# data[].attributes.body
Both works are good

# data[].attributes.body
The open-endedness of literary texts draws great horrors of misinterpretation due to lack of context.

# data[].attributes.body
Literary texts are often a microcosm of society, enabling the author to critique and explore many of its
aspects. Both A Streetcar Named Desire and The Metamorphosis were written in the context of societal values
and ideologies present during their time. First performed in 1947, Williams' tragedy encapsulates the patriarchal
society present in the French quarter of New Orleans, whilst Kafka’s absurdist novella, published in 1915,
captures the growing capitalist culture in Europe. The protagonist of A Streetcar Named Desire, Blanche Dubois,
a fading Southern Belle, is subjected to the societal pressures of marriage and chastity. Likewise, the protagonist
of The Metamorphosis, Gregor, is forced to conform to the gender roles of society by providing for his entire
family financially.
The pressure of societal norms, during the time, are reflected through the use of characterization in both
literary texts. In A Streetcar Named Desire, Williams depicts the power dynamics between men and women,
highlighting the ‘macho-male’ culture through the characterization of Stanley. Women were expected to remain
submissive towards men and depend on them constantly. This is evident as Stella says to Stanley, “You’d better
give me some money”. The choice of lexicon emphasizes her lack of individuality, for she is not financially
independent. The verb “give” suggests that she is in dire need of the money, connoting a begging appeal. Hence,
William illustrates the power dynamics, presenting Stanley superiorly as he is in control of Stella. Her purchases,
outings and whereabouts are all reliant on him. He is the one who makes the decisions and holds the power,
illustrating the inferiority of women as they were left to conform to those decisions. Williams further enforces the
male superiority, during the time, through the metaphor when Stanley says, “Every man is a King!”. The noun
“King” highlights the way in which men were considered superior in society. It connotes dominance and authority,
implying that society was a product of male jurisdiction. By comparing men to “Kings”, Williams highlights the
gender roles of society and the status of men during the time. Likewise, Kafka illustrates the patriarchal society
during the time through the character of Gregor. He is forced to provide for his entire family financially which is
evident as he says he would have quit his job if he didn&#39;t have his “parents to think about” and his “sister”; the
pressure of societal norms is seen through the theme of capitalism. Gregor’s relationship with his father is merely
transactional. This is seen when Gregor is unable to work, his father begins to lose patience with a “hostile
expression” and a “clenched his fist”. The noun hostile connotes aggression, illustrating the extent of society’s
capitalist pressures on men such as Gregor. Kafka highlights the way in which individuals are dehumanized as a
result of such pressures. This is clear through Gregor’s epiphany “He was a tool of the boss, without brains or
backbone.”. By comparing Gregor to a tool, Kafka utilizes a metaphor to emphasize the way in which Gregor has
been stripped of his humanity. He is merely a “tool” for someone to use.

Both Blanche DuBois and Gregor Samsa are pressured by society and they struggle immensely to cope with it. Blanche DuBois was a 30 year old woman and felt pressured by society to get married. During these times, people got married at an earlier age and Blanche felt left behind and this is where she felt that she needed to get married. The context of this situation built an awareness for readers as it enriched their understand of society in these times and how people were expected to get married in their early to mid 20’s. Gregor Samsa had a hatred for his job, however he was the financial giver for his family and everyone depended on him. His job began to give him depression as he knew he couldn’t quit and the capitalist system from society commenced pressure towards him. Despite Gregor’s first realization that he had morphed into a bug his first thought was that he didn’t want to go to work. This context of this situation enriched the readers viewpoint as they began to understand that the capitalist system brought so much pressure on Gregor as he was trapped in it.

# data[].attributes.body
Literary work is a product that has been created for centuries, however the ones that are remembered are the ones that either reflect or deviate the ideologies at the time and place in which they written in. Franz Kafka's novella The Metamorphosis was written in 1912 and reflects the capitalistic values invoked into the people at the time. Tennessee Williams play A Streetcar Named Desire was written in 1947 and challenges gender roles, treatment of mental disability and the newly perceived theme at the time of the "Old vs New America". In The Metamorphosis, protagonist Gregor is metamorphosed into a bug and adapts to his new situation from breadwinner to obsolete vermin, and is taken care by the one person who cares about him, Gretta, however this love diminishes towards the end of the novella. In a Streetar Named Desire, Protagonist Blanche DuBois is in constant search for male attention as seen through the number of males she has been with, but later on perceives Mitch as her last chance for a normal life. Blanche is then sexually and physically harassed by antagonist Stanley, who symbolises the ideology of the New America taking over the fragile Old America. Both Kafka and Williams use a variety of stylistic features in order to draw there audience in and portrayed willingly invoked themes that represent the ideologies at the time such as characterisation and symbolisation.

