An Exception

Usually I would argue that no matter what, people are affected by what others think of them. Monsieur Mersault from The Stranger however seems to transcend the typical on this level. While the average person constantly plans for the future and moves through life adapting to others, Mersault holds on to the moment, regardless of who has touched him. This attitude does not make him apathetic though, he is more than capable of very strong passions and emotions; the difference is he chooses to react on these momentary emotions and beliefs alone. If something makes sense to him, regardless of what he has been told, he acts upon it. Because of this, he holds a set of standards and values apart from the norm. This also allows him to forget preconceived opinions and attitudes and understand the truth on a basic and unbiased level. Monsieur Mersault's atypical outlook on life is something that others should strive to achieve.

Influence

It would appear that throughout Gregor’s life, his little sister Grete has the most influence over him. She not only demonstrates the most care for Gregor but is also the most cared for by Gregor. In the beginning of Kafka’s novella Metamorphosis, Grete gets very emotional very quickly over the idea that Gregor may be about to lose his job. She is also the first in their family to extend kindness towards him by giving Gregor a bowl of milk. It is also obvious that Gregor highly values her opinion as well in how he continuously hides himself away from her so she can avoid being frightened by his new appearance as a bug. And, when he does show himself to his family, “Gregor had not the slightest intention of frightening anyone, far less his sister”. Because of this extreme devotion towards one another when Gregor hears Grete claim,“ ‘We must try to get rid of [Gregor]’ ”, he can do nothing more than agree. Because his sister not only wants him to disappear but has begun to think of him as an inconvenience, he feels the same way about himself. Though Gregor is portrayed as a weak character and the influence of others greatly affecting him comes as no surprise, every person finds themselves greatly affected by those they love.

Metamorphosis

In a modern world can one find sanctuary?

In the novella Metamorphosis, Kafka ensues that in a modern world, one can only find sanctuary in death. For Gregor, life consisted of alienating himself since he solely did as others told him. When he did have time to himself, Gregor focused on seemingly trivial things such as cutting out a picture of a woman from a magazine. This reveals his want for escape since he probably thought of the picture as a means of sanctuary. Gregor might have found comfort in either the women’s beauty or how a piece of her forearm was able to completely vanish within the muff she was wearing. Maybe it gave him hope that he could live that kind of life. Yet the possibility for greater escape is found when he becomes a bug. While Gregor embraces the idea, everyone around him is revolted and he becomes an extreme annoyance to even his loving sister. While becoming a bug gave Gregor the chance to escape his human life and find sanctuary in losing his petty human responsibilities, he instead is faced with more grief than before. "The decision that he must disappear" became his only alternative to stop being a burden not only onto others but onto himself.

Music

John Mayer's song No Such Thing shows that what other think about you can affect how you think about yourself.

"Welcome to the real world", she said to me
Condescendingly
....
Well I never lived the dreams of the prom kings
And the drama queens
I'd like to think the best of me
Is still hiding
Up my sleeve

They love to tell you
Stay inside the lines
But something's better
On the other side
.....
I just can't wait til my 10 year reunion
I'm gonna bust down the double doors
And when I stand on these tables before you
You will know what all this time was for

In these lines Mayer talks about how though he was doubted he was still able to be so much more. In this context, because others thought that there was nothing else to him, he reacted by proving them wrong.

How does what others think about you affect how you think about yourself?

The moment you met someone a judgement is formed, conclusions are drawn, and this person determines not only an opinion of you, but also how they plan on treating you. At this point, no matter how valued this person is in your life, they have the power to affect you simply by what they think of you. If you care for their opinion, you will subtly change to compliment their beliefs and, for the most part, do what they ask. If you scorn their opinion, you avoid any likeness you hold between them and fight of any precedence they might hold against you. And, if they have true power over you, they make you believe what they believe as well.

For instance, I have a friend that would do anything asked of her despite what she may want to do. She cares so much about what others think, she would go to any length to impress a good opinion upon them, even if means changing herself. Though she is an extreme instance and many don't want to believe that what others think of them affects them, everyone bends under the pressure of society's judgements.