Kafka's "Metamorphosis"

Paper Summary:

The paper looks at the the transformation of the main character, Gregor, from human to insect in Franz Kafka's book, "Metamorphosis". It discusses how, as the transformation both frees Gregor from his hard and monotonous life and confines him to a life of alienation from his family, his family also undergoes a transformation. Without Gregor to provide for them, each family member must adjust to life without him.

From the Paper:

"Gregor's transformation is the only way he can be free from his demanding family. He is released from the responsibility of having to provide for his family but taking the form of an insect impairs him from having a life of any kind. The roles here are reversed: before the metamorphosis, his family depended on him for financial support but now, Gregor finds himself in the position to be completely dependant on his parents and sister. Communication becomes absolutely impossible as humans cannot communicate with insects; this total lack of communication between two species is, in fact, a metaphor of the difficult relationship that Gregor Samsa has with his father: 'No request of Gregor's was of any use; no request would even be understood. No matter how willing he was to turn his head respectfully, his father just stomped all the harder with his feet' (Metamorphosis: 8). The rest of Gregor's family also rejects him. However, despite the fact that his family's initial reaction is hatred and resentment, in time they manage to adjust their lives accordingly in the sense that they are forced to learn how to provide and take care for themselves in the absence of Gregor.
"Gregor's father is a professionally and socially defeated man who stops living altogether when he goes out of business. Although he lacks vitality, he does not lack anger and pushes his son to work hard enough to support the entire family. Nonetheless, his father is not a static character. When Gregor transforms into a bug, his father assumes the role of provider again, so in some sense, Gregor's metamorphosis brings his father back to life by forcing him to work again. Gregor's mother is a weak woman, both physically and emotionally. She has the most difficulties in adjusting to her son's new appearance and role. Her health worsens whenever she lays eyes on her son; this generates feelings of resentment on the part of Gregor's father who feels protective of his wife and blames her bad health and general mental state on Gregor: 'She then went two steps towards Gregor and collapsed right in the middle of her skirts, which were spread out all around her, her face sunk on her breast, completely concealed. His father clenched his fist with a hostile expression, as if he wished to push Gregor back into his room.' (Metamorphosis: 15)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Kafka, Franz. The Metamorphosis. Kessinger Publishing, 2001.

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