# data[].attributes.body
Intro:
Works of literature are often enriched by an understanding of context as context helps the reader better understand the setting in which a piece of work is written. Both A Streetcar Named Desire (ASND) and The Metamorphosis by Tennessee Williams and Franz Kafka present societies with ideologies incredibly differing from contemporary values and beliefs. Williams’ tragedy, first performed in 1947, presents a post WW2 America, and most importantly a new America, an America invested in the American dream rather than the old aristocratic values that Blanche the protagonist embodies. A main theme in the play is mental illness and the treatment of those afflicted by it, thus an understanding of the societal attitude towards mental illness at the time of the author can enhance a reader’s understanding of it. In Kafka’s absurdist novella, first published in 1915, Gregor Samsa the protagonist is propelled into a disorienting environment through his metamorphosis into a bug. Throughout the novella Gregor becomes dependant on his family who begin to neglect his needs as the plot goes on since he can no longer provide money for his family.  Kafka highlights the harshness of capitalist society through the treatment Gregor receives post transformation by the people around. An understanding of the capitalist society that Kafka grew up in would serve to enrich a reader's understanding of the different themes throughout the plot. The works of Tennessee Williams and Franz Kafka can both be understood to a higher degree with awareness of the context in which they were written. This is evident when trying to understand the characters Blanche and Gregor and the way they feel throughout the plots of each literary text.

Body 1:

Context of the environment in which Kafka grew up in plays an essential role in understanding the treatment of Gregor and Gregor’s feelings of isolation throughout the novella. In the early 1910’s the Austro Hungarian Empire, which was comprised mostly of catholics, alienated against jews for being different forcing them to live in poorer parts of the main cities and was a capitalistic society which saw wealth going to a small number disproportionate to the rest of the population. The understanding of this context says much about why Kafka chose to make Gregor, from the middle to the end of the novella, very isolated and alone from his family. Similarly the context that society in Kafka’s time revolved mainly around transactions of money help the reader understand why at beginning of the play Gregor still wished to go to work after turning into a bug, and why after he stopped earning money his family began neglecting him.

Body 2:

Context about views on mental health and the development of a new American society in the 1940’s help the reader better understand the attitudes towards Blanche, and Stanley’s reentry into society in the last scene of the play. In the 1940’s, mentally ill individuals were largely stigmatized and the concept of mental illness was largely ignored or treated atrociously with surgeries such as lobotomies which were performed on Williams’ sister. The last scene of the play is incredibly trivial, the scene is described to have a “tragic radiance” whilst everybody else in the apartment goes about their day casually. Blanche is being taken to an asylum without being told by anyone while she is preoccupied by her dress and how it is “The blue of the robe in the old Madonna pictures” while the men simply poker. The weight of the scene compared to its triviality can be better understood when the audience better understands how mentally ill individuals were disregarded in society similar to how Blanche is neglected as she leaves blindly to an asylum. Williams utilizes structure to end the play with Stanley being the victor. Throughout the play, Stanley symbolizes the new and brutal America, an American society in which men re enter society after WWII and believe in the American dream. On the contrary, Blanche symbolizes the old and aristocratic America. Williams ends the play with Blanche being sent to an asylum whilst the last line of the play speaks “This game is a seven-card stud”. Structuring the play to end with Blanche being sent to an asylum whilst the men discuss poker illustrates how Stanley’s new America ends prevailing over the old and aristocratic America that Blanche represents. The audience is able to better understand representations of the old and new America through Blanche and Stanley and is also able to better understand the prevailing new America with context on the topic.

