Human Alienation

Paper Summary:

This paper looks at how Kafka?s novella deftly describes the nature of human isolation, its causes, and its ill effects. It discusses how the protagonist, Gregor Samsa?s, physical condition is one of the key causes of his being isolated from his family, even though it becomes clear that Gregor?s isolation was in large part self-imposed. It also discusses how the Samsa family isolates itself from the world, and only after Gregor?s death, do they break free of their self-imposed alienation. It concludes that alienation, however, is mainly a product of human cruelty, imposed on individuals who do not conform to societal norms and standards.

From the Paper:

"Gregor's isolation mirrors that which all human beings experience. Alienation is largely based on physical appearances: anyone who looks different from society's norms will be treated with fear, aversion, even disgust and hatred. Therefore, human isolation is imposed on the individual by an unforgiving society. In the case of Gregor, even his family contributed to his alienation. However, isolation is often self-imposed. Just as Gregor locks himself away and the Samsas refuse to show their faces in public, so too do people shield themselves through self-imposed separation. All persons have felt like staying home instead of going out, of letting the phone ring instead of answering it. However, human isolation and alienation are fundamentally painful, even lethal experiences; as is illustrated by Kafka's novella The Metamorphosis."

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