Amir's Literature Blog

For today’s blog post I will be exploring superstition and ritual in Colombian culture. Presently, our class is analyzing the novella “Chronicle of a Death Foretold” by the legendary Colombian author Gabriel García Márquez. The novella is set in a small Colombian town called Sucre. In this town, superstition and ritual hold a meaningful role in the life of its inhabitants. The cultural diversity of African slaves, Spanish con querors, Arabic immigrants, and indigenous tribe makes Colombia home to a vibrant culture of myths, legends, and superstition. Let’s look at some examples of these superstitions.  Among the most common superstitions in Colombia is “the curse of the black butterfly”. This superstition states that if a large butterfly that is either black or brown enters one’s home, then a family member will soon pass away. In Colombia this butterfly is called the “Mariposa Negra”; however, the scientific name for the butterfly is “Ascalapha Odorata”. Although i

Franz Kafka and Sexuality Franz Kafka’s sexuality has been a controversial topic for decades. Despite having a powerful sex drive, Kafka rarely engaged in sexual conduct with women. As a result, some have speculated that Kafka was repressing his homosexuality or asexual. Others have claimed that Kafka was terrified of STD’s and pregnancies. Kafka’s constant fear prevented him from engaging in the sexual activity that he desired. Although these claims may not be entirely true, the notion that Kafka repressed his sexuality is justified. Max Brod, Kafka’s close friend, once said that Kafka was “tortured” by his sexual desire. This “torture” as a result of his repressed sexuality can be observed in parts of Kafka’s literature like in “The Metamorphosis”. In the Metamorphosis, Gregor’s sexuality is symbolized in the painting of the woman in fur. Gregor’s physical and psychological attachment to this painting is indicative of Kafka’s own obsession struggle with his sexual desires. Gregor