Hidden Emotions by Cynthia Crosby

     In the short story "The Metamorphosis", there is hidden emotions of oedipal dynamics.  Towards the end of this story you will see where the daughter, mother and father are discussing how to get rid of Gregor.  Two agree and one doesn't.  The relationships (between father/daughter and mother/son) are one of customary structure in families.  The effects that the mother and father have on children while they are growing up, will give the character traits needed to structure their adulthood.  The sub-conscience emotions of rivalry, jealousy, and complacency were transformed when Gregor went from being his father’s stock boy to main bread winner for the family.  The father’s rivalry towards Gregor intensifies due to his determination to push the boarders’ out of the house.   The resentment of sister towards brother with her stating, “We must try and get rid of it”.  "It Must Be Gotten Rid Of" cried the sister.  This paragraph plainly states the true validity of the oedipal theory.  With a fright which was totally incomprehensible to Gregor, the sister even left the mother, pushed herself away from her chair, as if she would sooner sacrifice her mother than remain in Gregor’s vicinity, and rushed behind her father who, excited merely by her behavior, also stood up and half raised his arms in front of the sister as though to protect her. (Kafka 37)    

     Mr. Samsa had been the main bread winner for the family until the lost of his mercantile to the modernization movement of the second phase of the industrial revolution in the late 1800's and early 1900's.  In this mercantile Gregor was his father’s insignificant stock boy who did not get paid. The father was the admired merchant and money maker, now reduced to wallowing in his self pity and drowning in his sorrow.  The father has to depend on Gregor for their survival.  This burden was laid on Gregor as a young man with no real work history to find the foundation of servant hood to an outside work place.  However; with his fortitude to prove himself to his father, his new job was profitable but had hidden sacrifices and suffering.  Furthermore, his parents could not bring themselves to acknowledge his sacrifices until his transformation and was faced with all that Gregor had done to support them.   

     When Gregor was metamorphosis-ed, everyone's world was affected within this household.  They lost servants, the sister was forced by circumstances to grow up and take charge of the household.  The mother was asthmatic and in poor health but she could sew.  The father was in good health, just overweight from sitting in his chair all day long.  Certainly we can see where this change has caused resentment towards Gregor.  He has caused everyone's life to be turned upside down.  The emotions of all four persons were running rampant trying to put a rhyme or reason for the physical change in Gregor and what they had been thrown into.  Through the growing process from child to adulthood, we undergo changes of mental/physical states and emotions.  Anna Freud popularized the notion that adolescence is a period that includes rapid mood fluctuation with enormous uncertainty about self.  J.J. Arnett has the best explanatory of adolescence in his writings: “Adolescent Storm and Stress.”  Accordingly, this would explain the aggressive and submissive characteristics of both Gregor and Grete.  Displayed by the aggression by Gregor in the beginning of his metamorphosis then becoming submissive. While Grete was submissive and loving in the beginning then became aggressive.

     The parents, up in age now, are going through their mental changes as well.  They are faced with the issues that they can not do what they once could and having to rely on the two young adult children to provide and support them.  With this comes the “older man/younger woman” mind set and the older woman needing affirmation that she is still loved and needed.  In these two stages where the parents and young adults are, there is a paradigm shift in the gender roles.  Whereas the mother subconsciously needs the young son to give her the affirmation she so longs for and needs, the father on the other hand clings to the youth of the daughter to make him feel as though he is the protector and supporter. This in turn matures the young woman as to the type of husband she should have.  During this process, there is a certain amount of jealousy that has to play out because of the role the parents have now shifted from a mother/daughter relationship to a mother/son relationship. The same is true with the father/son relationship.   

     In conclusion, by looking into the oedipal theory of “The Metamorphosis”, we can plainly see the jealousy and rivalry indications within this story.  We can get a better understanding of the oedipal theory from Swami Atmashraddhananda in her writing of “Absence of Jealousy” by definition.  Finally with Gregor dead, the three of them found comfort and finality to the situation. 

Works Cited:

1.     Wikimedia – The free Encyclopedia on the web for photo of Franz Kafka

2.     Kafka-Online for the quote stated with page number.

3.     Jeffrey Jansen Arnett, University of Maryland 1999.

4.     Swami Atmashraddhananda, author of Absence of Jealousy 2011.

"The Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka

Holy Thursday

Holy Thursday

Songs of Experience

This is a dark time in England's history.  The economy is unstable; it's the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the majority of its citizens are in poverty throughout the land and child labor was ramped.  Where the rich Industrialist had an over powering, over inflated life style compared to the average person and did not care how their labor was fed.  It was a selfish era to get richer while the child and cheap labor suffers.

He re-affirms his thoughts by asking out loud the questions that keep running through his mind, while listening to the cries of the oppressed.  And then states his conclusion that, “It is a land of poverty!”

