An Analysis of a Metaphor

             In the BBC in-depth look into Franz Kafka's "The Metamorphosis," there are many instances of metaphors, visual and spoken. In my opinion, the best comparison in the video is to a small bug.

            The metaphor actually spans over two images, both moving and in color. The areas surrounding the subjects aren't very important to the symbolism, but they provide a nice backing for what is mainly focused upon. The bright green leaf, along with the caterpillar walking on it, bring you a sense of peace, and the butterfly gracefully flying from the flower is very beautiful. All this combined with the soft piano music under it all makes it an emotional sequence.

            The metaphor itself revolves around the caterpillar and the butterfly. As the narrator says, "if a caterpillar wishes to fly, it must first grow wings, and become a butterfly." The reason the filmmakers used the insect as a symbol is obvious - it literally evolves during its lifetime. However, to me, that doesn't make it any less effective; it just makes it simple to understand.

            The metaphor adds to the video's first message, "humans evolve mentally, rather than physically," by showing a very quick evolution in an animal. And yet it could also be part of its other message - "human evolution changes society, which in turn can change individual humans." I feel as though it can apply to the second because of its wording. "To be able to fly, the caterpillar must grow wings, and turn into a butterfly." If the caterpillar wants to achieve its dream and be able to fly, it must first undergo massive changes that it is unsure of the safety of. It must decide if it's worth the risk to take the leap of faith and live a fuller life because of it, or stay a caterpillar for the rest of its life; safe, but unfulfilling. I'm unsure if that's a way it was meant to be interpreted, but that is my interpretation nonetheless.

            The BBC video on Kafka's "The Metamorphosis" is an excellent review of a well-crafted book, with insightful commentary and metaphors. The butterfly metaphor may only have been touched on briefly, but I was touched by it for much longer.