Similarities Between Mliere And Kafka And Deus Ex Machina

Authors use many different literary devices to make their idea clear and concise or to enhance their novel or story. Moliere and Kafka are no different, their novels Tartuffe and The Metamorphosis, respectively, both use Deus Ex Machina to end their novel with a twist. Deus Ex Machina is when an author uses an unexpected power or events to save the characters or story from a seemingly impossible situation. It often used at the end of a story, novel, or play and to the reader it seems as if the ending is completely unexpected. Deus Ex Machina can be used in many different ways, some possibilities are shown through Tartuffe, The Metamorphosis, and comparing the two.
Tartuffe is originally a play, written into a novel to tell the story of a desperate, …show more content…
The Metamorphosis opens with Gregor, the son and businessman, realizing that he was turned into some type of insect. He was late to work because of this transformation, he worked at his job for five years and he had never called in sick. His family was concerned about him, but not necessarily concerned for his well being, but rather his job and whether or not he was going to be able to continue to bring in money like before. The morning of his metamorphosis, his general manager showed up demanding to see him. When Gregor was finally able to get up, open the door, and allow himself to be seen, “his father administered a powerful shove from behind, a genuinely liberating thrust that sent him flying, bleeding profusely, into the far reaches of his room” (17). His family was not very caring or compassionate, Gregor was in a really rough spot. They only family member that cared for him in his time of need, was his sister. She would bring him food and water everyday and often her parents did not know. His sister cared for him for a long time, but she could not protect Gregor from his father’s and the world’s wrath and misunderstanding. Gregor was not able to do much with his round, unabled body he often spent most of his time cooped up in his house. Gregor was saved from this unappealing lifestyle “He watched as everything began to lighten …show more content…
The stories are very similar in their plot line, both Orgon and Gregor dug themselves the hole that they were put in, they lead themselves the their predicament. Orgon allowed himself to platonically fall in love with Tartuffe and willing gave up his estate to him in a fix of rage. Gregor allowed his family to mistreat him and take advantage of him, so no one was there to help him when he needed it most. Moliere had to save Orgon from Tartuffe and did so by fooling Tartuffe and twisting it in the end. Kafka saved Gregor from his family through his unexpected death and in the end his family was happy that he died “Come have a look, it’s gone and croaked- just lying there, dead as a doornail” (44). Gregor’s family did not care for him anymore and no longer saw him as Gregor, but only has an insect. Moliere and Kafka both used extenuating circumstances to save their main characters from the situations they put themselves