Mackenzie's Topic and Foci

Topic: Mental State and Morality in The Metamorphosis and NBC's Hannibal

Foci 1: How changes to mental or physical state, partially attributed to societal isolation or 'otherness', affect one's sense of morality, perception of life, and fit in society. Kafka's The Metamorphosis follows Gregor Samsa' sudden, surprising alienation after waking up as a large, cockroach-like insect. The short novel describes his subsequent isolation from his immediate family, and the rest of society, ultimately ending in tragedy, In NBC's series Hannibal, Will Graham, an FBI 'profiler' who struggles with conforming to societal norms from the get-go, undergoes numerous changes/threats to his mental state, accelerated by his complicated relationship to Hannibal Lecter, a "friend" and unofficial psychiatrist, who also happens to be a cannibal. Will's moral compass becomes skewed from a combination of traumatic experience, physical illness, and connection to Hannibal, as well as his fit in society.

Foci 2: How metaphorical and literal connections to nature mark the decline of self-preservation and mental state. The Metamorphosis very literally uses nature as a synonym for alienation and mental strife, as Gregor's primary conflict is waking up as a giant insect. As a result, he falls into a cycle of isolation-induced depression, exhaustion, and lack of a will to live. In Hannibal, images of nature's beauty juxtaposing the grotesque are abundant, as are hallucinogenic/dream-induced sequences involving large stags and other similar creatures (adding in some Freudian dream psychology could have a place here). There is also a hunting/fishing motif throughout the series, that is closely related to the first case that Will works on, which coincidentally catalyzes his descent into further mental instability.


Comments

  1. AnonymousJanuary 24, 2018 at 9:51 AM

    I have not watched Hannibal or read Metamorphosis.

    For the first focus you wrote "partially attributed" to societal isolation. Is there anything else you could attribute the change to their mental/physical state? Also if so, why do you believe societal isolation is the primary reason for their change in mental/physical state?

    In Metamorphosis does the character turn into a cockroach because he had been isolated for a different reason. If not, and societal isolation is a direct result of him turning into a cockroach then wouldn't isolation only effect the mental state and changes in the physical state can cause the isolation? Also, can a deteriorating mental state cause social isolation?

    For the second focus, why do you think that nature has a connection to the decline of these characters mental state?

    I think these are both well thought out ideas. The first seems more interesting to me not having watched/read either piece because I understand the question. In the second I don't see why nature is metaphorical. I only see it was a theme that is in both pieces.

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