Metamorphosis Dilemma

“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.

Grete undergoes a change in perspective to such a degree that by the end of the novella it is she who declares, “we must get rid of it” (84). This change in perspective shows how Kafka believes that members of society often stop sympathizing with the isolated group when it becomes inconvenient for them to continue doing so. Gregor’s mother reacts in an initial manner somewhere between the father and sister since when first seeing him she “went two steps toward Gregor and collapsed right in the middle of her skirts” (23). These conflicting desires continue through the novella, such as when Mr. Samsa tries to kill Gregor, “she begged him to spare Gregor’s life” (65) but at the same time she is repulsed by him. This illustrates how she wants to help him and tries to think of him the same way she did before his transformation, yet is unable to. This resembles the idealists in society who theoretically support the alienated person but often succumb to social pressures when they are forced to face the problem. These three reactions to Gregor’s transformation as a result of the initiation of his isolation by the manager demonstrate the spectrum of reactions. From the immediate acceptance of the hierarchy represented by Mr. Samsa, to the true compassion of Grete and the idealism of Mrs. Samsa, Kafka shows how a wide variety of reactions is expected from society, and how people often change their opinions.

The deeper meaning of “The Metamorphosis”, by Frank Kafka, can be interpreted in many ways depending on critical theory is used to examine it. From a feminist criticism, one can observe how Gregor’s dominance as a male diminishes after he becomes a bug as his sister’s strength and role in the family grows stronger. From a biographical criticism, one can compare and contrast the traits of Gregor and the people around him with that of Kafka’s own life and his relationships. However, the focus of this essay will be applying a psychoanalytical criticism to the characters in “The Metamorphosis”, using the studies of Sigmund Freud to approach

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

Alienation is the primary theme in Kafka's The Metamorphosis. Much of early twentieth-century literature makes as its basic premise that man is alienated from his fellow humans and forced to work in dehumanizing jobs in order to survive. There is no choice for most in this matter.

“The Metamorphosis”, by Franz Kafka, is a mystical tale about a young businessman who awakes one morning to find his physical appearance transformed. His family and business associates fear his transformation and take immediate action by locking him in his room. For the following months, his young sister cares for his wellbeing and survival by tending to his needs. However, as time passes by, the inconveniences of caring for Gregor create tension and irritability that ultimately leads to drastic measures in some circumstances. As the tale comes to an end, he passes away due to severe neglect. Moreover, despite all the hardships he faces; he dies with fond memories of their love. By analyzing Kafka’s use of literary elements, Gregor’s ambiguous transformation can be concluded as the direct result of the superior authorities he encounters throughout his life and his negligence and passiveness towards those leads to the loss of his individuality.

Metamorphosis Essay In Franz Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis” Gregor awakes on his bed to find himself transformed into a bug. His family does not support Gregor and they banish and isolate him into his bedroom where he rots until his death. The belief that Gregor is a bug leads him to be isolated and ostracized more drastically than before . Gregor is transformed into a bug which turns into an internal conflict .

missing work due to his transformation, his supervisor comes to his door and threatens him of the consequences that he might face if he doesn’t come back to work. This shows both the process of exploitation, of the employee by the employer and also his alienation from his job because he finds no interest in it. The idea of alienation is evidently depicted in the following quote: “At that time Gregor’s sole desire was to do his utmost to help the family to forget as soon as possible the catastrophe that had overwhelmed the business and thrown them all into a state of complete despair” (Kafka, 58). Because his father’s business had failed, the entire burden was upon Gregor’s shoulders, and even as he was changed into an insect, without his will,

Analysis This piece is a reflection of the inner monologue of Gregor. Clearly, He’s been beaten and worn- down by his job that he keeps out of obligation, and this monologue is his conscience trying to defend his actions and emotions that’s been brewing inside of him. In the first chapter of the book, Gregor wakes up wondering what has happened to him. Consciously, he realizes that he is in fact a bug, looking down and describing his “lots of little legs, which were incessant in their various motions and which, moreover, he was unable to control.”

Haley Moore Mr. Hertzog English 10H, Period 6 16 March, 2015 Metamorphosis In the story “Metamorphosis” by Kafka, a young man named Gregor is ex-communicated from his family when he somehow transforms into a large bug. The Samsa’s mock a typical family by showing how easily they dispose of their responsibility to him. The Samsa’s have built up much debt over the years, and Gregor has taken it to be his duty to get rid of it.

The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka is a novel that centers on the theme of alienation. When Gregor turns into a bug, he is estranged from almost everyone he comes into contact with, except for his sister. As the novel progresses, Gregor’s family, even his sister, begin to see Gregor as someone completely different and feel burdened by him. When he dies in his room, they seem oddly excited and begin to move on with their lives. The physical and mental death of Gregor in The Metamorphosis reinforces the theme of alienation.

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

This story "The Metamorphosis" is about Gregor, a workaholic, who is changed into an insect and must then deal with his present reality. The hardest part of being an insect for him was the alienation from his family, which eventually leads to his death. In reading the short story "The Metamorphosis," (1971),one can realize how small the difference is between Magical Realism and Fantastic. This literature written by the Austrian, Franz Kafka, is often debated over.

Gregor’s relationship with his father reveals a potential reason for his transformation and details his remaining humanity. Through the scenes of Gregor being assaulted with a walking stick, a newspaper, and apples, Kafka fashions the father’s abusive nature (Kafka 19, 33). Mr. Samsa’s actions hint that the trauma he inflicts may be the reason Gregor has convinced himself that he is an insect. In addition, the sense of obedience Gregor feels due to his father’s authority molds a human characteristic that bugs lack. Straus explains that “the text has been read … as revealing father-son conflict or Oedipus conflicts. Hellmuth Kaiser, for example, describes it as the merciless attack of the elder Samsa upon his insect son” (Straus 128). The fact that Gregor is still considered his son reveals that he is also still considered a person. The common father-son conflict shows that even their unpleasant relationship devises Gregor’s lingering humanity. Despite

In today’s world some of us work for others. It was not different in the past either. Some people work and sacrifice themselves to make others to live comfortable, as it is explicitly emphasized in The Metamorphosis by Kafka. Kafka had very complicated childhood. He did not have splendid relationships neither with his family, or with the society he lived in. That is why he always felt overwhelmed and isolated. The live was not fair to him at all. He used part of his own life story in the Metamorphosis. He did explain beginnings and ends in his great novel. Therefore Metamorphosis still stands as a hidden and arguable story. It is still unclear, why Kafka chose a bug as the burden. But despite this there are some signs of his intensions and feelings. He reveals some of his intentions in the story. Kafka chose symbolical bug to explain his life story. I will probe questions such why a bug? What does the bug represent? How Kafka related Gregor’s life to his.