Joshua’s Comments (group member since Dec 03, 2008)

Joshua’s comments from the Curie World Lit: Only The BEST group.

One of my formal literature teacher taught under Cultural Criticism. I believe this because prior to reading a poem and analyzing it we would first read about the author of the poem and how it influence them to write that particular poem. For example, one poem that I remenber was "New Direction" written by Maya Angelou. New Direction was a poem about a black family in 1903 that had hardly anything and lived in a one room apartment. Her husband eventually left her and their two children. In the poem Mrs. Johnson stepped off the road and decided to go forth, first taking a job as a cook. Maya(the author of New Direction) was borned in Missouri during that time blacks were treated unfairly. It was hard for blacks to make it. They virtually had to work long hours away from home cleaning and cooking for other people in order to make ends meet, even then it was difficult at times. Her parents divorce like the family in the poem New Direction. While reading this poem my former literature teacher stated that "Mrs. Angelou wrote this poem based on her past history and joined it with her life's experience".

I believe Gregor's entire family went though a transformation. In the beginning of the story only Gregor was the one working and supporting the family, now "the father fetched breakfast for the minor clerks in the bank, the mother devoted her energy to making underware for strangers, the sister trotted back and forth behind the counter at the demand of her customers." (Kafka 40) This prove to me that the entire family went though a transformation. They all pitched in and depended on each another to make ends meet, instead of just depending on one person. I believed if the family had help Gregor in the beginning instead of putting the entire burden on Gregor he would have never went though his transformation because such a GREAT burden would not have been on him. Gregor's family went from being LAZY to supporting themselves. This shows that they could have HELP Gregor from the beginning.

I personally feel Kafka was confused about women. In one part of the story he protrayed women as being strong "Grete had put her arms around her mother and was almost carrying her...eyes met those of Gregor on the wall...although trembling and without thinking should we go back into the parlor? Greta intentions in the story was clear to Gregor, she wanted to lead her mother to safety and then chase the him off the wall" (Kafka 35). In this aspect Kafka protrayed Greta as being strong, willing to stand up against Gregor to protect her mother. Yet he also protrayed women as being weak, unable to defend themselves when Greta thought she rather "sacrifice her mother than remain in Gregor's vicinity" (Kafka 48). With these statement it seems as if Kafka felt women are unsure of themselves, in one instinct they are ready to protect someone they love yet at the twinkle of the eye they are ready to sacriice the same person. The lack of recognizable plot, the incohererence of character all proved that Kafka was a Modernist. I believe by Kafka not knowing or admiting what race he was proved he had a feeling of ideological uncertainty about himself. Yet, on the other hand "Women are a mystery to men, truely they are." (Joshua"s Quote)

Jeremy wrote: What would motivate Gregor to change ...

Building up confident in himself and increasing his self-esteem would have indeed motivated him not to think so little of him and could very well help him to become human again.

Ms R asked "if I was Gregor would I think it was fair if my boss came to my house and made negative comments about me..."

No it was not fair for Gregor's manager to come to his house and belittle him in front of his family. I feel that the manager had a lot of nerve to do this and must have felt or had some type of bond or connection with his family to feel comfortable to say such things to Gregor.

Although the manager was acting anxious to get Gregor out of the rm, he was not acting unreasonable giving his lack of knowledge concerning Gregor's condition. However i side with Gregor because he was overwhelm with his "sudden bug-like transformation.

I believe Kafka was a Modernist. In Metamorphosis Kafka description of Gregor gives great details and point a mental picture of his transformation as alienation and disconnection. For Kafka to have a man changed "Gregor's new body has little legs and his bug back"(Kafka 15) captures the reality of modern life in both form and content "a new body with little legs and a bug back". Kafka in Metamorphosis reveals how a person facing a overwhelming social force in his life instead of dealing with it changed himsef to something else so he would not have to face it. This was telling how he was alienating himself from all others he left each of us to come up with our own conclusion why such a feeling of disjointedness would occur.

In girl I believe her mother was to harse with her. Its good for a mother to teach or lecture her daughter but the way she did it was to harse. In one sense her mother was telling her how to do things in the corrrect way, but I feel it went down the drain by calling her out of her name. A mother should never call her daughter a "SLUT", because you do not know how it might affect her. I feel just because her mother call her a slut she might be one because she could say in her heart she called me one anyway.

Do you feel in Metamorphosis that Kafka was protraying that in one part of his life he felt like a different person and pictured himself in such a way he did not want anyone to recognize him?

Story of An Hour was a little sad to me. I felt that Mrs. Mallard was entrapped in her marriage. I feel marriage itself is a blessing if the two try to please each other. In Mrs. Mallard case she was restricted because she was to busy trying to please society instead of herself. When Mrs Mallard thought that her husband had died she was happy. This proved to me that she was not happy in her marriage and make me feel that she really did not love her husband. I believe if you love your spouse death to one of them would make a person feel sad, but instead Mrs Mallard felt FREE. I wonder how did her husband feel after she died? Yet, on the other hand I guess Mrs. Mallard was finally free.

I am very excited that Obama became the 44th President of the US. Although I was unable to actually see him inaugerated my parents tape it for me. As I watched him take his oath that night it bought chills thoughout my body. This is such an historical event and I was able to witness it. I only wish I was old enough to vote. History was made. I feel Obama will be a Great President. I am aware it will not be easy but I believe hw will make a CHANGE to better the U.S.

Majoring in anthropology how many science classes am I require to take?

How many years an I require to go to college to become an antropologist?