There are many parallels and differences between Franz Kafka's "The Metamorphosis" and "A Hunger Artist". Kafka portrays these differences and similarities very effectively through the use of elements such as transformation, dehumanization and dedication to work, Kafka communicates with the reader in a way that almost provokes and challenges their imagination and creativity highly symbolic and oblique. It's no surprise that many of his pieces contain the same main themes, just in different contexts only makes the message he's trying to convey that much stronger Metamorphosis" and "A Hunger Artist", the main characters are similar in the way they are both extremely dedicated to their work. In "The Metamorphosis", Gregor Samsa wakes up one morning to find himself transformed into an insect. Strangely, Gregor does not question how this transformation occurred or even why it occurred. He is more concerned with getting to work (Metamorphosis 4). Similarly, in “A Hunger Artist,” the main character is completely dedicated to his work. In fact, he is so dedicated that he actually thinks of ways he can improve himself. At the end of a fast one asks: "Why stop fasting at this particular moment... why stop now...?" (Bedford 637). Both characters in these pieces also cause their own destruction. Their death was caused by starvation. After Gregor's death in Metamorphosis, his sister remarks: "Look how thin he was. He obviously hasn't eaten anything for so long. The food came out again exactly as it went in." (Metamorphosis 55) Ironically, however, it is because of Greta,...... in the center of the paper... that comparisons and contrasts can be made regarding “The Metamorphosis” and “A Hunger Artist”. While it is true that Kafka's writing style is considered oblique, it may be interesting to know that many of Kafka's animal trials and metamorphoses actually derive from common motifs in Jewish folklore (Bruce). If one became aware of Kafka's in-depth knowledge of Judaism, it would be easier to see how Kafka's thought processes were reflected in his stories. Works Cited Bruce, Iris. "Elements of Jewish folklore in Kafka's Metamorphosis". The metamorphosis: translation, backgrounds and contexts, criticism. New York: W. W. Norton, 1996. 107-25. Print.Kafka, Franz. The Metamorphosis. Trans. Stanley Corngold. Toronto: Bantam, 1986. Print.Meyer, Michael. Bedford's introduction to literature. 5th ed. Boston: St. Martin's, 2005. Print.