Themes Of Symbolism In Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis

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

Section I, of the Metamorphosis, explores Gregor’s physical transformation, his new problem with his occupation, and how those around him react to his unfamiliar appearance. Minding the fact that this is the first time his freshly acquired features are introduced to us, the readers, I’d have to say it resonates the most within me, aesthetically. Kafka writes, “One morning upon awakening from agitated dreams, Gregor Samsa found himself, in his bed, transformed into a monstrous vermin,” which resembled a giant cockroach. He goes on to say, “He lay on his hard, armorlike back, and when lifting his head slightly, he could view his brown, vaulted belly partitioned by arching ridges… His many legs wretchedly thin compared with his overall girth, danced helplessly before his eyes.” (Kafka 117). Predictably, considering I don’t possess an inclination for insects, it is not Gregor’s bodily conversion that is aesthetically pleasing. Rather, it is the stark contrast between his inconceivable situation and the ordinary terms used to convey it,

Prior to the metamorphosis Gregor led a physically isolating life with little time for anything other than superficial relationships. Hinted at the beginning of the piece he longed to break free from his traveling salesman's job and shrug off the financial burden placed on his back. The metamorphosis was equally as mentally imprisoning as to what it was physically. Gregor was unable to express his emotions or even communicate his needs to his family this ultimately led to the family’s gradual shift of resentment towards him solely because they were unable to see how much of their once family member remained.

Additionally, Kafka’s relationships with his family members further demonstrate the devaluation and isolation present in his life. Concerning the novella, Straus writes, “the narration focuses on how Gregor invalidates his family, how his family invalidates and destroys Gregor.” (Nina Pelikan Straus) The story itself focuses on Gregor’s exile from his family by his family. Such exile reflects the invalidation of Kafka in his own and the destruction Kafka felt from his own family. Furthermore, Gregor’s father states that “if he could understand us, then maybe we could come to an agreement with him.” (Metamorphosis) Kafka’s own father was unable to come to terms with him and his experience is paralleled by Gregor and his

Everyone knows that one person from school who does not fit in. These people are known to us as strange, weird, and different from the standards set by the majorities of society. In the article, “Isn’t Everyone a Little Bit Weird?” at the beginning of Unit 2 in the My Perspectives textbook, the reading describes how even the most remarkable individuals how some hidden unexpected traits. “The Metamorphosis” is a short story by Frank Kafka. Gregor, the main character, wakes up to realize that he has turned into a bug. Throughout the story, we see how his life is slowly falling apart as his family suffers from his transformation. Overall, outsiders are not those who are misjudged or misunderstood because everyone is weird in some way, even as they attempt to fit in, people never take time and are quick to create judgements of others, and society wants all identities to be equal in order to avoid the fear of change.

Apart from the very apparent theme of transformation that runs through both stories there are also many underlying themes connected with transformation, not just physical but also mental. Metamorphosis sees Gregor wake up one morning physically transformed overnight into a huge insect, by the description given by Kafka, possibly similar in appearance to a cockroach, although the description given does not allow the reader to make any definite identification. He has been the breadwinner of the family, working as a travelling salesman to keep a roof over the heads of his mother, father and younger sister. This is a service that he has got no thanks or

In this metamorphosis passage is two of the main characters. Gregor, the person who transformed, is brought into more depth. He is portrayed to be very introverted and secluding in his new insect form as shown in this part of the passage, “then out of consideration for Gregor's feelings, as she knew that he would not eat in front of her, she hurried out again and even turned the key in the lock so that Gregor could know he could make things as comfortable for himself as he liked.” Also shown here, “his sister slowly turned the key in the lock as a sign he should withdraw. He was immediately startled, although he had been half asleep, and he hurried back under the couch.” Gregor is also shown to give in to his insect tendencies and have insect behavior by eating rotten old food, “quickly one after another, his eyes watering with pleasure, he consumed the cheese, the vegetables and the sauce; the fresh foods, on the other hand, he didn't like at all, and even dragged the things he didn't want to eat a little way away from them because

“Metamorphosis” seemed to be about the characters in the story changing or transforming both through their appearance and personality. Gregor transformed into an insect and over time his personality began

As reading The Metamorphosis, it gets more curious about the true meaning of Gregor’s transformation. Regarding this question, many authors wrote critical essays. Some of them are very similar to each other but have different reasons why they think that way.