The environment seems as if it were winter all year round, the dark days with little to no light.  Because of the cold in this region, there is no growth of any kind, so it is bare in the fields.  With the Industrialist or Rich using all labor to do their work there is no food for the average family.  The farmers are over taxed, trying to survive, they go into the larger cities to make a living.  This leaves the fields and farms bare and people starving.  With no one traveling back and forth with goods, "And their ways are filled up with thorns." 

Blake is stating the contrast between the period they are in and what it should be like.   Where there is sunshine and rain, there should be no hungry babies, no poverty and no fear or dismay.  Where there is sunshine and rain; the vegetation, fruits and grains will grow, food will be abundant so therefore no hunger, "Nor poverty the mind appall."  It is as if, he is saying a prayer for the oppressed.

In the two poems by Blake "Holy Thursday" he sees the religious injustice and the social injustice. The social injustice is more prevalent in the "Songs of Experience - Holy Thursday" where as in the “Holy Thursday – Songs of Innocence” is more of a religious injustice.  Since he wrote Songs of Innocence first the title “Holy Thursday” came from the last supper of Jesus with his disciples.  He speaks of the rich and fruitful, babes reduced to misery, fed by the cold and usurious hand.  The lack of food and the field bare, it seems as if it is winter eternally. Farmers grow no crops during the winter season the days are short with little to no light, therefore no warmth for the plants to grow.  However, he knows where the sun shines, where there is rain, there is also no hunger. People there do not know of poverty and they have no fear.  Looking forward to the day when all things are fruitful once more!

Works Cited:

1.       Video by Poetry Re-Incarnations

2.       Wikipedia – The free Encyclopedia on the web. Using Robert F. Gleckner’s point of view.

3.       Yahoo – by Aliqnka Polanco

4.       Yale - New Havens Teachers Institute by Joseph A. Montaga

"Holy Thursday" by W. Blake

     This is my annotated bibliography.  I am doing a critical analysis on William Blakes poem "Holy Thursday - Songs of Experience." I am using the Psychoanalytic Critism Theory.  Focusing on the economic and social behavior of this period to answer my question: How do the operations of repression structure or inform the work?  My hypothesis question, " How the era that England was in at this time influenced Blakes mind from the economic and social oppression around him. 

Will the Real Mitt Romney please stand up

    This is my "Diagnostic Assay/Mashup" and what interest me in the times we are in.

What affects would either candidate have on our government as president?  Using the Historic-ism,Cultural Studies analysis, the work of this presentation does both; support and condemn the candidates running for the office of Americas President.

                                         http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKDjPgQS6zM
   
     This video shows depictions of two individuals who contradict each other in their raising and verbally speaking to the public.  However, fundamentally and subconsciously support the same mind set and gold for America.  Actually neither will have full control of our nation as we blindly know it.

     Obama is an individual who made promises that could not be kept because of the way our government is formed.  Our nation and government was founded by visionaries.  Which in my opinion our forefathers; as did Isaiah, had a vision of what it would grow into.  He was conceived of a mix couple, was raised on the road with no sure foundation on his mothers skirt tail.  " Dreams of my father" gives a good depiction of his dream/goal.  He had to work his way up and get into the groups that would accommodate his over all purpose.  He was poor monetarily but had wits about him and the smarts to get him where he needed to be.

     Mitt Romney was a man born into wealth and has the intelligence to take him to point he is today.  He is a rich man, who has been a governor of a state, has managed many corporations and has had to close some the companies.  He has built corporations from ground up, re-organized the World Olympics and numerous over seas businesses.

     The truth is both candidates have supported and put in place a healthcare bill: one on the state level and the other at the federal level.   They both wanted to help the people of America who did not have health coverage.  Both seem to have the peoples best interest at heart.  Both have a religious view that is hard for them to elaborate on much less inform the Judo Christians I call the King James Version or Founding Fathers version of Christianity.(Tea Party)  I  have a hard time really believing in either candidate.

     This video in my opinion belittles the office of Americas President.  It has no respect for the Office of President to use Mr. Obama or Mitt Romney in this remixed.  The cursing manner that he chose was sexually in appropriate and vulgar.  It shows condemnation from both sides through this video.  However, this is not by no means out of the norm for politics, even from the era of 1774.

     In conclusion, what affects would either man really have on our nation today?  Neither would be really in control of  the uncertain circumstances that has yet to arise.  Neither are really aware of them just as we are of the uncertain timing.  Therefore the only one that has full control is God our creator.  Both men will take us to where our country; as well as all nations, are headed according to biblical prophecy.  The One World Union is not just an Obama Democratic dream it is also a Republican Dream. The wheels have already been put in action for Americas demise.   If you believe in Jesus Christ our Savior and have accepted him as your savior none, NONE of this really matters. This is the bases for my opinion: Has Americas future already been put in motion? click here to find out