# data[].attributes.body
Author’s usually reflect their ideologies, values, lives and past experiences in the work they produce. It is often seen throughout the literary world that authors are influenced by their own personal narrative. This can be seen through out both A Streetcar Named Desire and The Metamorphosis. Both texts are heavily influenced by the author's own context, making it essential for the audience to understand the context of the author’s in order to have a further understanding of the works written. A streetcar named desire is a play written in 1947, and is often credited as one of the finest plays of the 20th century. The play follows the life of Blanche Dubois, a southern Belle who, after encountering a series of personal losses, leaves her aristocratic background seeking refuge with her sister and brother in law.  The metamorphosis written by  Kafka's Metamorphosis is also regarded as one of the greatest pieces of 20th century literature. It's a novella in which the protagonist, a traveling salesman by the name of Gregor Samsa, wakes up one day to discover he's been transformed into a giant insect. Tennessee Williams's uses ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ to relate to his own personal life, echoes of his own life are seen present in the plot and the sub-plot of the play.Similarly Frank Kafka reflects elements of his own life in the ‘Metamorphosis’, highlighted through the capitalist society in which he as well as the main character of Gregor inhabit in. Links to the personal lives of both author’s can be seen through out the texts and can be seen through, the plot, characterization of the characters as well as symbolism used.

# data[].attributes.body
Social commentary & a critique of the status quo is a popular theme amongst writers, especially those who have been marginalized by the society in which they live. A Streetcar Named Desire, by Tennessee Williams, is a response to the changing values and ideals of the South during the 1940s, the clash between the new world and the glory days of old, and the stigma against taboos such as mental health and the role of women in society. Similarly, the Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka is an absurdist and unconventional attack on the capitalist views of the pre-war Austro-Hungarian empire, through the transformation of the protagonist into a form that is completely rejected by society, in favor of a financially stable future. Through the excellent use of characterization, the multiple forms of conflict present throughout both works and the inherent tragedies the protagonists face, Williams & Kafka provide texts that both attract and challenge the viewer's ideas on society and the status quo.

A Streetcar Named Desire reflects society back in the mid-1940’s New Orleans where Blanche Dubois is an example of how the world back then would mistreat mentally ill individuals. In Blanche’s case, she was very much exposed to past abuse that had molded her mind and caused a great deal of anxiety which has caused her to have a very generalized but cynical response to society as a whole. However, in the case of the Metamorphosis, we see how in the early 1900’s Austria, Gregor Samsa question the ways of the world and as a result is reluctant to participate in any of the responsibilities that he is obligated to fulfill. An example of this would be providing for his family but because of this Gregor is unable to form meaningful relationships and anyone that he openly disagrees with tends to see his behavior and questioning as unusual. This is no surprise as society back then in the case of Williams and Kafka did not deal with these issues in the way that they are today with professional mental institutes but rather any such people were viewed as mad or obstacles in the way of a “developing” society which would get them into mental asylums where they were removed from society instead of being treated with care and consideration.

Conflict, both internal and against society, is abundant through both A Streetcar Named Desire and the Metamorphosis. Blanche’s conflicts, both with herself and her inability to control her sexual desire, as well as unrelenting and repetitive conflict with Stanley Kowalski, her brother-in-law and the symbolism used by Williams to represent a new, brash and self-serving future. Through the use of plastic theater, such as the paper lantern used to hide the truth as well as Blanche’s true appearance and motives, and the Varsouviana, a tune that plays in Blanche’s head every time she thinks of her dead husband and doesn’t stop until she hears the gunshot, Williams portrays a woman fraught with internal conflict and unable to cope with her past. Her inability to cope with her unrelenting desire renders her vulnerable and fragile on the outside. Unfortunately for Blanche, she also happens to live in a time period where the household was dominated by men and the concept of masculine dominance over all aspects of life, and where mental health was rarely discussed, and any signs of mental illness rendered you an outcast or a reject of society. Due to her inability to gain self-control, to rise over her inner challenges, she is unable to sufficiently cope with Stanley, who outwits and outmuscles her at every turn, culminating in her rape, this being the representation of the new, hard-working society overcoming the romanticism of the South, and by extension, the idea of reality triumphing over illusion and fantasy, despite Blanche remarking how “primitive” Stanley would sometimes act. Conversely, because of current circumstances, such as Stanley limiting any help Blanche would be able to receive, including blocking Stella and Mitch from helping her in any way, she wasn’t able to overcome her inner conflict, as she clearly wasn’t able to deal with it alone, and there was no-one able to help her either. Similarly, in the Metamorphosis, Gregor has difficulty adapting to his new body, but over time he becomes more accustomed to his new self. This represents the inner conflict has of losing his humanity and becoming more “animal”. While Gregor continuously worries about his family's’ financial situation, especially his sister’s future, and tries to preserve a photo he had framed of a woman in furs, he eventually dislikes food he once craved, learns to walk on the walls and ceiling, and during some points even disregards his family’s views completely, as symbols of his increasing affiliation with his insect form, while also trying to preserve some links with his humanity. Because of his changed form, he, like Blanche, also gets rejected by the ones he holds most dear, mostly his family. The difference is, that they do try to help as much as they can, but seek to get rid of him once they see he is financially unsustainable and unbearably repulsive to boot. This aims to show the inhumanity in a capitalist society, that people are worked to death for almost nothing while the rich and powerful benefit immensely, and they would rather disregard their son, or what’s left of him rather than try in vain to sustain him.

