... you have failed to do anything" once again connotes a sense of ironic ignorance, but this time directed at the man. An element of realistic irony is present in this sentence as it is shown in the form of a confession. The implications brought with the word "only" suggest that there is no actual politically correct reason behind his intentions, it is simply a ... folkloric reference. As in Jewish folklore, animals are given human roles. Just like in The Metamorphosis where Gregor became a cockroach-like insect, in this case the man is brought down to the same (or maybe even a lower) level...

• Word Count: 1522
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

German writer Franz Kafka's and American J.D. Salinger's respective masterpieces, The Metamorphosis (1915) and The Catcher in the Rye (1951), examine the universal themes of personal relationships within the context of painful change. Each did that in his own way: Kafka portrayed familial support and sympathy as necessary to the alleviation of pain, while Salinger suggested that to truly grow up is to come to terms with one's ... , however, Gregor wishes to die: "his conviction that he would have to disappear was, if possible, even firmer than his sister's" (54). Kafka adds humor and irony wit...

• Word Count: 1076
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Undergraduate