"The Metamorphosis"

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how, in the domain of modern literature, particularly in 20th century literature, Franz Kafka ranks as one of the most revolutionary writers. He used the techniques of expressionism and symbolism to discuss the theme of the 'self' of an individual and his/her integration in the society. In particular, it looks at Kafka's use of symbolism in "The Metamorphosis" to explain Georg's transformation from a human being to an insect. It shows how Georg, the hardworking eldest son of the Samsa family, felt relieved, unconsciously, and how he finally became free or independent from his hard life upon transforming into a giant insect.

From the Paper:

"Analyzed at a more meaningful level, relevant to Kafka's personal experiences, critics of Kafka's works studies The Metamorphosis as a story that seeks to discover the "Self" once again, after being replaced by the "impersonal one." The concept of the "impersonal one" is characterized as an individual who lived not for himself, but for other people. Like in the story, Georg's preoccupation to help his family made him forget his own happiness that, when he became an insect, he was glad to have found a way to finally "escape" all the difficulties in life that he faces. Kafka's use of animal symbolism in the story "represent the subliminal dreamlike world, the state of man before he thinks, that part of him that is prehuman and early human, a part that is always present along with everything else within his soul" (Emrich, 1968:141)."

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