I see dementia in Kafka’s The Metamorphosis

Lynne D

Out of concern for losing my own brain function, I try and challenge myself. One thing I do is re-read literature I read in another era. Times change, and so do I, and I perceive different things in the next go-around.

I was surprised at how many parallels I could draw between Gregor in The Metamorphosis and a dementia patient.

He wakes up and cannot navigate his own body, cannot communicate, loses his ability to be the breadwinner for his family, loses his identity and purpose, becomes a parasite to his family, is alienated from them and neglected by them.  Finally he dies (I think of a broken heart) when they all decide that he is not Gregor and quit pretending he is. 

Even when my husband was intubated and on a feeding tube after an aneurysm, I always  believed he was “in there.” Now, as he progresses in dementia, I will again always hold the belief that his core being is glowing inside, and I will honor that. Poor bug!

I have to move on to something lighter. I was completely struck at how this story affected me.

CStrope

I am constantly finding new ways to exercise my brain, ending up like DH has become my biggest fear.  I do crossword puzzles, kakuro, sudoku, jigsaw puzzles, 3-D matching, just about anything I can find to do.  

I am going to make sure my brain functions to the best of its ability for as long as possible!!

M1

Lynne I haven't thought about Gregor in a long time. Such an odd book, but yes I certainly see the parallels. You could definitely call certain parts of caregiving Kafkaesque!

French

Strange coincidence. Just yesterday, I listen a radio program about Kafka . I didn’t read any book from Kafka. You make me curious.

I still have a big pile of books to read, but I'm putting metamorphosis on my list 

Lynne D

CStrope, indeed, I do some of the same things and am terrified about losing my brain. In another world, I would still be working. I am using Duolingo to brush up on my French (I fantasize about teaching English abroad one day). I also do brain games on Lumosity, am learning chess playing against a computer, and subscribed to MasterClass. 

Unless my HWD is sleeping, he expects me to keep him entertained since he cannot initiate activities. He gets more than perturbed when I spend time on my iPad.

Lynne D

Hi French,

I picked up Kafka again because there is a really challenging author, one of whose stories was made into a movie which was nominated for four Oscars. His name is Haruki Murakami. He has a short list of “must reads” and one of Kafka’s stories was on it.

Vitruvius

Lynne D,

Please be careful. Trying to understand Kafka can lead to dementia.

jfkoc

I pulled up a list of 5....they seem so different.

As an aside...I work on geneology...mine as well as friends....history/geography/online research...it really uses the brain

Lills

Ah yes, I remember reading  The Metamorphosis  in college.  

Another story I've thought about is Peter Bischel's "Ein Tisch ist ein Tisch" (A Table is a Table).  The old man is so lonely and bored that he begins to rename things.  For example, a table might now be a rug.  He has such fun creating his new language but sadly forgets his own...and becomes even more isolated because people now cannot understand him.  

Stuck in the middle

I always knew The Metamorphosis was metaphor for something, but I was too young to know for what.  I have learned something today.

Buggsroo

I studied Kafka in uni and loved his stories. The metamorphosis was one of my favourites. The Trial is also a great read because highlights the ridiculous red tape and time wasting dealings with authority. Sort of like dealing with Alzheimer’s as well, the man protests his innocence but to no avail, sort of the kind of hopelessness one feels in dealing with the disease. 

I read in French all the time, it is a way to keep my mind sharp. I also work part time and that also helps. I think Kafka knew far more than he let on.