Them Metamorphosis And The Death Of Ivan Ilyich

Several themes occur in both Franz Kafka’s, Metmorphosis and Leo Tolstoy’s The Death of Ivan Ilyich, however the way in which these themes are presented and the meanings associated with them vary in each work. Isolation, materialism, and self discovery are ideas found in both pieces of literature.

Both works have a constant theme of isolation. In Kafka’s work Gregor is transformed into an insect. His entire family and employer immediately reject him. His father locks him in his room; his mother faints at the mere sight of him. None of them worry about how Gregor is feeling in regards to his transformation. Their worry is more about who will provide for them now, since in the past Gregor had been the sole source of income for the family. To add to his feelings of loneliness, Gregor, being an insect is incapable of communicating with them. Rather, he must stand by in silence; powerless to speak, complain, or protest anything.

The idea of isolation presents itself differently in Tolstoy’s story. The isolation that Ivan experiences comes from the fact that whenever Ivan encounters a situation that does not promote his pleasant existence, he alienates himse

The final idea which can be found in both works pertains to self discovery and personal identity. In Metamorphosis the protagonist is not able to realize many things about his life until he is transformed. Alone in his room, Gregor tries to rebuild the self-identity that he had lost by living entirely for others and ignoring his own needs. He cannot, however, escape from what he sees as his family duty, and continues to act only to serve his family by doing his best not to inconvenience them. Gregor's comments about his family's behavior are often tainted with resentment at the way they treat him, but he will not allow himself to see his own bitterness. Gregor manages to escape his sense of duty only in the last chapter, when he asserts himself in recognizing that his family has been neglecting him. Gregor's search for his identity seems hopeless, but, in reality he never had an identity to start with. He finds his humanity only at the end, when his sister's playing reminds him of his love for his family. This love, along with his freedom, is the final ingredient he needs to establish his identity.

“Suddenly some force struck him in the chest and side, making it still harder to breathe, and he fell through the hole and there at the bottom was a light…Just then his schoolboy son had crept softly in and gone up to the bedside. The dying man was still screaming desperately and waving his arms. His hand fell on the boy's head, and the boy caught it, pressed it to his lips, and began to cry.” (1221)

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