# data[].attributes.body
While not all pieces of literature are necessarily ‘products of their time’, many embody key societal values and ideologies which resonate with the time of their production. Context is frequently a driving factor in the production of literature as history, culture and society are influential and inspiring on literary works, especially if they are socially critical in their nature. Both A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams and The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka present their respective audiences with key ideologies each text’s time periods through overt and subliminal methods, giving depth to the literature for an audience to appreciate. Williams’ 1947 southern gothic play pines for the charming traditional American, southern way of life pre WWII,while also acting as a critique towards the cruel treatment and negative stigma associated with mental illness during the mid twentieth century, embodied by fading Southern Belle Blanche DuBois. Kafka’s 1912 absurdist novella sees the metamorphosis of traveling salesman Gregor Samsa into a ‘monstrous vermin’ through a nihilistic lens, and aims to depict the cruel reality of existing within a capitalist system, all while embracing a Modernist social structure, a movement which gained momentum in the late 19th century. Both Williams and Kafka depict and portray their respective cultures in their works through dynamic character relationships present in their narratives, their extensive use of symbolism, and the atmosphere generated through language and story plot.

# data[].attributes.body
Introduction -

A writer's past is the motivation they often acquire to write a written piece. The writer would generally interpret their personal experiences and past events into their own story to further enhance the detail within. Knowing the past of an author is important for the audience as it helps understand the context of a specific story. The context of place and time plays a major role in understanding the written piece as well.

Understanding time and place is important when considering both the play and the novella as Tennessee Williams and Franz Kafka faced a lot of challenges growing up by having different ideologies and values towards society; in addition to both having their motivation to write their stories (The Metamorphosis and A Streetcar named Desire) from a troubled family home life.

When referring to both Williams and Kafka having their different ideologies and values to society, it is important to note that they both grew up in revolutionary era’s. Williams grew up post World War 2 where men were trying to establish their dominance once again to society as women entered the work field; this is portrayed through the characterization of Stanley Kowalski. Where as Kafka grew up in the era of capitalism, this whole concept of capitalism is shown through The Metamorphosis as in the beginning of the novella, once Gregor had metaphorized into a bug this initial first thought is how is he going to get out of bed to go to work to provide for his family.

# data[].attributes.body
In the two literary texts that you have studied, to what extent has an awareness of context enriched or enhanced your understanding?

For the longest of time, literary texts has been a form of detoxification for a majority of individuals, and to others, has been a form of education through the content, ideologies and values the author implements within the texts. However, despite the elasticity of literary texts, the amount of understanding the audiences can draw out from the texts are greatly impeded by the amount of context they have about them. The open-endedness of literary texts draws great horrors of misinterpretation due to lack of context. Furthermore, some literary texts require a great amount of preconceived context about the text for audiences to further understand the ideologies, values, themes and ideas an author intends to portray. Both literary texts “The metamorphosis”, a novella created by Franz Kafka and “A street car named desire” a play by Tennessee Williams, requires a decent amount of context awareness for the audiences to withdraw understandings of the texts. “The metamorphosis”, a novella in which the protagonist undergoes metamorphosis under the time and due to the of booming capitalism follows on towards the tragic end of the protagonist. Likewise in “A street car named desire”, a female belle, from southern America undergoes harsh social treatment caused by the post war world mentalism. Hidden underneath contexts, lies the further understanding of texts audiences are subjected to miss further highlighting the importance of preconceived context.

# data[].attributes.body
Literary texts are reliant on the context during that time frame, the role of society at the time plays an important role in providing a deeper understanding of the characters. Both A Streetcar Named Desire and The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, present the audience with multilayered characters influenced by the consequent society. The Metamorphosis written in 1912 by Franz Kafka mirrors the capitalist society and societal values portrayed during the 19th century, embodying the struggles faced whilst keeping up with the arduous norms. Throughout the absurd novella, the oppressive struggles consequent of the society at the time is constantly paralleled.