Franz Kafka's beginning of his novel, "The Metamorphosis," begins with what would seem a climactic moment: "As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect." From this point on, the reader is determined to make sense of this transformation. However, the reader later comes to realize that Gregor is actually not an insect, but this metamorphosis into a vermin was purely symbolic. It symbolizes the degrading lifestyle that Gregor leads to support his family. This leads the reader to understand Gregor's absurd dilemma.

The Metamorphosis, written by Franz Kafka, introduces a character named Gregor who turns into a bug at the beginning of the novel, however after this event occurs his and his family’s lives are turned completely upside down. His family completely undergoes an evolution from the state in which they were in before Gregor’s catastrophic change; and now without a steady flow of income, the drama begins to intensify within the family bonds. Now, after the change, Gregor’s mom and the sister are frightened by Gregor’s appearance, while his dad becomes determined to get the “rodent” away from his family. As Gregor begins to lose his family’s love for him, one of Kafka’s many thematic ideas is evidently portrayed; assumptions. Which makes the reader

Kafka was critical in bringing the new outlook on modern culture and particularly on modern man. Franz Kafka studied the modern man in the face of contemporary culture, and how he was steadfast in retaining his spirituality and identity, and gravitate towards authenticity and happiness. However, Kafka saw how the dehumanizing forces of industrialization and capitalism in the post- the WWI Europe posed a challenge to the modern man. Modern culture can be viewed tolerating and open to all. To Franz Kafka, modern culture coupled with technology is fast changing, and man has to maintain his self-consciousness in order not lose his spirituality and identity amidst these changes (Wintle pp. 708-710). Hence, as modern culture changes with the changing technology, religions are poised to change too, which presents fears to a man about losing his spirituality and identity upon embracing the modern culture. Interestingly, Kafka was mystical in his writings, with a keen interest in themes such as metamorphosis, existential and identity. If we look at “The Metamorphosis,” we can view the idea of how the dehumanizing effects of capitalism and industrialism are indicated within the writings. Kafka contends we become dehumanized with buying power and working too much. The transformation of Gregor seems to indicate a denial of responsibility to the changing forms of society’s conventions and values.

  Kafka uses symbolism in his short story, Metamorphosis.  He uses this technique to make the reader try and figure out what was going on in his head.  He brought out in this story many things about his life, including his father/family, love life, and his future.  He used metaphors to show his love for people in his life.  This story is autobiographical about the forces that control Franz Kafka's life.  In this paper I will explain how Kafka relates his life to the readers through the story in Metamorphosis.

Along with his job, Gregor’s physical metamorphosis also shows his lack of freedom and control. Upon awakening to find himself now a bug, Gregor cannot reposition himself on his right side, which is his preferred sleeping position (Meta. 11). In his new state he struggles to perform basic motor functions showing his limitations and decreased freedom to simply walk like a human. A particularly powerful scene is when he is trying to open his bedroom door (Meta. 19). His struggle to turn the key with his mouth vividly shows that Gregor has lost all control in his life. He can no longer function as a human, let alone provide for his family through work. He becomes a burden to the family, which for him, is one of the worst feelings he could have experienced because of how seriously he took being the provider. Finally, in his last moments, Gregor experiences the complete loss of movement due to his injury, which symbolizes people in the early 20th century feeling stuck in place regarding their economic situation (Meta. 49). Again, we see Gregor having no physical control or freedom to move. The only thing left for him to do is die, which he realizes is necessary for his family to move on in life (Meta. 50). Through Kafka’s physical and occupational restraints on Gregor, he displays

To begin, the Metamorphosis presents itself with a unique presence as you begin to read it due to the applicability of Gregor immediately being transformed without any back story and presumably any particular reason. Throughout the Metamorphosis, Kafka incorporated an abundance of door references to the story. To some this may be just part of the story with nothing to analyze. With Kafka, the meticulousness in which he presents his writing forces me to counter that notion and to believe differently. In pg. 16 he writes, “But when he finally succeeded in positioning his head in front of the doorway, it turned out that his body was too wide too fit through the opening.” On the very next pg. “Gregor thrust himself- into the doorway… his father administered a powerful shove… bleeding profusely… banged shut.” On the surface level it appears to add on the story; however, from a more sophisticated eye the door clearly symbolizes the state of the family. The door was open while Gregor was this huge bug; however, he could not fit through. This could perhaps give a background story to the premises that the family was still open to everyone, especially Gregor, but there was this