Hello???

Morgan? You out there? How ya doing?

There are many themes in Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis, but the most prominent is reflecting Murphy's Law, the theme that "Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong." This theme is shown right from the get go in The Metamorphosis when Kafka opens when Gregor Samsa wakes up transformed into a monstrous vermin. Gregor happened to be the support for his family. As a traveling salesman, he made good pay and had a nice lifestyle, albeit he had to get up extremely early. Gregor paid for his family's upper middle-class lifestyle, a nicely furnished apartment, maids and cooks, and a laziness that came from not working for a long time. Once Gregor becomes a vermin, his family has no source of income. Gregor's father, mother, and sister all have to have multiple jobs, plus taking care of Gregor. They eventually have to rent out their apartment to continue paying for their expenses. These guests take advantage of the poor Samsas, making them bend to their will, and eventually refusing to pay. All these things happen because they can. The Samsas didn't do anything wrong, life just decided to screw them because life happens like that. Their whole life crumbled just because, no other reason.


The themes from Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis can often be found in the many art movements that make up Modernism. The theme that "Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong" is best reflected in the art movement of Cubism, showing the disproportionate images of life, the messed up pictures where each shape is another aspect of life that can and will be screwed. Cubism didn't, however, start out like that. Cubism was led by Spaniard Pablo Picasso and Frenchman George Braque. Cubism was meant to break from traditional painting where everything looks normal. Instead, Cubists painted in multiple two-dimensional shapes to create three-dimensional figures. These figures appeared broken and fragmented, creating multiple horizons and points of view at the same time. These disoriented figures can show life being broken, fragmented, and all wrong because it can be wrong.

Cubism came in two major phases, Analytic and Synthetic. The Analytic phase was from 1907-1912. This phase was so abstract that it consisted of overlapping planes making one giant, three-dimensional, geometric blog; almost as if Cubists were painting what someone was seeing while being high. Most artwork in this period was in browns, grays, or blacks. Landscapes were rare; paintings consisted of a motif; such as musical instruments, bottles, and playing cards; and a human. This phase attempted to show the world through the mind, not the eye. Being simpler and brighter, the Synthetic phase lasted from 1913 through the 1920s. The art from this phase was shallower, blander, and less abstract. The works from this period influenced many other painters, as well as some sculptures and architecture of the twentieth century.

One of these Cubist works of art is "Artillery" by Frenchman Roger de La Fresnaye. Artillery was painted in 1911, three years before World War I. WWI also happens to appear to be the subject of this work. However, this scene is entirely fictional. La Fresnaye could have seen this sort of military operations in Paris, the military officers on white and brown horses, the caissons rolling by, foot soldiers in helmets marching along, and bands playing militaristic songs.

Roger de La Fresnaye was the son of a military officer. He painted "Artillery" in 1911, the same year he joined the Section d'Or, a group started by Pablo Picasso and George Braque, the founders of Cubism. Le Fresnaye painted "Artillery" paying close detail to the colors. He painted it using basic geometric shapes for everything, while painting in a combo of red, white, and blue. He also used many earthen tones to deepen his painting. His view, and of all Cubists, was that "solid geometry underlines the all forms in nature" and this can be taken to be applied to Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis.

"Artillery" and The Metamorphosis share some of the same theme. The theme of "Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong" shows in "Artillery" because it is a scene of war. War means that something has gone wrong. The Metamorphosis shows this because Gregor Samsa was turned into a bug. The two both show life falling apart, people being turned into bugs, and a broken image that shows life has been fractured.





Works Cited

“CUBISM.”Art Industri. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Oct. 2010. .

“Cubism Thematic Essay Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History the Metropolitan Museum of Art.” The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2009-2010. Web. 4 Oct. 2010. .

“Roger de La Fresnaye: Artillery (1991.397) Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History The Metropolitan Museum of Art.” The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000-2010. Web. 4 Oct. 2010. .

I really just want to curl up into a little ball and disappear... The world would be better off without me... I cause trouble and drama, no one needs that.

I mean I want all of this to go away. My Dad is an idiot, my parents take my Joy and my life basically away from me... I want him back... I blame myself.

