The Outsider Phenomenon In Franz Kafkas The Metamorphosis

Bradley Duggan Mrs. Murray English II-2 Due 10/03/17 The Outsider Phenomenon In life, it is a universal reality that there will be those in society who are not accepted as others are. This can be due to race, intelligence, personality, beliefs, and an infinite amount of other reasons. Individuals such as these are known by many monikers: outsiders, outcasts, pariahs, strangers, aliens, and more. All these terms describe vaguely the same type of being; one who, for whatever reason, is not accepted in normal society. However, these outsiders are not worthless, pitiful mistakes who deserve to be cast out of life the way they have. These individuals are misjudged by others who do not or can not, understand them. Overall, outsiders are†¦show more content†¦Another example of a misjudged outsider in literature is Severus Snape from the iconic Harry Potter series of novels by J.K. Rowling. Throughout the series, Snape is seen as a villain with ill intent by the protagonists. However, it is not until the final book of the series, Harry Potter and t he Deathly Hallows, that his true motivations are revealed. Snape was, in fact, one of the main heroes of the entire series. Everything he did was done in order to protect Harry, as Snape was in love with Harry’s mother. Yet, due to his persona, Harry and his band of misfits misjudge Snape as an evil, spiteful man, and cast him off. Another example of a misjudged outsider turned hero in literature is Arthur ‘Boo’ Radley, of Harper Lee’s infamous To Kill A Mockingbird. Throughout the novel, Boo is seen as a kind of mythical boogeyman. This is until Boo saves the main characters from a drunken assailant, and probable death. Boo, who likely had a mental disorder, became an outsider due to most individuals misjudging him as a monster when this could not have been further from the truth. All in all, there are numerous examples of characters being misjudged and turned into social pariahs in literature. However, the phenomenon of misjudged outsiders is unfortunately not limited to the world of fiction