The Fly

Although the story “The Fly” never overtly mentions World War I, make a list of details which indicate that the story is related to WW I and takes place shortly thereafter.

The first detail we read that indicates the story is related to WWI is when old Woodfield is sitting with the boss in his office, and the boss is talking about all of his new things, “But he did not draw old Woodfield’s attention to the photograph over the table of a grave looking boy in uniform standing in one of those spectral photographers’ parks with photographers’ storm clouds behind him,” (1). When we read that there is a boy in uniform, we can immediately guess that this boy was part of some formal and important organization. The story goes on to mention the gravesite of the boss’s son and the description of the graveyard, “There’s miles of it, and it’s all neat as a garden. Flowers growing on all the graves. Nice broad paths,” (2). This description highlights that this must be a graveyard for fallen veterans because of the way it is arranged (in uniform rows). After old Woodfield mentions the grave of the boss’s son, the boss begins to think very hard. He mentions that he still thinks of the boy lying unchanged in his uniform. This also indicates that this was during wartime because he was buried in his uniform. A final detail that indicates that this was WWI is how he received the news of his son’s death, “The day had come when Macey had handed him the telegram that brought the whole place crashing about his head. ‘Deeply regret to inform you…’” (3). Because this was a telegram, it shows the reader that this was before phones were widely used, indicating that this was in the early 1900’s, thus WWI. 

The Dead

Consider all the references to death, the dead, and dying throughout the text, what is their significance?  How does they influence/inform Joyce's title selection?

There are many references to death throughout “The Dead” that make you question what their significance is. Within the first couple of paragraphs we are already introduced to death, “For years and years it had gone off in a splendid style as long as anyone could remember; ever since Kate and Julia, after the death of their brother Pat,” (1946 NA). Already the story begins to speak of death. We also read the description of Gabriel’s Aunt Julia, “Her hair, drawn low over the tops of her ears, was grey; and grey also, with darker shadows, was her large flaccid face,” (1948 NA). The description hints to the reader that Julia will soon die. Throughout the rest of the story many of the characters reference dead relatives and friends and speak about them casually. I think that this is significant to the story because it symbolizes while you may be alive, death will always linger and be apart of your life. The title of the story, “The Dead”, is significant because it is plural. The story is not just about the death of Gretta’s first love Michael, but about all of the dead people in each of the characters’ lives.

Consider the names of the characters, specifically Gabriel and Michael--what is their origin/meaning generally and then consider their use in the text.

Gabriel and Michael are both biblical names. Gabriel is the angel that God sent to tell Mary that she was pregnant with Jesus. Gabriel is known as the angel of Christmas which is significant because “The Dead” is during Christmastime. While Gabriel is an outstanding figure in biblical text, Michael is considered the closest to God. Michael is the archangel and the commander in the Army of God. He is God’s “right hand man”, and is looked upon as the best angel there is. This is significant to the story because Michael was Gretta’s first and only true love. While Gretta may love Gabriel, he will never compare to her love for Michael.

The Metamorphosis

According to Dictionary.com - a metamorphosis is, "a profound change in form from one stage to the next in the life history of an organism--a complete change of form, structure, or substance--a form resulting from any such change."  In considering this definition, what was Gregor's life like before and after his metamorphosis--do you believe his change was literal or metaphoric and why?

According to the definition, I believe that Gregor’s change was literal. He went from being your average male human, to being a literal bug. If you look at Gregor’s form, structure, and substance, you can see that all three of these things changed. He describes waking up and finding himself “transformed into a monstrous vermin. He lay on his hard armor like back, and when lifting his head slightly, he could view his brown, vaulted belly partitioned by arching ridges,” (1999 NA). His whole entire body and shape has been completely transformed into that of a bug. Even his speech has been changed. When he is speaking to his parents and the office manager from the other side of the door, they can no longer understand what he is saying, “Did you understand a single word of that? He’s not trying to make fools of us, is he?!” (2005 NA). Throughout the rest of the story you can see how Gregor’s metamorphic change is literal.

Kafka includes many references to hunger and food--what is the significance of these references?

The significance of hunger and food in the story represents Gregor’s hunger for his family’s love and acceptance. In the beginning of the story, Gregor’s sister leaves him food at his door neatly laid out with a variety of options. As the story progresses, Gregor’s relationship to food mirrors his relationship to his family. I think that the turning point of Gregor’s relationship to food is when his father throws the apple at him. This is the first true act of hostility that we see from Gregor’s family. After this incident, his family no longer gives him his food in a humane matter, but instead, they just kick it in his room and expect him to eat it. Also, Gregor becomes less and less hungry, and starts to starve to death. I think that this correlates to his relationship with his family, because at the beginning they still fed him some sort of love and acceptance, but in the end he was starved of all humanity from his family.

Identify and discuss some of the themes of "The Metamorphosis" - be sure to refer to your notes about what a theme is and in your discussion identify key passages of the text that support the themes you've identified.

I think that a major theme of metamorphosis is trying to attain freedom. In the beginning of the story Gregor talks about his job and stress it brings him saying things like, “Getting up so early all the time, makes you totally stupid. A man has to have his sleep,” and he goes on to say, “IF I weren’t holding back because of my parents, I would have given notice long ago, I would have marched straight up to the boss and told him off from the bottom of my heart. He would have toppled from his desk!” (2000 NA). I believe that this, and the rest of the passage show how Gregor is imprisoned not only at his job, but at home as well. Although he changes into a bug and no long has to work, he is still prisoner in his own life. He is not able to leave the house or even his bedroom. Throughout the story, it is a constant struggle for Gregor to attain freedom. In the end, he is only free through death.