Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis

A metamorphosis is “the process of transformation from an immature form to an adult form in stages” (“Metamorphosis.”). Humans and animals alike can have a metamorphosis. In Franz Kafka’s, The Metamorphosis, the main character, Gregor Samsa, undergoes a physically transformation from an individual who contributes to society to an anorexic recluse, therefore, as Gregor endures this change, he loses his sense of humanity and his connection to the world. Gregor’s reclusive nature ultimately leads to his demise.

In Metamorphosis, through the personal detached perspective of Gregor Samsa, Franz Kafka makes a societal statement on the modern middle-class human existence as petty and inherently meaningless by comparing the struggles of an average business man, such as Gregor, to that of a lowly insect. Kafka utilizes how Gregor sees his existence in society, and how it relates to his metamorphosis, to criticize how we lose our basic human goodness in a middle-class working society that is chiefly concerned with money. At the start of the book, Gregor is characterized as the average middle-class working provider. He possesses the perspective of being the head of a household: the strong sense of unwavering and righteous duty to provide for his family,

In Franz Kafka’s novel, The Metamorphosis Gregor explains his feeling on his family and how his family is affected. Gregor’s feelings in the story do not change at all due to loyalty to his family. In the beginning he feels affection and love towards his family and feels this throughout the novel.

Franz Kafka’s book Metamorphosis, displays how the element of communication plays a major role in society. In Gregor’s case, the inability to talk deteriorated the bonds between him and his family. In extension, the inept ability to communicate, stripped away Gregor’s tangible, materialistic components of his life. Metamorphosis conveys this idea with symbolic reference to parallel to how society impacts reality. Yet, this book also showed how easily dismissed this notion is, through the ironies and litotes throughout the book. One interpretation of this point is that his inability to convey his opinions fluently, makes him suspect for misinterpretation. In this case, opens the ability to abuse Gregor through the means of physical and mental abuse that supposedly does not exist.

Franz Kafka, struggled throughout his life with isolation, which is clearly a great influence and inspiration in his work, The Metamorphosis. Franz Kafka was born in 1883 to an upper middle class Jewish family in Prague. Kafka struggled with many problems in all facets of his life, most significantly in his his health, his relationships with the people in his life, and his relationship with work. Each of these problems contributed to his isolation, which is reflected in his character Gregor Samsa’s isolation from the world around him. The early 1900s, the time in which Kafka did much of his writing was marked by events such as World War I, which notably shaped popular opinion and the literary style of the time. The shift from the

Relationships play a significant role in the lives of all humans, and it is obvious how important relationships are. Intimacy, in any form of a relationship, involves making yourself vulnerable. Intimacy is letting another person into your life without limitations. It is nearly impossible to have intimacy by staying distant and anonymous. However, many people will hide themselves in the fear of being exposed to another person.

Franz Kafka exerts a tremendous amount of effort in his novella Das Urteil concerning the construction of space. In fact, within the first few pages of the story Kafka meticulously sets the scene both inside and outside the Bendemann household. It is of interest to note that Kafka certainly is aware that families store their dirty laundry, or skeletons, in their homes. Thus, family homes are the perfect setting for the most powerful of all dramas, family drama. Furthermore, nothing is without purpose in Kafka’s story, and his descriptions of the setting certainly stay true to that style. Interestingly enough, by carefully examining how Kafka chooses to describe the space early on, the thematic message regarding Georg’s psyche is elucidated.

In the Metamorphis by Franz Kafka, the style enhances the nightmarish quality of the work by telling the story as if it was normal and nothing unusual was occurring. Franz wrote “Maybe chief is like this as well” (Franz 226). When Franz writes this it shows how he thinks that this Metamorphis could happen to just anyone and it not just him. Franz acts as if nothing is wrong. Also, when Franz includes “if I hurry now I can make the late train” (Franz 67) when this is said, it shows that he has no worry of him being transformed into a bug. He is just worried about getting to work on time and carrying on with everyday life. Franz acting as if nothing is happening makes the nightmare more frightening, because he doesn’t even acknowledge the fact

The first time not long after he realizes he is unable to love and will spend his life alone. The second time shortly after his family started accumulating debts at their factory and expected Kafka to step in and fix it, berating him for failing to prevent it. Parallel scenarios are visible in “The Metamorphosis” when Gregor mentions early in the novella that if his parents did not owe a debt to the director that he was trying to pay off for them, he would not be working there, as the job was isolated, exhausting and the constant travel was not for him (4). Kafka portrays his own father’s short-temper and violence vividly in Mr. Samsa, by noting the repulsion Mr. Samsa displays when seeing Gregor after the transformation, which results in Mr. Samsa lashing out or attacking Gregor. Additional acts of hostility are reflected in Mr. Samsas clenched fists, followed by the “stamping” of feet and “waving” of the cane and newspaper to drive Gregor back into his room, all the while “hissing like a savage” (31). Mr. Samsa maneuvers Gregor with the tip of the cane into his doorway, and when he gets stuck, gives him a “hard blow that was truly a deliverance” propelling him into his room (31). Later, Mr. Samsa attempts to squash Gregor under his boot and pelts him with fresh fruit

