Metamorphosis

I am forced to identify, from time to time, with the main character in Kafka's 'Metamorphosis.' I see myself drudging away. But wonder what the life of Kate and Cindy would be like if I were gone. Or as in the story, transformed into a cockroach. Would they work harder, achieve where they do not now? Would they be freed by my absence? Freed to do better, accomplish, where they did not before?

Charlamagne was a great king, a leader who unified Europe at a time when unity was in short supply. His footprint was mighty large. His equal would not come for some time. Perhaps never.

But his sons were weak. They allowed the Holy Roman Empire to fritter away and divide into many little fiefdoms until they became a miniature of their father's empire. I often thought that the cause of this failure was that being the sons of a mighty man, nothing was required of them. As a result, they accomplished little.

I think the obverse works as well. When one is raised in an environment which calls for struggle, the children become great because of the striving. My great grandfather Baynham was like that. His parents were weak and lazy. He was the oldest. Much was required of him and much was accomplished.