Question

Read the excerpt below, and answer the question that follows:

"He was especially fond of hanging from the ceiling; it was quite different from lying on the floor; he could breathe more freely; his body had a light swing to it; and up there, relaxed and almost happy..."

How is this an illustration of irony? What larger message about the nature of humanity might Kafka have been sending here? Think about Gregor's happiness level before his transformation. Be specific in your answer.

Answer 1

Irony is seen at the moment when the reader recognizes that a very uncomfortable position is one that promotes comfort to Gregor. This shows that human nature can find a certain happiness in completely unusual situations and even if the context that led the human being to this situation is bad. This can be seen because, although Gregor, as a human, could go out, work and live a normal life, he had no access to anything that would give him comfort. When turning an insect, Gregor's life literally turns upside down. Gregor's situation is dire, but he finds comfort in a moment, when he hangs from the ceiling and feels good.

Step-by-step explanation:

This text, is an excerpt from "Metamorphosis" where we know the story of Gregor Sansa, a man oppressed by capitalism and his family, who wakes up transformed into an insect.

The book discusses how modern society dehumanizes human beings, exploits and devalues them, completely discarding them when they can no longer be profitable.