Nothing Really Mattress(?): Kafka, Camus, and the Importance of Translation
Translation 1: In the first translation, the author uses a unique syntax by using mild tone words such as "changed into a bug" and "woke up uneasy" possess a lackadaisical mood in the writing. The author uses imagery to create the picture of the character in the novel waking up, in a groggy state, may be due to a lack of sleep or nightmares which is relatable to most audiences. The structure is very simplistic in reference to word choice and punctuation. Translation 2: The author of the second translation decided to use a demanding tone to catch the attention of the reader from the very beginning of the book. By using phrases such as "troubled dreams" and "transformed in his bed" creates a mood of uneasy and tense among the reader. Also through these phrases, the author was able to use imagery to show the element of surprise when the character wakes up still in his bed, after being transformed into a bug. I think the author had an interesting s...