Characterism Of Transformation In Metamorphosis By Franz Kafka

     Throughout the story there is a metamorphosis that is taking place in his home. He has traded places with the family and is now living the life they had previously embelished in. His father begins to work along with his sister and his mother must now work and do the cooking and cleaning. Gregor on the other hand does nothing but daydream, crawl, and nap through his days. One ironic statement from his sister “He must go, if this were Gregor he would have realized long ago human beings can’t live with such a creature, he’d have gone away one his own accord. This creature persecutes us, drives away our lodgers, obviously wants the whole apartment to himself, and would have us all sleep in the gutter.” How selfish of her, had he not taken care of them and he was not the only one working

“The Metamorphosis” is a surreal story by Franz Kafka surrounding the transformation and betrayal of Gregor Samsa, who wakes up one day, reborn into a large insect. Along with the bizarre and nightmarish appearance of his new hard back, brown segmented belly, and many legs, Gregor only desire is to live a normal life, unfortunately, this is impossible because he struggles to even get out of bed. Gregor transformation into an insect is a vivid metaphor for the alienation of humans from around the world. After losing human form, Gregor is automatically deprived of the right to be a part of society. Franz Kafka could relate to Gregor because he too was mistreated/neglected by his father and worked a job that he was unhappy doing. Franz and Gregor both were providers for their families. Alienation, isolation, and loneliness were not hard to recognize during the Modernity and Modernism time period.

Gregor’s metamorphosis brings many positive and negative changes in himself as well as his family. His family used to rely on him for his income as he was the only source of money in the family, but now they all worked and earned money themselves that is a very big positive change in the family. The negative change was bad for the Gregor himself as he couldn’t face the world with his new appearance,

In the metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, there are significant actions and transformations which make the story sad, and strange with a happy ending. Explanations that are dramatic events that intensify the excitement of all these actions. Reality and reflection play an important role in this story because the events that happened could be applied and assimilated with modern society.

In Franz Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis” the character Gregor Samsa is transformed into a giant bug while he is sleeping. Although it is never said why he turns into an oversized insect, the characters never seem to wonder why or how this has happened. It is ironic that even after undergoing something dramatic and life changing as becoming a vermin, Gregor does not question his transformation; his reaction undermines the situation entirely. Irony in “The Metamorphosis” is a reoccurring theme that affects each of the characters in the story. Gregor, who was once a genuine hard working, family orientated man, is now a beetle who feels guilty about not being able to help his family anymore. Gregor’s family sees him as a burden. Their bitterness towards him instead of sympathy through his ordeal is greatly satirical.

Change plays a major role in one's life. It is what makes one’s life unique and different. In the novel, The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, Gregor Samsa, the protagonist, initially appears as a respectful young man working as a traveling salesman to pay off his family debts and provide for his family. But then Gregor goes through a transformation that turns him into a gigantic insect. Even though Gregor’s sister, father, and mother undergo many changes, the most significant transformation that occurs in the story is the change in Gregor, from an ordinary working man to a gigantic insect. This initial transformation becomes only the first impulse, which causes a lot of changes in his external and internal world along with forcing him to adapt to his new position in the family.

Throughout the novella, Gregor’s deeply rooted sense of guilt transitions from having the power to drive his actions to merely plaguing his thoughts. Immediately after his transformation, Gregor reveals that he has to “deal with the problems of traveling, the worries about train connections, irregular bad food, temporary and constantly changing human relationships…” (Kafka 4), in his daily work. Although he appears to hate his job, Gregor does not quit, as he has both intrinsic motivation to provide and extrinsic pressure from his family to keep them afloat. Rather than reflecting on his feelings and emotional baggage attached to his job, Gregor focuses on grievances set in reality, and allows this to occupy his conscious mind. After Gregor’s transformation, his

Gregor was the bread winner for the family, practically the man of the house, yet his father is still alive and well. When money was tight and stress was on the rise, he took on the role of becoming the main source of income for the family. Even though it meant talking on a job he is not overly thrilled about, he did so out of the kindness of his heart. Generosity is in his character and he loved helping out where he could. This made him feel like he was a valuable member of the family; one who could never be replaced or forgotten. Eventually earning the income became a burden he felt he had to do; he needed to be able to support his family (Charter p.479). However, Gregor remains calm and accepting despite all his hardships. Not once does he complain or question the transformation.

