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This study explores the concept of freedom in Franz Kafka's novel The Metamorphosis from an existentialist perspective. The author identifies two types of freedom - Freedom From and Freedom To - and discusses how freedom is depicted through characters, setting, and style. The underlying reason for Kafka's focus on individual freedom is also revealed.
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Submitted to the Department of Languages Studies, Graduate School of Muhammadiyah University of Surakarta in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Education
by:
Nur Wahyuni S 200140038
TYPES OF FREEDOM IN FRANZ KAFKA’S THE METAMORPHOSIS: AN EXISTENTIALIST PERSPECTIVE Abstract
The purposes of this study are: (1) to identify the types of freedom in the novel, (2) to describe how freedom is depicted in the novel, and (3) to reveal the underlying reason why Franz Kafka addressed individual freedom in the novel. This study uses descriptive qualitative method. This method is intended to get a clear picture of the object to be analyzed. The data was collected in the form of words contained in the novel. The technique of data collection was note-taking. Based on the analysis, there are two types of freedom in the Franz Kafka’s novels, namely Freedom From and Freedom To. Freedom described through characters, through setting and through style. Freedom is something that is expected by every individual without exception, because with the freedom every individual was capable of doing anything in life without the intervention of others. This studies also found that the world view of Kafka in creating The Metamorphosis novel was the of thought arising from the desire to be free from all the authoritarian acts. Keywords: Types of freedom, Franz Kafka’s novels, Existentialist Perspective
Abstrak
Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah: (1) Untuk mengidentifikasi jenis kebebasan dalam novel (2) Untuk menjelaskan bagaimana kebebasan digambarkan dalam novel (3) Untuk mengungkap alasan Franz Kafka menyertakan kebebasan individu dalam novelnya. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode deskriptif kualitatif. Metode ini dimaksudkan untuk mendapatkan gambaran yang jelas tentang objek yang akan dianalisis. Data dikumpulkan dalam bentuk kata-kata yang terdapatdalam novel. Teknik pengumpulan data menggunakan metode mencatat sebagai metode pengumpulan data. Berdasarkan analisis, ada dua jenis kebebasan dalam novel Franz Kafka, yaitu Kebebasan Dari dan KebebasanUntuk. Kebebasan digambarkan melalui karakter, melalui setting dan melalui gaya. Kebebasan adalah sesuatu yang diharapkan oleh setiap individu tanpa terkecuali, karena dengan kebebasan setiap individu mampu melakukan apapun dalam hidupnya tanpa campur tangan pihak lain dan setiap individu bebas pada apa yang menjadi pilihannya. Studi ini juga menemukan bahwa pandangan dunia tentang Kafka dalam menciptakan novel Metamorfosis adalah pemikiran yang timbul dari keinginan untuk bebas dari semua tindakan otoriter. Kata Kunci: Jenis Kebebasan, novel Franz Kafka, Perspektif Existentialis
1. Introduction The study on The Metamorphosis has been widely done based on different attractive issues and perspectives. There are nine previous studies that also analyze The Metamorphosis. The previous studies of The Metamorphosis that the present study found used three approaches, namely psychology approach, objective approach and expressive approach. There are six previous studies that used psychological approach, namely, Linda (2015), Sarah (2013), Happy (2016), Joachem ( 2013 ), Yunidar (2011), and Vita (2007). Another to studies were conducted by Anita (2014) and Dian (2013), based on objective approach and from expressive approach was conducted by Wiwid (2012) Based on the review above, the previous studies are different from this study. This research focuses on the problem of how to describe the main characters is freedom in Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis novel by using existentialist perspective. The
novel, (2) to describe how freedom is depicted in the novel, and (3) to reveal the underlying reason why Franz Kafka addressed individual freedom in the novel.