Sometimes I wish that my parents would just leave me alone... They don't think they're making me miserable but they are... I water all of this to go away. :,(

If everyone on earth died except you, what would you do first?

Uhm..... Odd question and really depressing.... Idk.... I would probably walk around and obsereve everything around me... enjoy the ultimate peace and quiet.

Comments? Questions? Concerns? (compliments?) Anything will do!

I have known Theo sinse he was five, he is such a sweet person, and so are you! You two deserve eachother. Don't let people tell you anything different. He is lucky to have someone like you (:

Thank you.... I appreciate that!

Comments? Questions? Concerns? (compliments?) Anything will do!

I agree with everyone else about Theo. You could do so much better, babygirl.

There is no one better for me than him. If you're trying to get me to ask for suggestions or whatever I am not looking... I don't want anyone else.

Comments? Questions? Concerns? (compliments?) Anything will do!

I have known Theo sinse he was five, he is such a sweet person, and so are you! You two deserve eachother. Don't let people tell you anything different. He is lucky to have someone like you (:

:D

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What are things that give you headaches

Yodeling.... People telling me how to think or how not to think.... Same goes for people telling me how I should be feeling... Concerts.... Football... Uhhh.....

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I don't like to say it, love, but I agree. Theo ain't good for you, sweetheart.

Well everyone is entitled to their opinion.... I think he's good for me and I am good for him.

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I think you deary will end up malfuctioning in some way or another, through everything going on, why deal with it all.

Because he's worth it... I can manage.. it's hella difficult but I know we'll make it through.

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Why do you refuse to help yourself? Your life is going down hill. You may think your heart is set, but you're 15! From what I've seen, you fall head-over-heels in love too fast. You have a large heart, use it for something amazing, not getting it broken.

Sorry, but don't tell me what to do or how to feel.... I control my feelings not you.... I don't know what your problem is but please stop

Comments? Questions? Concerns? (compliments?) Anything will do!

Would you be willing to give up on the thought og Theo, and realize that being the amazing person you are, that maybe their is someone out there better for you?

No... Thank you for the compliment but I have my heart set... He has my heart and I intend on it staying that way, sorry.

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Making a formspring account is always very brave, regardless of the reasons you have for doing so. Takes a willingness to accept both negative and positive (ANONYMOUS) questions, so kudos. Where do you truly see yourself in about five years?

Graduated from high school... If I get a scholarship to the AADA then I'll go there... If I get a scholarship or more than one to anywhere I'll weigh out my choices... depends on what I really want to do with my life when I'm in my senior year

I want to be involved in the arts in one way or another... I also want to study phycology. I want to be a counselor... but I repeat That I'll see what I want to do near end of junior year - mid of senior year.... I'll see.... Quite frankly I don't know where I'll be...

I have certain people whom I couldn't imagine living life with out after high school: Paula, Willie, Stephanie, Keeley, and others (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!!)

Comments? Questions? Concerns? (compliments?) Anything will do!

Making a formspring account is always very brave, regardless of the reasons you have for doing so. Takes a willingness to accept both negative and positive (ANONYMOUS) questions, so kudos. Where do you truly see yourself in about five years?

Graduated from high school... If I get a scholarship to the AADA

Comments? Questions? Concerns? (compliments?) Anything will do!

i say i'm ur bestfriend. hahaha jk

You wish lol Brandon.... No but you are one of my good friends

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who is ur bestfriend Paula Stefany Theo,or Keley?

Well Paula, Stephanie, and Keeley are all like my sisters... they're all my best friends....

I love Theo very much, so.... He's my best friend in that respect of he knows everything about me and things I don't even know about myself. does that all make sense?

Comments? Questions? Concerns? (compliments?) Anything will do!

I love youu!

Awww... I love you too who ever you are!

Comments? Questions? Concerns? (compliments?) Anything will do!

Do you always tell the truth or do you sometimes make stuff up? Some of the things you say seem like you made them up...

No, I always tell the truth... I have no reason to lie.

What do you think I might have "made up"?

Comments? Questions? Concerns? (compliments?) Anything will do!