The Metamorphosis By Franz Kafka

Kafka uses symbolism on many occasions throughout the novella to convey Gregor’s sentiments and reflect on his current situation. The bug, perhaps the most important symbol in the whole novella, symbolizes Gregor Samsa and his life. “That boy has nothing on his mind but the business… he’s been back in the city for eight days now, but every night he’s been home,” (10). This quote directly shows how Gregor has been occupied with work ever since growing up and has never been able to do anything unrelated to work. Similar to bees or ants, Gregor has led the same exact life, which mainly consisted of working in order to provide for his family. In addition to the bug, the furniture in Gregor’s room is symbolic in the way that it signifies his humanity. “Had he really wanted to have his warm room, comfortable fitted with furniture...he would be able to crawl around unhampered in all directions but at the cost of simultaneously, rapidly, and totally forgetting his human past,” (33). By removing his furniture, Gregor’s mother and sister are unknowingly and slowly taking away his humanity, which is not what he wants. Furthermore, this confirms the undesirable fact that Gregor is gradually losing his humanity and that his family has become inconsiderate, especially of

This essay will be focused on how the author Franz Kafka uses symbolism in The Metamorphosis to express “Gregor” the main character’s depression. Kafka uses a lot of metaphoric kind of lines as well as other variety of ways throughout the novel to show Gregor’s depression. Many people wouldn’t think much of the symbolism expressed throughout the novel but Kafka incorporated all of that to reveal a deeper meaning to what he is saying and it is to tell the reader about the main character’s depression.

Considering his youth, it is odd that Franz Kafka uses biblical allusions as he does. Kafka grew up as a part of a Jewish family in Prague, Germany. In contrast with his Jewish past, Franz uses Christian ideals and makes references to the story of Adam and Eve in the Bible. The serpent is the basis for all sin in the Bible. Kafka puts all of the responsibilities of the family on Gregor. Early in the story, Gregor wakes up and sees his small vermin legs and gets up for work but realizes that he has to crawl on the ground with his stomach down. Adam and Eve eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, in which they are strictly told not to eat from. The two were persuaded to eat from the tree by the serpent who was then commanded to go about all of his days on his belly. He is also told to only eat dust something that no one else would eat. Gregor, along with becoming a bug, loses his appetite and eats things that nobody else would, such as rotten milk and moldy bread in a bowl.

This is, for sure, a symbol of Gregor’s dehumanization. Although he still thinks that he has the mindset of a human despite his transformation into a vermin, he is losing his human-like interests. In the passage before this one, Gregor was complaining about how hungry he was because he hadn't eaten since before he had transformed, but when he is presented which something to consume, he refuses it. Not only does he refuse it, but he is disgusted by it. Kafka even goes as far as to say that Gregor “loathed” the milk. Milk was once Gregor's favorite beverage, but he no longer wants it, perhaps because he transformed into a giant vermin. The passage goes on to explain how Gregor is completely revolted by the fresh fruit and how he prefers to

He tries them but realizes that he no longer likes that type of food. Grete comes in later and sees that he has not eaten the food, so she brings him garbage which he happily eats. Grete starts bringing him food daily, and Gregor stays locked in his room listening to his family talk about their money problems. He can no longer work and support them, so they need to find a different solution. Gregor gets bored and starts walking on the walls to pass the time, and Grete sees this and takes furniture out of the room. His mother walks in and sees Gregor on the wall, and passes out. He runs downstairs, and his father thinks he attacked her. He throws apples at Gregor, and one gets stuck in his back. He runs upstairs, injured. Gregor hears his family talking, and they start hating him. They hire a maid to clean and three people who rent rooms in the house. They see

In “The Metamorphosis” by Frank Kafka, the author uses a lot of symbolism to catch the

Scientific usage of the term is exclusive, and it is not applied to general aspect of cell growth, including rapid growth spurts. Metamorphosis is a biological process by which an animal physically develop after birth or hatching. Involving a conspicuous and relatively abrupt changes in the animal’s body structure through cell growth and differentiation. The author Franz Kafka, who relatively wrote little in his short life and who published less has been enormously influential on later writers. He is considered an export of German expressionism. The metamorphosis is Kafka’s longest story and one of his frequently analyzed works. It traces the months from Gregor Samas’s unique metamorphosis to his death from dehydration and isolation. However, the main character of Kafka’s metamorphosis, Gregor is exploited after being a fully alienated.