2. Research Method This study uses descriptive qualitative method. According to Bogdan & Taylor (1975, p. 1) “Qualitative research is research that produces descriptive data in the form of words, both written and verbal, and the behavior that is observed” and while Sumanto (1990, p. 6), stated that “Descriptive qualitative research is the research employing the method of collecting, describing, classifying and analyzing the data and then drawing conclusion”. This method is intended to get a clear picture of the object to be analyzed. Data collected in the form of words contained in the novel is not a number. The primary data source, the researcher adopts texts in Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis novel_._ While the secondary data sources, it consists of dissertation, thesis, journal, internet references, and other references related to the issue. The technique of collection data, the researcher uses note-taking as a method of collecting data, they are as follows: (1) Reading The Metamorphosis novel written by Franz Kafka repeatedly; (2) Creating a synopsis of The Metamorphosis novel; (3) Taking notes of important parts from data source. After all data have been collected, the researcher used a technique literature, namely written sources. The data obtained in the study then described the data. Besides, it also gathered other data that is as a supporter, so relevant with the expected results. To analyze the data, the researcher applies descriptive analysis, in which firstly the data is collected, secondly described the data and then finally analyzed the data. The stages accepted by the researcher to analyze the data. 3. Findings and Discussion a. Research Findings 1) Types of Freedom in the Novel Freedom is an absolute achievement for man and no one has any desire to live freely, but from every freedom so everyone also has responsibility and responsibility in life, therefore freedom can also be limited to those who get oppression from others; and freedom can be chosen for people who have the power and free will of themselves. According to Erich Fromm in Kozaryn (2014,p.1) there are two types of freedom, namely Freedom From and Freedom To, “Freedom From is to be no slave, to live in a free country, to have no coercion, to be free from restrictions and impediments, and Freedom To is to be
able to choose, to control and direct one’s own life”. Freedom From is lack of obstacles; Freedom To is presence of control. There are several types of freedom that will be discussed about Kafka's novel namely: the first is the Freedom From and Freedom To. Freedom From is freedom which has a restriction; Freedom To is freedom the right to choose. a) Freedom From Freedom is the right of every individual. Even thought not everybody has their own freedom. For example, everybody wants freedom over himself; however, there are some limitations that require following the rules to make the person is not entirely having the right to him. Everyone cannot fully possess the soul and body because the Freedom From has limitations to his freedom; this is due to the human empowerment to do so. For example, every individual is not entirely free of self as well as physical freedom, social freedom, even economic freedom not entirely owned by the individual itself. Hence, this freedom is a limited freedom so that whatever will be done have limitations and cannot go beyond the will of man himself. Kafka describes the main character, Gregor, as a hard worker who always do the best for his family by doing the job as a salesman to pay off family debts; this is done by Gregor to take responsibility as a protector for his parents and younger sister named Grete. (1) Freedom in the Social Environment The freedom of the main character has limitations in some respects, such as when in Gregor's working place. He has to do a lot of jobs and also does not have much time to interact with his colleagues. Even when other workers enjoy a relaxed life before leaving for work, he cannot feel it because if he doing such a thing then he will get problems from his boss. (2) Freedom in the Family Environment After the in justices that occurred in Gregor’s social life within the work environment, he also gets rough treatment from his family, even Gregor get physical violence committed by people around himself. It can be seen from the beginning of The Metamorphosis novel by Franz Kafka described that Gregor is full of suffering and how his physical appearance has changed. It made Gregor felt like trapped in a gruesome form and unable to do anything he wanted, because of a terrible physical changed.
b) Through Setting The settings of places discussed in this thesis are two houses and offices. It explained that the house represents a free life for Gregor and vice versa. While the office is a place that makes Gregor feel intimidated and lack of freedom. c) Through Style Franz Kafka's writing style in The Metamorphosis novel is so complicated, but his authentic and original writing technique is his conscious choice and basic attitude in writing. “One morning, as Gregor Samsa was waking up from anxious dreams, he discovered that in bed he had been changed into a monstrous verminous bug”. That is the opening sentences of The Metamorphosis novel or in its original title “ Verwandlung”, one of Franz Kafka's hard-to-understand works. By using the analysis sentence type, diction, and symbol, it can be seen how the style of writing of Franz Kafka about The Metamorphosis novel. 3) Underlying Reasons of Addressing Individual Freedom In some parts, The Metamorphosis novels presents Kafka’s outpour in view of the dictatorship of a country, a family and a father who make many decisions in the family. If true that literary works are not far from the author's life and social conditions, this is also seen in the work of Kafka. Kafka's childhood was under the Nazi banner that was then in power of Germany. The outbreak of the First World War in mid-1914 influenced the work of The Metamorphosis novel. In 1919 he also wrote an undisclosed biography entitled " Brief an den Vater ”, as a sign of how difficult a sensitive child lives between the authority of his dictatorial father, firm stance, with his sentimental and loving mother. The letter signifies a difficulty in Kafka's life with his father's excessive power, so Kafka tries to make a truth in his doubts in a sensitive defense of his. Kafka also alludes to some of the problems of modern human who are required to pursue the necessities of life with routine work as well as issues of human egoism. The pressure that Kafka experienced from childhood to adulthood, go through on some ideas or more influential ideas on works. Almost in all of his works, readers will always be able to find a picture of a tragic story that is always packed with languages that seem dynamic. Kafka may not be a person who likes to be guessed, but even so Kafka never covers up the emotional burst that is always be
