“The Metamorphosis” was published in 1915 and written during Europe’s slide to World War 2, during this time Austria-Hungry began persecuting the Serbs who they feared because of growing nationalism movements in Bosnia: newspapers were closed, student leaders arrested and the military was given a large amount of control in the country. After the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand in 1913 Serbs were suddenly the pariahs of Austria-Hungry.

The Serbs had been previously a minority throughout Austria-Hungry but were mainly located in the Bosnia and Herzevogina. However the Serbs in other areas of the country would have overnight become repulsive to the whole of Austria-Hungry, with the countries government, religious leaders, and everyday people calling for the destruction of the Serbian nations to the south of Austria-Hungry.

The different entities in this struggle can be directly traced to characters in “The Metamorphosis.” The chief clerk is a suspicious man, and can represent the whole of the Austria-Hungry government, they allowed the persecution and punishment of innocent Serbs. The renters can be seen as Germany, Britain and France, they would not help the Serbs but instead stood aloof from them passing judgments one way or the other. The cleaning lady is Russia, although supposed to be on the Serbs side instead Russia caused as much trouble for the Serbs as they helped, they also were there to help sweep up the mess the Austria-Hungarians caused.

Gregor’s family represents the different feelings of the people of Austria-Hungry towards the Serbs. Gregor’s father represents those who depend on the labor that Serbs can provide but despise and fear them. Gregor’s mother represents those who are indifferent either way only stepping half-heartily in when they feel things have gone too far. Gregor’s sister represents the rest of the population of Austria-Hungry at first outside the petty squabbles but eventually succumbing to the pressure from the other sources. Gregor or the average Serbian would have found themselves to have changed from a under valued minority that provided the unwanted jobs to suddenly becoming a pest or infestation, valueless to all others.

I think in light of Kafka’s view on totalitarianism that this theory is valid. Had this story been written 20 years later then another interpretation would be that Gregor represented European Jews and the descent of Nazism and antisemitism, because this story can be easily reinterpreted to focus on any disenfranchised group it lends credence to my theory. However there is also a problem with this idea, a story that is too broad can be reinterpreted many different ways, and none of them can be assured the “real” meaning. Unfortunately short of time travel there is no real way to know for sure what was going through Kafka’s head as he wrote this story.

The letter is directed to President Kennedy personally and places all the blame for the situation on Kennedy entirely. Khrushchev paints a picture of an evil America threatening the peaceful communist countries of the world and in a very propagandist maneuver describes communists as hard-working peaceful peasant farmers who want nothing more than pleasant diplomatic relations with their neighbors.

Khrushchev claims that the missiles the Russians sold to Cuba were humanitarian aid and sold to them as a way to defend themselves against the American threat the Cubans were forced to live with daily. Although Khrushchev claims the missiles were humanitarian aid they were in fact a way for him to balance out the American missiles in turkey and to position himself for a Public relations victory that would help to take the pressure off of his failed home economic strategy.

This letter inferred that the ending of the crisis would occur with a promise from Kennedy to not use military force against Cuba, however in his second letter he also demanded the removal of all American missiles from military bases in Turkey. It seems that Khrushchev used his first letter to privately tease the American government with the idea of an easy end, but forced his position with a public demand of a much harder bargain in the end. Kennedy responded with a similar smaller public agreement to not invade Cuba but a larger private deal to remove (or consider removing) the missiles the Americans had in Turkey.

The letter also shows how little Castro actually had to do with the Cuban missile crisis all the deals were worked out by America and Russia without concern for Cuban feelings. Future movies and books such as “Thirteen Days” also minimizes Cuba’s role in the entire situation to that of a pawn. Although this may very well be the correct interpretation of events.

The letters did succeed in helping to end the crisis but even though both sides got what they wanted neither side felt they had won anything. Even though the Cuban missile crises publicly lasted thirteen days according to some documents, the crisis started as far back as late 1959 and ended early in 1963.