Jusitified Betrayals

Comparison Essay # 112398

Literature > Comparative Literature
Literature > European (other)
Literature > Greek and Roman

A comparison of the betrayal in Franz Kafka's "Metamorphosis" and Euripides' "Medea".

1,450 words () | 2 sources | MLA | 2006 United States

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses how in "Medea", Jason betrays Medea's devotion for another woman and in "The Metamorphosis", Grete betrays Gregor's sibling love by rejecting him. The paper notes another parallel in that both betrayals may be justified for the same reason; both are committed for the family. The paper explains why these betrayals, shattering as they may be to the main characters, are essential for each family's future good.

From the Paper:

"Hell hath no fury like a woman's scorn." -William Shakespeare. Truer words were never written than those above of Shakespeare's, who must have pictured the principal character of Euripides's eponymous tragedy, Medea, in his mind. Enraged by her husband's infidelity, Medea seeks atrocious revenge on him, his new bride, and the king of Corinth. On the other hand, Franz Kafka's novella The Metamorphosis revolves around Gregor Samsa, who awakes one morning transformed as a beetle. Different as these two works may seem, they are, however, linked by the betrayal of the main character by a family member of theirs whom they most love. These betrayals are doubtless viewed as despicable and selfish if one respects everything the principal characters have done for them; however, they may be justified, and even viewed as noble, if one considers appropriately the circumstances, reasons, and logical benefits that prompted them in the first place."

Sample of Sources Used:

Euripides. Medea. Trans. Rex Warner. (New York: Dover Publications, Inc., 1993)
Kafka, Franz. The Metamorphosis and Other Stories. Trans. Stanley Appelbaum. (New York: Dover Publications, Inc., 1996)