Many views of existentialism are exposed in Kafka's Metamorphosis. One of these main views is alienation or estrangement which is demonstrated by Gregor's relationship with his family, his social life, and the way he lives his life after the metamorphosis. Namely, it suggests that man is reduced to an insect by the modern world and his family; human nature is completely self absorbed. Kafka reflects a belief that the more generous and selfless one is, the worse one is treated. This view is in direct conflict with the way things should be; man, specifically Gregor should be treated in accordance to his actions. Gregor should be greatly beloved by his family regardless of his state. This idea is displayed in three separate themes. First,

Kafka was critical in bringing the new outlook on modern culture and particularly on modern man. Franz Kafka studied the modern man in the face of contemporary culture, and how he was steadfast in retaining his spirituality and identity, and gravitate towards authenticity and happiness. However, Kafka saw how the dehumanizing forces of industrialization and capitalism in the post- the WWI Europe posed a challenge to the modern man. Modern culture can be viewed tolerating and open to all. To Franz Kafka, modern culture coupled with technology is fast changing, and man has to maintain his self-consciousness in order not lose his spirituality and identity amidst these changes (Wintle pp. 708-710). Hence, as modern culture changes with the changing technology, religions are poised to change too, which presents fears to a man about losing his spirituality and identity upon embracing the modern culture. Interestingly, Kafka was mystical in his writings, with a keen interest in themes such as metamorphosis, existential and identity. If we look at “The Metamorphosis,” we can view the idea of how the dehumanizing effects of capitalism and industrialism are indicated within the writings. Kafka contends we become dehumanized with buying power and working too much. The transformation of Gregor seems to indicate a denial of responsibility to the changing forms of society’s conventions and values.

When I think of Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis, I think of Shoebag, but its author was elusive. Near the book’s back cover is written, “Shoebag is a story about change, by a popular young-adult author who’s changed her name, too, to Mary James,” which was one of several pen names for Marijane Meaker (136). She is obviously no stranger to change, but she also knew Gregor Samsa’s loneliness from broken relationships and Kafka’s alienation because throughout her life, she had secret affairs with women that eventually fizzled. No one can prove how much of her personality, if at all, is in Shoebag’s character, but she adapted Metamorphosis into a novel about change, family, and acceptance that can introduce younger students to Kafka and the plot or assist older students’ understanding.

According to Kafka and existentialism, people have both an individual side and a side with the commitment of society. It is our choices that must be in moderation of the two, to maintain balance. If a person chooses himself over society, he will lose the support of society; however, if a person chooses society, he will lose his individuality. Gregor initially chooses society over himself, which in turn transformed him into the working drone he was. After his physical transformation, he is forced reassert his focus to himself, and society abandons him. Through Gregor’s plight, his family became cohesive and productive in society, each contributing through work and leisure. Gregor learned to live for himself too late to become a whole person. Gregor begins to look for entertainment and fun in the form of a bug, a form that knows nothing but work, by crawling up to the ceiling and hanging from there, or from wall to wall over the various objects, this gave him a feeling of “almost happy absent-mindedness” (32). Haven given up any hope of returning to his human form or being a civilized working part of society ever again, this was one of the only joys Gregor had left in his life. By ignoring the purpose of being an

First, looking at the way his family treats him, plays a big part of how society makes an individual feel. Kafka’s father treated Gregor the worst out of his mother and sister. Gregor loved writing. When Gregor’s father realized he enjoyed writing and wanted to pursue writing as his career instead of being a Traveling salesman, he sees Gregor as a failure. Mr. Samsa is only worried about his assets. In the Metamorphosis, Gregor’s father, Mr. Samsa, displayed the same attitude. For example, Mr. Samsa spent several hours at the dining table reading newspaper while he expected Gregor to work and make all the money. Mr. Samsa displayed the same ridiculous behavior as Kafka’s father did. While Mr. Samsa found out about Gregor’s transformation, he

In The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka ,Gregory transforms into a giant bug and struggles to adapt and live a normal life. Just like in the Very hungry Caterpillar book, Gregory did not see this transformation coming. It isn't clear why or how the transformation happened but, If we were to read the story as a fairy tale we would've probably believe that Gregory had temporary shape shifting powers which led him to forming into a bug but not being able to reverse back to his human form. Also, if Metamorphosis was read as a fairy tale we wouldn’t have related the story back to reality like we do now. Reading this story as a fairy tale has the effect of letting the audience believe that none of it can happen in real life and that its just all made

In the metamorphosis, the ideal of change is conveyed throughout the novel, yet brings a evil discretion in what was a normal household. In society today, individuals have a variety of ways to deal with change. In time, some immediately adapt to it and others may take a little longer. However, that’s when people begin to force the shift on one another. Therefore, when a person alters their life, they spread it like a disease until everyone is infected.