Failure of Communication: A Comparative Study of Dostoevsky'sNotes from UndergroundandKafka'sMetamorphosis

Abstract

Dostoevsky and Kafka examine the failure of communication as an existential predicament of human being in their novellasNotes fromUndergroundand Metamorphosisrespectively.The protagonists ofboth of these novellas fail to communicate as soon as they realize the "Self" in an existential crisis. Undergroundman is an ex-civil servant of lower class.Given his low status, the society treats him ill.However, hedoesn't accept the status given by the society. So he strives to have his social identity. In course of social transaction, he comes to realize that his identity is captured by the "others".His "self" is defined by the society.He loiters around hisworld to maintain his identity, but all of his efforts end in failure.The husky-six footer-officer, Zverkov, Lisa and Apollian stand for the "Others" who define theundergroundman.He rejects their projection but can't make his own.He finds himselfat the verge of existential crises, which cause him failure of communication. Like theundergroundman, Gregor,the protagonist ofMetamorphosis,also undergoesa similar destiny.Gregor is a salesman.Because of the unfavourable situation of the business he is doing, he is afraid of being sackedout from the job. Since he is the only support for his family, he has to maintain his job at any cost.His existencedependsupon the job.But the sense of being kicked away from the job generates dread intohim.While undergoing into subjectivity, he finds himself being metamorphosed into a bug.The bug symbolically represents his being a social misfit. As a social misfit, hispleadisnot heard by the "others". In this way he is secluded from the societyandhebecomesavictim of failure of communication.