The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka was a tremendous success. “Metamorphosis refers to a major change of form or structure during development” (Britton). The Metamorphosis pertains to a man by the name of Gregory Samsa who awakes to find himself as a bug. Samsa is portrayed as a character who is alienated because of his transformation. His mother faints at the mere sight of Gregory, his father feels disgust towards Gregory, and his manager runs away in fear, but only his sister, Grete, attempts to care for Gregory. Grete continued to care for him regardless of this transition, but his dependence on her seems to have run her patience thin because he could no longer earn money and had also become a hindrance to the family physically, mentally, and financially. This could be related to Kafka in that he felt alienated throughout his life. Kafka’s father also ignored him and his mother never cared enough to show intellectual understanding towards his interests. Although Gregory transformed into a bug, he exhibited the fact that he still had a human brain. The Metamorphosis seemed to show what it means to be yourself, but also that to be yourself, you risk alienation. Gregory soon realized his burden to his family so he feels that to be useful in his current state, he must die so he starves himself to death. This was what Kafka must have felt as he was on his death-bed as he never received his father’s approval, his mother’s understanding of his profession, his sister’s love, or even

The Metamorphosis is a short novella written by Frank Kafka during the 20th century Modernism period. The Modern period introduced technological advances like the steam engine; the telephone and telegraph connected humans from different regions and help improve the human experience. Although the increase of these technological devices led to an improvement of the human condition it also led to the production of dangerous weapons and modern warfare. Global conflicts ravaged modern life due to increasing shifts in political powers. WW1 and WW2 were major conflicts that yielded death and caused many individuals to experience isolation and loneliness. Many writers during the 20th century conveyed that spirit of isolation and despair within the arts of literature. Kafka’s The Metamorphosis expressed the true nightmarish and unpleasant aspects of modern life.

In the short story, The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, the main character Gregor Samsa wakes up to see that he has become a giant bug, and he and his family have to adjust to the changes that this has brought about. Kafka weaves several images and symbols through out the story, so many that writing a paper on all of them would be incredibly long. However, the thing I will concentrate on is the use and symbols of food that Kafka has placed in the tale. Just what do these symbols mean? Why are they there and what do they show about Gregor and his family and their relationship? I will prove in my paper that a piece of bread and bowl of milk can be much more than just a meal. The food in this story shows how life has changed for Gregor, and also that in some of the scenes, that it even has references to passages from the Bible itself.

Franz Kafka’s uses of symbolism throughout Metamorphosis help the audience grip the appreciation of Gregor’s drive towards humanity and independence. The transformation in this book is used as a symbol for Gregor’s metamorphosis to humanity. Even though none of us should ever wake up and experience the emotion of changing into a giant bug, the hardship Gregor felt is a sample that is relevant to us in different ways. Throughout the story, we see numerous symbols that show the ultimate symbol of humanity and independence.

The Alienation and Identity of Gregor Samsa Franz Kafka’s classic story The Metamorphosis (1915), is an effective and distressing tale that accentuates the reality of life and the alienation of an individual. Kafka’s fiction explores the life of Gregor Samsa, and his terrifying tale of metamorphic transformation which leaves the character lifeless in the end. The story however, is a powerful reflection of Kafka’s life, as the authour was filled with guilt and the failure to succeed in his father’s eyes. The relationship between father and son was an utmost struggle, as Kafka’s father was a quick-tempered man, who was generally displeased and filled with hatred (Kafka 1154). The struggle of Kafka’s life turned into a literary theme that was defused through an artistic output of writing, as he often wrote about alienation, despair, and feelings of isolation others also felt in the early 20th century (Kafka 1154).

Throughout his work, Kafka describes the limits of sympathy. This theme is portrayed using the family’s gradual shift in regarding Gregor’s transformation. It is difficult for the family to accept the change, which is shown as they struggle to determine whether they feel sympathetic or repulsion towards the new Gregor. In the beginning of his transformation, his sister remained close to him and tended to him-- sympathy for her brother's transformation brings herself to become a caretaker for her brother. She goes as far as to try to find the food her brother most enjoyed eating, at first beginning with bringing him his favorite food, sweet milk and bread, and is the first to recognize his change of preference. She tries again with "an entire selection... half-rotten vegetables, bones from the evening meal, covered with white sauce which had almost solidified..." (31). The care Grete has towards Gregor, however, later changes to disgust and repulsion.

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

Society can be cruel to people who do not fit in and art can help to break the pain. Metamorphosis, by Franz Kafka, is a reflection of his unsettled relationship with his family and society. Franz Kafka creates a hideous creature, a monstrous insect, to show how he feels in his reality. Gregor, in Metamorphosis, is a tool for Kafka to psychoanalyze his perceived deficiency in society and communicate his contemplations on his meaning in life.