so much for this brother
You’re welcome!
It's the people like you who make literature beautiful love from india sir
Thanks!
Great lecture! I own online English teaching business. Stumbled onto your video. Great inspiration for my own writing.
Glad to read it
you are amazing this helped a lot
Glad to read it
Nice lecture👍 watching this for my literature exam
Glad it was helpful for you
Very interesting your analysis
Thanks!
Ein Ungeheuer also means Monster.
You can even say: Das ist mir nicht ganz geheuer.
Which roughly translates into: I'm not feeling good about this / I'm getting bad vibes about this etc.
Yes, it's a commonplace of Kafka commentry that the term has many possible meanings
this video helped a lot
Glad to read it
Thank you!
+Parvenu Ghost You're welcome!
23:40 we have the lodgers, these 3 young men who each have beards.. they seem to be rather demanding, pretentious.. clinging to each other in bunches and looking at each other for affirmation... they'd probably be hipsters in our time.. lol
Balthazar Nietzsche Yes, they probably would be!
Lol
sounds like a good essay topic
Damn with them hipsters.. I was rejected by a hipster (I ddnt know he was till I met up wth him outside the gym), great connection we had, great conversation we had, we were laughing and talking non stop, but obviously I wasn't his hipster type of woman in fashion sense nor in his pretentiousness lol... How lame huh?
I am a university professor, and because of individuals like you, I started to rediscover Franz Kafka. I read him in many years ago in college. I love philosophy and existential writers. I only wish more students would think deeply about philosophy. Unfortunately todays students are very self centered and self entitled. They only think about themselves and are not very bright Thanks my friend for being a real intellectual.
Well, my experience from my student and professor years is that each generation produces a good number of students who are not particularly interested in their education, though quite a few of them do come to appreciate it and do "make-up" studying later on. I'm glad that you enjoy the videos!
Hey @almodovar251 it sounds like you've got a really good attitude towards your students!
I feel sorry for anyone who enrolls in your class.
As a professor, you should really rethink your perspective and perhaps try to find ways to actually inspire your students
@@josephinehadfield6457, maybe there was a translation inconsistency. But yes, the OP's message as is raises questions.
@@GregoryBSadlerI am most definitely one of those "make up" students when it comes to philosophy. Thanks for making these lessons accessible for us late bloomers!
Could you make a video concerning your thoughts on The Trial. That would be interesting but maybe take a little more time. You pose some interesting thoughts. Thanks
Here's my usual response to these sorts of requests: ua-cam.com/video/vkXKtxleGA8/v-deo.html
thank you soo much
You're very welcome
Awesome!
Thanks!
Nice lecture sir ❤ love from India. ❤
Thanks!
How the rest of the world views him kind of reminds me of us as we age or get dementia.
Yes, one of the assignments I have my students do when we read this work is to think about people who get similar treatment from others
In your analysis at 1:03:25, you referred to Gregor asking, "Am I such an animal that music moves me?" In the version I am reading -- A translation by Donna Freed -- It is the author who poses the question, "Was he a beast if music could move him so?" I think this translation might make more sense in showing the character's alienation and desire for sympathy. The wording in the translation you have doesn't make sense to me and I find it strange, as you mentioned.
+vincent robbins I find it strange for a different reason
@@GregoryBSadler ?
In my version of the text says "Was he an animal that music so seized him?" so I'm guessing it must be an ambiguous in German hence the ambiguous translations. My copy is a translation by Ian Johnston - it would be interesting to know how it is interpreted by a native German speaker
extra points for your own name being Gregory, must have been surreal
Not really. There's lots of Gregs out there!
amazing video! I would like to ask tho, how would both Gregor and Grete live up to the existentialist ideas of Sartre?
They wouldn’t, and don’t remotely need to.
dude. i watched you as teens watch netflix... THANK YOU FOR EXISTING IN THE SYMBOLIC and rescuing the students from loneliness!
You’re very welcome - but how do teens watch Netflix?
@@GregoryBSadler binge watch!
Sir, Could I possibly see your video with subtitles?
That's something on your end to handle
I''d like so much to know if is there a possibility to the metamorphosis as butterfly process? And the unique way that Gregor found to become a butterfly (finish his transformation) was through the death?? Thank you so much for the video!!
+Paulo Dante No. He dies, and there's nothing redeeming about it. No butterfly there
" How can that be Gregor? If it were Gregor he would have seen long ago that it's not possible for human beings to live with an animal like that and he would have gone of his own free will.”
So, it's HIS fault. That´s what she´s saying. They had no problem with putting him in an alienated life BEFORE the transformation; now, they have no use for him, so he must go away. What a bunch of selfish bastards.
+luchogallardoleon A lot of anger there. . . .
+Gregory B. Sadler Sure, but ¿am I wrong?
luchogallardoleon I don't think Kafka is portraying his family as just "a bunch of selfish bastards". It's more complex than that.
