Katie’s Comments (group member since Dec 20, 2017)

Katie’s comments from the Paper Cuts Anonymous group.

I didn't really find myself relating to any of them specifically, but I can relate with Ralph's lack for finding words mid sentence and losing his train of thought; Piggy's desire to feel accepted (who doesn't want that); Simon's feelings of not fitting in, fear of public speaking and awe of nature; and the 'Littluns' overall hysteria in crisis haha.
I feel there's a lot of symbolism to be had. Every character represents a part of human nature in my opinion.
I think Golding wrote this book as a tale of 'the coming of age'. that moment of stepping from innocence, naivety, vivacity to knowledge and understanding of life and its difficulties as well as savagery. Life is a monster. Adulthood is an island of difficulties; is choices and survival of the fittest. Puberty is leaving reliance on grownups and carefree fun, being shot down and plumeted into this island of confusion, strangeness and trying to make sense of it all before adulthood rescues you, and takes you back into the world and civilization. The island looks idealistic, like fun and games at first until reality hits and you need to survive in life. You are forced to make choices between groups of people and the person you will become.
just some scrambled thoughts.

Anyone you related to?
What symbolism did you find?
What do you think Golding's reason was for writing this book?

Was he really a bug psychologically? I felt he remained human inside for the whole book, it was just his physical traits that became insect.
His death could be symbolic of his leaving his family.
The 'maid' treated his "death" as amusing, his father handled it as just another disappointment and something to be dealt with, his mother was sad, and his sister was relieved.
Wouldn't his leaving home and moving on be treated just as similarly? Just a thought.
I found a CliffsNotes on the book and it was very interesting, but I found the following passage more so:
-Gregor's situation in his family is that of Kafka within his own family: he had a tyrannical father who hated or, at best, ignored his son's writing; a well-meaning mother, who was not strong enough to cope with her husband's brutality; and a sister, Ottla, whom Kafka felt very close to. Shortly after completing "The Metamorphosis," Kafka wrote in his diary: "I am living with my family, the dearest people, and yet I am more estranged from them than from a stranger."-
Gregor's status in his family became low...lowered to that of an insect. He was a mouth to feed and a room to clean but nothing more.
With his leaving, his family would have one less mouth to feed and another room to be let, which would in turn be more profitable for them. Also, this would leave Grete to the full attention of her parents.

I for one thought it was intriguing.
Weird, but a little truth wrapped up in there too.
I believe Franz was telling us about his feelings of his relationship with his family in a way.
It's sad how quickly we can go from essential to forgotten in life and relations.
These are just some scattered thoughts I came up with while reading.
Obviously, he wasn't actually talking about truly waking up as a giant bug, that was a symbolic way of saying he woke up changed, in what exact way we can only interpret; and because of that one alteration, his whole household was disrupted. Or perhaps he just felt he didn't belong in his family. Sometimes we don't always feel we fit in with a crowd, Those who don't fit into the "norm" are often outcast and isolated.
The metamorphosis was more about his family becoming unfeeling people due to the responsibility they are forced to take. He had spoiled them. they became bitter and instead focused on the wrong done them and hiding it, instead of looking to a solution. the injury he suffers, from an apple lodged in his back, that is purposely left and remains to cause him much pain is clearly a symbol of his being 'back-stabbed' by his father.
The hunger he feels, his 'appetite' mentioned in the last bit of the book, was not for food but his appetite for socialization and human contact after being shunned and forgotten.

Tell your thoughts??

Hate it, love it?
Whatever your heart tells you.