Alana

For those of you who have read the story, back in school (I graduated recently) I was given two assignments about it. They were essays with two distinct prompts and one was this:

Is Gregor Samsa "insane"?

We were given four definitions to choose from and asked to choose one, make an argument, and defend it. The product of my efforts are as follows:

Quote:

Different perspectives of a word merits different definitions. This can lead to drastically different usages of a word which provides versatility in meaning and communication. However, some times a word, with multiple definitions even, are not applicable to a scenario or, in this case, a person. A question has been raised at the conclusion of the reading of the text, The Metamorphosis, as to whether or not Gergor Samsa, the main character, is insane. Four descriptions of the word have been presented, each with a unique perspective. Gergor Samsa is not, however, insane by any of these definitions because none of them prove his insanity beyond a doubt. Insane: Mental illness of such a sever nature that one cannot distinguish fantasy from reality, cannot conduct personal affairs due to psychosis, or is subject to uncontrollable impulsive behaviour. A mental illness is an abnormality in a person's brain affecting the person's psychological thinking process. The use of the word fantasy, I presume, is referring to to an individuals "own reality" which differs from the "overall reality." As for the ability to conduct personal affairs, this can be perceived in two ways. Interpersonal or intrapersonal. Psychosis is a serious mental illness marked by loss or lessened ability to determine if what one's thinking or feeling of reality is true. As for the use of the word "uncontrollable," that, too, is a matter of perspective that can be traced back to the age old philosophical debate of Free Will versus Determinism- does anybody really have control over anything? A mental illness. Through out this excerpt of the story, no doctor saw Gregor Samsa and diagnosed him wit ha mental illness. Due to this, we cannot make the assumption that he has a mental illness- there is no clear evidence. The inability to conduct personal affairs. Intrapersonal or interpersonal affairs? Gregor Samsa has experienced a radical drop in the activity of interpersonal affairs as shown in the following quotes; "What else could make him miss a train?", "'Well, can the Chief Clerk come in, now?'... '...no.'" He missed his train and he cannot let his boss inside. Both of these, to one extent or another, deal with other people and day to day affairs. However, his intrapersonal affairs have increased significantly in the form of observation and introspection. "As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams, he found himself transformed into a gigantic insect." Through introspection, whether subliminal or otherwise, he realized that he is not what he always thought he was. He is an insect and part of a larger body, not an individual human being. "What has happened to me?" A question he asks of himself. Part of introspection is questioning your actions, motives, or simply why you are the way that you are. "'I'm just coming,' said Gregor slowly and carefully, not moving an inch for fear of loosing one word of the conversation." The preference to observe, rather than act is expressed quite nicely here. Because Gregor Samsa is able to engage in personal affairs, though of a sort different from his usual affairs, he cannot be insane by the definition stated earlier. Insane: A behaviour whereby a person flouts societal norms and become a danger to himself and others. This definition is ludicrous- there are two definitions in one statement. The first is the disregarding of societal norms and the second is becoming a danger to "himself" and "others." Playing along, however, neither of these definitions work when applied to Gregor. Societal norms- no single person can decide what is a societal norm and it is too vague to assume. As for becoming a danger to himself, danger seems to imply harm as in physical harm. This can be disputed either way, however. On one hand, danger or harm can do damage, on the other hand, this can teach valuable lessons acting as an asset. This also goes for "danger to others." He is very passive and intent on the continuation of aiding his family. "'I'm just coming,' said Gregor." Once again, his easy acquisition to others demands makes itself apparent, thus implying his passivity. Insane: Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. - Albert Einstein This is completely irrelevant to the question at hand. Insane: A legal term representing the inability to know right from wrong or the inability to understand the consequences of one's actions. Alright. What is right and what is wrong? Who decides this? How or why do they decide this? There is no right or wrong, there are merely actions and events, then people's perspectives on them. The definition is not specific enough to use in deciding whether Gregor Samsa is or is not insane. Due to poorly constructed definitions, Gregor Samsa cannot be proven insane beyond a doubt. On all four levels, it does not work.

If it is not too much trouble, could you offer feedback? I am unsatisfied with the grade I received on it, and wish to improve myself.