Most of kafka's work are to be read as piece of allegory
Or not
gregory explaining the tale of gregor
Indeed
@@GregoryBSadler Thank you for the awesome analysis and explanation!!!
You're very welcome!
Do you have a preferred English translation?
I don't -- I rarely do for most of the works I teach
Thanks
In the fight between you and the world, back the world. - FK
Indeed. The house almost always wins in the long run
Kafka's Metamorphosis and "The Beauty and the Beast" Tale. compare plz
Sure.
You commission and pay for that video, and I’ll put it into my schedule
@@tcrijwanachoudhury You might learn to mind your own business
Dude....idk but i have to say this,you talk exactly like THE DUDE from The Big Bebowski. Philiosphy from The Dude! Life's complete.
People have said that from time to time
Poor thing (...
nor
does existentialism essentially mean that man is a selfish being? If so, inherited traits define humans and acquired traits like morality, honesty and altruism have a very little place.
No
@@GregoryBSadler What would it mean in simple words please
Bruh it be like that
somebody send this to Dawkins!
Biblically (Old Testament) not all birds or mammals are clean.... ie, seagulls, vultures, hawks were in the unclean category.... and for mammals, pigs, rabbits, horses, are unclean... of insects grasshoppers/locusts/crickets ARE CLEAN
I prefer Kafka the artist to Kafka the philosopher. People often forget to deal with him on a technical level (a level on which he is really quite good). This is not to say the former is held at distance from the latter.
Well. . . fortunately, you'll find plenty of other people's videos dealing with Kafka as an artist.
I will indeed be looking at him more in terms of philosophical themes in my videos
I didn't mean to imply that I don't like him in that way whatsoever; I do appreciate the video.
Johannes V I didn't take "prefer A to B" to mean "don't like B at all". I'm just being clear -- if it's a more literary/artistic focus you'd prefer, you'll likely not find it with my videos (and I'll be doing a number of other Kafka videos), since it's neither my training nor bent
I really did like how you discussed the characters; with Kafka it's hard to separate the two, the philosopher and the artist.
I greatly enjoyed the video and will be watching all the following.
I imagine those who come out as different sexuality would feel the out of place and not belonging feeling also.
I imagine so, for many of them. Those who are quite supported, often not so much, in my experience
My attempt at translating ungeheuren Ungeziefer, trying to keep the German negation and ambiguity: "an unpleasant unmentionable"
Not sure we need any new translations at this pioint
@@GregoryBSadler lol, I'm not talking about unleashing another translation for mass consumption, it's just my own intellectual challenge. That is, challenging myself to get the text as close as possible for artistic and intellectual value, even if it would be unreadable to an English audience. I grant that "giant insect" or "terrible vermin" are better renderings to an English audience, but that's also not really what it says, mine keeps the double negation of the original German while also keeping the ambiguity of the "ungeziefer". The famous problem of the first line is that "insect" gets too close to depicting the beast that Kafka wanted to leave mostly to the imagination, though of course he does hint that it is some type of beetle later on.
I've always been fascinated by the localization process, particularly when something isn't easily translatable. Translations have to make compromises, but it's sometimes more fun when they don't.
@@sameash3153 Yes, I've been a translator for about going on 25 years now
It's a crystal clear that the core message of this story is to showcase the ugly face of the materialistic life in Franz Kafka community in that time., Once he turns into bug they treat him badly with tough and ugly way despite he's their son and he has no fault for being bug.
They main character her is his Father which represents the " community " & His Boss which represents the " Capitalism " both of them don't give any attention to Gregor and instead to thinking to helping him to bringing him to human form the boss skipped and his father start attacking him because they are looking at him as machine or animal irrespective that he's human.
I believe Gregor wish to be a bug because he found himself valueless and he working like any animal or insect to secure his family requirements and he didn't find any form of appreciation.
That's why the End came with the death of Gregor and the rest of his family will enjoy their life without feel any regret or sadness about Gregor' Death.
This's our materialistic life.
The ugly of Capitalism System.
Nah. It's "crystal clear" to YOU that that's the core message. There's plenty of other core messages to the text - that's part of what makes it a classic. And there's plenty of other readers out there finding those other core messages
@@GregoryBSadler this's my opinion and for sure you're free to understand what you want.... easy
@@abazaabdelmageid774 You might want to avoid the sweeping language then
White papers really :-) (love your lectures!). Hi from Germany :-)
Glad you enjoy the lectures!
Please, put traduce your text !
No idea what you mean
I thought this story was about puberty
Well, it's about someone who up to that point was a more or less successful adult. . . so, no
@@GregoryBSadler Sorry, my attempts at comedy are usually horrible.
So in Kafkas case he meant Biblically unclean
Perhaps. Perhaps not.
Is it to hard to say you don't know?
That was kinda disturbing.
What part?
The conclusion. You know... "we get rid of him... things solve"
I see. Yes, that's probably disturbing
1:06:02