Jewish Studies Commons^™

Kafka’S Identity Crisis: Examining The Metamorphosis As A Response To Anti-Semitism And Assimilation In Turn-Of-The-Century Europe, Sarah B. Classon

Master of Liberal Studies Theses

Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis chronicles the bizarre tale of Gregor Samsa’s transformation into an insect and the despairing isolation and personal quest for a meaningful existence that follows. A masterpiece of modern literature, it explores the universal concerns and struggles of Modernity, but also offers insight into the lives of assimilated Jews living in Prague at the turn-of-the-century. The acquisition of basic civil rights afforded European Jews opportunities in education, employment, and housing. Integration into Western society presented new challenges for the Jews as they carved out their new position in European society. The Jews’ difficult task of adapting to …