Social Influences On Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis

Walter H. Sokel’s article does well in trying to encompass many deeper meanings behind the story, The Metamorphosis, but some of them are invalid and do not accurately represent the happenings in Kafka’s work. Sokel emphasized that the reason for the metamorphosis was of Gregor's own doing more than anything else. The article tries to compile several viewpoints and ideas which is confusing and unconducive to any one motive in the novel. The basis of this articles many widespread arguments is as absurd as the story it is trying to explain. Any clarity that could have been gained was overshadowed by Sokel's own conflicting ideas. In the end the causes and results that exist in the Kafka's far flung tale are neither factual nor comprehensible, leaving it up to the reader to evaluate if they themselves are absurd to question Gregor's

Kafka’s Metamorphosis suggests to his readers to take a glimpse inside a dysfunctional atmosphere triggered from a painful childhood, to see how influential each member of the family contributes to the dynamics, but also to learn how to make light of the situation with acceptance. Kafka is reflecting on his own relationship with his family in Metamorphosis. He sees himself in Gregor, or is he him.

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.

In our interactive Oral we discussed about Franz Kafka’s Metamorphosis, through point of time and place matter, the relation to the society, the culture and experience and the technique in the work, I learned about the society oppressive expectation can lead an individual to loss in identity

Introduction: Kafka depicts the working class as having to make personal sacrifices in order to survive in a capitalist society. Kafka does this through the characterization of Gregor as depressed, the symbolism of food and the diction surrounding Gregor’s father employment status.

Franz Kafka’s, The Metamorphosis, is a novella about Gregor Samsa, a man who devotes everything to fulfilling the needs of his family. Kafka’s existentialist perspective on the meaning of life is illustrated through the use of the protagonist of Gregor Samsa. Existentialism is a philosophy concerned with finding self and the meaning of life through free will, choice, and personal responsibility (Existentialism). Gregor is unable to fulfill the existentialist view of finding meaning in one’s life; he acted according to what his family wanted. Kafka’s belief that there is no meaning to life and that the individual has to create his own meaning in life is entirely missed by Gregor. Kafka uses the juxtaposing mindsets of Gregor and his family

Franz Kafka led a life filled with struggles, particularly evident in his relationship with his father. His experiences and feelings in life are manifested throughout his writings, as the themes in his life dominate the themes of his works, especially so in his novella, The Metamorphosis. Through his extended metaphor of Samsa as a vermin, Kafka illustrates the family dynamic present throughout his life, that of his family, and particularly his father, devaluing and isolating him.

As a result of the Samsa family’s neglect towards their son, Gregor felt abandoned and had no contact or interaction with the outside world. His behavior changed due to this isolation, which truly affected his mental and physical health. This story clearly demonstrates how Kafka in his life felt isolated and unsupported by his family. Based on the life experiences that Gregor and Kafka faced, it is clear to one that extreme isolation ultimately leads to mental illness and physiological

Franz Kafka’s clear isolation of Gregor underlines the families’ separation from society. In The Metamorphosis, Kafka emphasizes Gregor’s seclusion from his family. However, Gregor’s separation is involuntary unlike the family who isolates themselves by the choices they make. Each family member has characteristics separating them from society. These characteristics become more unraveling than Gregor, displaying the true isolation contained in The Metamorphosis.

With Franz Kafka himself, having a lack of relationships to express his thoughts/emotions to, all that he could reveal himself to was his own mind, hence his writing. With the formation of his self-image, Gregor Samsa, in, The Metamorphosis, Kafka attempts to display such inner-thoughts through the things which occur to Gregor in a way that can be seen as biblical allusions. As the novella begins, it becomes evident that Gregor is a person who is willing to suffer for the sake of others. He works every day, not because he wants to support himself and be happy, but because he wants to, “pay off [his] parents’ debt…” (Kafka 4) and plans, “to do it without fail.”

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,

“Go to college”, “go to bed’, “stop being so weird”. Demands from society are a constant that will constantly breath down your neck. Gregor is a gargantuan ball of stress who always has a demand to be fulfilling whether it be work, family, or money. All of these will pile on causing Gregor to morph into a bug. Demands like these represent what the stresses of society can do on most individuals, not every person could be affected like this but it's possible for the majority.

Also, in his writings, Kafka pointed out the dehumanizing forces of industrialization and capitalism in post-WWI Europe. Kafka saw bureaucracy establishments as being something that deprives the mere existence of real human standards of industrialization that will oppress a person in a workplace. “Work like this is far more unsettling than business conducted at home, and then I have the agony of traveling itself to contend with” worrying about train connections, the irregular, unpalatable meals, and human intercourse that is constantly changing, never developing the least constancy or warmth” (Puchner, P1881). Before the protagonist Gregor’s transformation, he views his life as a working insect being trapped in a society where alienation and decay are rampant because the workers are not happy. Gregor is stuck in prison

Franz Kafka, in his novel The Metamorphosis, explores two conflicting ideas through his protagonist Gregor: unity and isolation. Gregor’s transformation created a whole life of distress for him, but on the other hand also formed a deeper and better relationship for the rest of the family.

Franz Kafka is an icon of dark existentialist and absurdist literature that frequently wrote about themes of isolation, alienation, and authoritarian oppression. His well-known work includes the short stories "The Metamorphosis", and “ The Judgment.” as well as his prominent "Letter to His Father", in which he attempted to clarify the tense relationship and his emotional oddness. Franz Kafka was born in Prague on July 3rd, 1883. Prague was a perplexed city, a great deal like Kafka himself. With several languages and ethnic groups struggling for a position in Prague, it was apparent in the late 19th