D3.1 Metamorphosis

People have a high amount of pressure on them in their daily lives with social, mental, and physical appearances. Kafka represents this pressure he has on himself through Gregor. This allows Kafka to vent many emotions and feelings through this novella Everyone is there own person but some take others opinions to heart to often and need to see things are not as bad as they seem. Throughout The Metamorphosis, by Franz Kafka, Kafka displays himself through Gregor, and shows his true feelings about people and society he lives in.

On the surface, “The Metamorphosis” by Franz Kafka is an evocative story of a man transformed into a “monstrous vermin”. It seems to focus on the dark transformation of the story’s protagonist, Gregor, but there is an equal and opposing transformation that happens within Gregor’s family. Although Gregor has physically changed at the beginning of the story, he remains relatively unchanged as the novella progresses. The family, on the other hand, is forced to drastically change how they support themselves. Although the change was unexpected, Gregor’s transformation into a vermin sets into motion a change in the Samsa family that leaves them better off in almost every facet of their lives. Thus, Kafka’s story is not one of descent into darkness, but one of a family’s ascent towards self-actualization. The metamorphosis the title speaks of does not take place in Gregor, but rather in the Samsa Family; consequently, Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis” is not a tale of darkness, disconnection and despair, but rather a story of hope, new beginnings and perseverance.

In The Metamorphosis, Franz Kafka conveys the series of emotional and psychological repercussions of a physical transformation that befalls the protagonist, a young salesman called Gregor Samsa. As the story progresses, Gregor finds himself unfairly stigmatized, cruelly rejected because of his clear inability to financially support his family, and consequently increasingly isolated. Through extensive use of symbolism, Kafka is able to relate the surreal and absurd, seemingly arbitrary events of this short story to a general critique of society-particularly on the alienating effects that conformity generates. On a broader level, the combined themes-which include the themes of conformity, freedom, and alienation--found throughout The

When individuals are rejected by family and society, they tend to feel abandoned and unloved. In Franz Kafka’s, The Metamorphosis, Gregor’s transformation into a “monstrous vermin” (Kafka 1) results in him being psychologically and even physically abused by his family. Rejection from his mother, sister, and father leave Gregor feeling unwanted and feeling as if he is a terrible burden on the family and their well being.

At some point in our lives, we encounter obstacles, problems and big changes in the way we live our lives. Franz Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis” tells the story of Gregor Samsa had not only undergone a big transformation physically, but also emotionally and mentally as an insect. Reading behind the lines uncovers hidden meanings, imagery, and symbols that may seem inconspicuous to a normal reader. As this literature may be understood through the lines, and texts that blend in the story. Throughout The Metamorphosis, symbols, imagery, and settings are used to develop Kafka’s messages. In the light of this, it may be said that no matter how simple this novel may seem, it can cover extensive imagery and symbols that comprises its true identity and

Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis is a masterfully written novella about Gregor Samsa, a man who devotes his life to his family and work, for nothing in return. Only when he is transformed into a helpless beetle does he begin to develop a self-identity and understand the relationships around him. The underlying theme of The Metamorphosis is an existential one that says that any given choice will govern the later course of a person’s life and that a person has ultimate will over making choices. In this case, Gregor’s choices of his part in society cause him to have a lack of identity that has made him to be numb to everything around him.

There exists no one true approach to examine writing; consequently, Literature continually proves to be a misunderstood art. Emerging through time, theories have been conceived due to the study of literature, but different readers believe in different theories. For instance, Franz Kafka’s short story, The Metamorphosis, may be interoperated countless ways do to its intricacy, as well as by varying literary theorists. Kafka himself and historical background may even be scrutinized, when studying The Metamorphosis. Complexity in The Metamorphosis lies throughout the entirety of the story, for the story tells the telling tale of salesman Gregor Samsa and his time as a gigantic insect (Kafka). Despite their differences, Biographical Criticism, Historical Criticism, Psychoanalysis, and Marxism all provide methods by which to analyze Kafka’s The Metamorphosis.

In the novella, Gregor transforms into an insect; he and his family must navigate his new life as a bug. As Gregor undergoes a physical transformation, there is also a shift in financial power in his family. Kafka shows that a capitalist society dehumanizes the working class, this is seen through the characterization of Gregor, the symbolism of food, and diction surrounding Gregor’s father

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.

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.

Franz Kafka’s story “The Metamorphosis” is one of the most famous novellas of twentieth-century literature. It was published in 1915 and is among his best known works. At first, the story seems to be confusing, but towards the end, we can see the true meaning of the tale. The story is about Gregor Samsa, a traveling salesman who lives in an apartment in Prague with his family - his mother, father, and sister - Grete. The story begins with Gregor Samsa “found himself transformed in his bad into a monstrous insect.”(269) His metamorphosis has a very significant effect on his family members as they changed their behavior in response to his new look. These transformations bring the attention to how people can transform under pressure. Transform, to the point where they may no longer recognize themselves.

In the Metamorphosis, Franz Kafka reflects upon past experiences of his personal life, both mentally and physically, to help create Gregor’s life. Kafka throughout the novel talks about the relationship between Gregor and his family which is in many ways similar to that of Kafka. From Kafka’s early childhood, we can understand that he also suffered with the aspects of alienation and to a greater extent from his father Hermann. Furthermore, the theme of alienation in metamorphosis will be elaborated on through situation, setting and the familial relationships, Gregor experiences.

Kafka certainly starts the novella off strong by explaining the situation Gregor is randomly put into. The ridiculousness of the circumstance is enough to hook the reader into the story. Gregor is transformed into a giant insect, but dismisses it as him being tired. The first part is quite enjoyable as the reader has the suspense of his family and boss seeing Gregor’s new appearance and the humor of Gregor saying that he will be leaving for work soon while getting accustomed to his new body. The amount of work Gregor put into explaining that he will be leaving for work soon is ironic as well since the reader later finds out that his speech is incomprehensible to humans. However, one must wonder how Gregor planned to go to work as a giant insect to begin with. Even when he fully realized he actually transformed into a giant insect,

Franz Kafka’s, The Metamorphosis is a disturbing and complex novel which is about a salesman, named Gregor Samsa, who finds himself transformed into a monstrous vermin when he wakes up one morning. The transformation makes him view the true reality of the absurd world that he had always lived in but had been avoiding. The Metamorphosis is considered to be Kafkaesque meaning the writing style in this novel is extremely bizarre, nightmarish and illogical. Kafka already begins to fill the readers with ambiguity through the unexpected and shocking first line.

Feeling like an outsider in normal in today’s society; everyone has felt excluded at least once, whether it be something as small as a conversation or as a large as not being invited to an event. However, there are other people who have been completely left out, people who don’t fit into a particular group or ideal and are left out because they are different. Some may argue that they are excluded because they are misunderstood, but that is not the case. The short story“The Metamorphosis,” by Franz Kafka, the video “Franz Kafka and Metamorphosis” by BBC, and personal experience prove that people are excluded because they are different from what is considered normal, and not due to a misunderstanding or being misjudged.