"Metamorphosis"

Paper Summary:

In his short story "Metamorphosis," Kafka goes beyond the morphing of the protagonist Gregor Samsa from human to insect-a huge dung beetle. While the story is an existential commentary on the family and society this essay concentrates on Gregor's relationships with his family. It also explains how and why "Metamorphosis" is quasi-autobiographical - of all Kafka's stories, this is the one that most mirrors his life-at least symbolically.

From the Paper:

"In a nutshell, the story of Gregor Samsa a hard working salesperson finds that he has metamorphosed into a disgusting insect akin to a bug complete with a carapace. (Yolen, 1978) Despite this fantastic misfortune, he continues to live and survive clinging to modicums of optimism and dignity. The physical metamorphosis also results in the gradual eroding of his standing in the family. His father always reacts with horror and wishes physical harm (even death if the father can help it). Gregor's mother, forever subservient to the father cannot rid herself of her maternal feelings. She is protective of Gregor, but is ineffectual in what she might want for her son or at least the creature that used to once be her son. In Grete, his sister, Gregor feels a protective kinship; he is successful in drawing out of Grete the most active sympathy. Grete cares for Gregor as much as she can until she cannot help herself. Her rejection of Gregor is the final blow. The injury (caused by the father) and the heart break of rejection results in Gregor's death. In a final affront to his dignity, Gregor is not even given a decent burial. He is left to the cleaning lady to sweep his remains up with the rest of the trash."

More papers on "Metamorphosis":

• Analytical Essay # 6368 : "Franz Kafka's "Metamorphosis"
• Essay # 86038 : "Kafka's Metamorphosis"
• Analytical Essay # 16677 : "Kafka's predicament of modern man as portrayed in "The Metamorphosis"
• Analytical Essay # 32614 : "An Analysis of "The Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka."

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