poured in each of his writings. Several situations like loneliness, injustice, and anxiety that felt throughout his life has packed in such a way to be able to solve all the pain. Existentialist that became the world view of Kafka in creating The Metamorphosis novel is the fruit of thought that arises from the desire to be free from all the authoritarian acts that bind Kafka until the end of his life. The illustration of the disharmony of the relationship between Gregor Samsa and his father (Herr Samsa) in the novel is a representation of the self-in-the-same relationship with the father (Hermann Kafka). In addition, the coherence between the structure of literary works and the structure of society also expressed through the description of the isolation Gregor’s received as a form of representation of Jewish society life at that time. Kafka also shows his opposition to the application of the economic system of capitalism which is considered to be very detrimental to the workers. He shows it through the depiction of suffering experienced by Gregor during his becoming a wandering fabric merchant. As the function of the worldview as a liaison between structures in literary works and the structures contained in society, the existentialist that became the Kafka world view in The Metamorphosis novel also has a similar function. The impact of the disharmony of the relationship between father and son, the desire to oppose the economic system of capitalism, and the pressure arising from the isolation received by the Jews, led to a thought in which the existence of each individual is something to be acknowledged. Kafka as if to affirm that his existence in the midst of his environment is not something that should be denied. The death of Gregor described by Kafka in the end of The Metamorphosis is a representation of freedom as the ultimate goal of existentialist. Free in this case means that Gregor no longer needs to feel the pain he had from his family. Through this novel, Kafka implicitly suggests that as human beings, society needs to increase tolerance and empathy so that harmony can be achieved. In other words, Kafka also hopes that in the future the existence of every individual in this world can become more acknowledged. b. Discussion of the Findings Kafka is a very talented writer, but his authentic and original writing techniques are a conscious choice and his basic attitude in writing. In each of his writings Kafka
to live there precisely in the19th century period with various requirements. Jews were allowed to develop their economic enterprises in Europe but they were not yet entitled to the right of politics freedom and to obtain legal certainty. Referring to the previously described explanation, the social condition of the Prague (Austria-Hungary) community as reflected in The Metamorphosis novel is also inseparable from the enslavement of human beings as a result of the increasingly widespread economic system of capitalism which became the basis of the application of industrialization in Europe. The theme of industrialization and the impact of the existence of the economic system is the basis of the story idea that oversees the development of the path until the conflict arises that involved the main character. In The Metamorphosis novel is told that Gregor Samsa, the protagonist in the novel by Kafka is a figure enslaved by his work. Gregor is a person who always cares about the family and will do anything to make his family happy. Even Gregor does not care whether Gregor is actually enjoys his work as a traveling merchant or not, is always forced to work extra hard like a money search engine to meet the needs of his family every day. Franz Kafka describes the freedom seen in his work entitled The Metamorphosis showing clearly how his writings are written under the title The Metamorphosis which shows that their expressionism is the writers’ performances using the motive of solitude and alienation to symbolize freedom This can mean that every work of expressionism is a form of rebellion made in the soul of the writer that in real life he cannot do. Existentialist that became the world view of Kafka in creating The Metamorphosis novel is the result of his thought that arises from the desire to be free from all the authoritarian acts that bind Kafka until the end of his life. The illustration of the disharmony of the relationship between Gregor Samsa and his father (Herr Samsa) in the novel is a representation of the self-in-tying relationship with his father (Hermann Kafka). In addition, the coherence between the structure of literary works and the structure of society also expressed through the description of the isolation Gregor’s received as a form of representation of Jewish society at that time. Kafka also shows his opposition to the application of the economic system of capitalism which is considered to be very detrimental to the workers. He shows it through the depiction of suffering experienced by Gregor’s during his becoming a wandering fabric merchant. Mastuti, L.D (2015, p 82)
The death of Gregor’s described by Kafka in the end of The Metamorphosis is a representation of freedom as the ultimate goal of existentialist. Free in this case means that Gregor no longer needs to feel the pain he always had from his family. Through this novel, Kafka implicitly suggests that as human beings, society needs to increase tolerance and empathy so that harmony can be achieved. In other words, Kafka also hopes that in the future of the existence of every individual in this world can become more acknowledged. Freedom is a sign and expression of human dignity, because human freedom is called autonomous self, which takes its own attitude. The existence of such freedom, humans can be burdened with moral obligations, and human beings must be responsible for action based on that freedom, because freedom has a positive meaning in a deliberate action with a specific purpose. Therefore, existential freedom can be interpreted through the actions of a person to determine himself. Literary works are forms that record social phenomena in the place and time of the authors of the circumstances in which literary works are produce. Reading a literary work is an inner meeting between the reader and the author. There is an intellectual struggle in it. The idea of a writer channeled through the story is not necessarily taken for granted by us as readers. The reader is also entitled to build his own perception. However, sometimes we also nod in agreement with what the author says and then we admire the brilliance of his ideas. In reading, there is an experience that cannot be expressed in words when our feelings are stirred up by conflict. Conflict in the novel is presented through narration and dialogue that enrich the language of the reader. The purpose of learning literature is to form a critical and creative attitude and sensitivity to the phenomenon of the life in the social environment of culture and nature. In addition, literature can foster the subtlety of character, strengthen the character of the nation, and increase interest in reading.
4. Conclusion Based on the research findings and discussion in previous chapter, the researcher draws the conclusion as follows. There are two types of freedom reflected in the novels The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka. Freedom From and Freedom To , but Freedom To dominates in this novel because human freedom is referred to as autonomous self- determination, which takes its own attitude. Freedom is something that every individual wishes without exception, because with the freedom, everyone is capable of doing anything in life without the interference of others and the individual is free of what he
isolation Gregor’s received as a form of representation of Jewish society life at that time. Kafka also shows his opposition to the application of the economic system of capitalism which is considered to be very detrimental to the workers. He shows it through the depiction of suffering experienced by Gregor during his becoming a wandering fabric merchant. Mastuti, L.D (2015, p 82)
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