Throughout literary history, certain authors have become so unique and distinct in their approach to the written word that they come to epitomize a literary genre. Franz Kafka is one such author who embodies and addresses the timeless theme of existentialism, particularly in his novella, The Metamorphosis. Existentialism is defined as a philosophical theory that stresses individual existence, freedom, and choice. It emphasizes the individual’s distinctive position as a self-determining agent responsible for the validity of his or her decisions. Kafka illustrates Gregor Samsa as an absurd figure whose transformation into a giant insect portrays the insignificance and pointlessness of his existence in society.

When one is to think of themselves, they do not necessarily have the same outlook as one who views that same individual on a daily basis. Can a perception of self even be accomplished? Multiple experiences and emotions skew a person’s overall sense of self. When a mirror is looked at, what is truly seen? Does one view one’s external self, or do they see a reflection of past experience? Not many have the value of altruism, but some do. Sometimes altruism can turn extremist though, to the point where it can be a negative thing. In Franz Kafka’s Metamorphosis, the main character Gregor Samsa is a workaholic that randomly one day awakens as a bug. Initially, Gregor sees himself with a condition, and then slowly tries to adapt to his bug transformation. Gregor did not put himself first when he was in a human state, and this did not necessarily change when he was transformed into a bug. Even when Gregor was a bug, he tried to make a big effort to make as little work as possible for his family. Gregor’s self-image is primarily characterized by the hard work he put in before he got changed into a new form, as well as his mindset that he had towards his family. Kafka seems to highlight how man’s true sense of self is lost when work is put first, above any other priority such as family values, such as spending time with people that one cares about, as well as time for oneself too. The Metamorphosis exemplifies how one’s sense of self cannot be completely instituted without having an

For many people the family is something that is there as a form of support and guidance. Mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters all gain strength from those around them to face the sometimes harsh challenges of day to day life. However, not many often consider the possibility that the family can not only build you up but also tear you down. In Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis this destruction is what is seen in the Samsa family. Through what they believe to be necessary, Gregor’s family destroys the environment that he knows, Gregor Samsa destroys his family, and Mr. and Mrs. Samsa bring unnecessary destruction to both of their children.

The metamorphosis, written by a German author Franz Kafka. Kafka and his "Metamorphosis" is a masterpiece of absurdist literature, but what is the most absurd part in this whole story ?

All of these above described five attempts are appropriate to The Metamorphosis. The text could be seen understandings a worker is likely to have in the contest for a reasonable life. The process described signifies the class fight of the working class to break out from a life of manipulation. Workers is the class of people who have no assets and live only on remunerations. Similarly, such classification into the working class is true for all other family members who do not even work. By dissimilarity, the boss of the company that Gregor works for owns the assets and is, hence, settled in the social upper class—the bourgeoisie. From the Marxist point of view, Gregor’s family and the manager are in the two opposed classes. The story instigates with Gregor Samsa's waking up transmuted into

In Kafka’s novel the Metamorphosis we can see that most of what happens with Gregor are a reflection of the negative aspects of Kafka’s life, both mentally and physically, this can be seen using the biographical lens. The relationship between Gregor and his father is in many ways is very similar to Kafka and his father Hermann. Franz Kafka grew up in a Jewish family in Prague. Born, in 1883, he was the eldest child and the only child, he often lived in the shadow of his father was often under constant pressure to take over the family business. Kafka’s father viewed Franz as a failure and disapproved of his wanting to be a writer since he had wanted Franz to be a businessman. The obsession with wanting Kafka to be a businessman often led his father to beat him. We can draw connections here to the novel The Metamorphosis as from the moment we meet Gregor Samsa’s father we are shown how short-tempered he is. Kafka writes that he "came on, hissing like a wild man" when Gregor first exited his room in his new state as a bug. Gregor’s father chased him with a cane and newspaper he made hissing noises that annoyed Gregor. In this passage here we can see how alike Mr. Samsa and Hermann Kafka are. Kafka was abused and was constantly yelled at by his father because he was a failure in his eyes. When Mr. Samsa sees what has happened to Gregor he is outraged, this is probably out of confusion or disappointment that he feels towards his son. Because his father was retired and his sister