ipl-logo

Theme Of Metamorphosis By Kafka

993 Words4 Pages

Explore how Gregor’s metamorphosis can be seen as a symbol of alienation of him in the modern world in Kafka’s Metamorphosis. The literal meaning of the term ‘metamorphosis’ is the process of transformation by which humans change from an adolescent into an adult in two or more stages. The choice of the title by Kafka, creates a significant role for the idea of change to be played.The story suggests a world that is pugnacious and the most salient theme in the book is per say the powerful hegemonizing demeanour of Kafka’s father over him which is shown in correlation with Mr Samsa and Gregor. Kafka’s relationship with his father was decrepit and therefor arduous to maintain. Franz Kafka goes a milestone in portraying this metamorphosis as …show more content…

Kafka, has suggested the most grotesque nature of this dung beetle, but most notably in the beginning of the book and eventually leading to his catastrophic death.Gregor Samsa patiently accepts the hardships that he has no option but to face as an insect or as a human being devoid of complaints. Gregor Samsa, even as a travelling salesman lacked the charisma of a contented cheerful life. The melancholic path in life choose him, for instance, all the other travelling salesmen in the hotel where he stayed, would arrive for breakfast just after Gregor was done with the placement of his order.This perspective of Gregor towards others, orient towards their duties and responsibilities which affected him, because of the unsatiated-ness that was there within him, because of the hard-work he was putting in to pay off his parents debts while the other travelling salesman just had a peaceful and joyful journey. It wasn't the hard-work that had the alienating impact on Gregor but it was the lack of a companion.Gregor did not have time to dwell about what he wanted to do. He just wanted to pay off his parents debts and move out of the firm because of the unfavourable conditions, that prevailed.Gregor worked for a tenure of five years in the firm, without a day off but on the one day on which his somatic metamorphosis took place, the chief clerk was sent in to find out what has happened. The chief clerk mocked Gregor’s parents about their debts and Gregor could not wit-stand this mockery. Anger prevailed within

Show More
Related

  • Analysis Of Johnny Got His Gun By Dalton Trumbo

    956 Words  | 4 Pages

    His troubles are taken for granted by his family. His family does not care much for Gregor beyond what they can get out of him, outsiders are reverentially

    Read More

  • Influences On The Metamorphosis By Franz Kafka

    2015 Words  | 9 Pages

    There are hundreds of works of literature out in the world, many of them are great, and some are not as great. What makes them great is the truth behind them, the true feelings, and what it truly meant to the author. Many great works of literature are influenced by several different things, in the case of “The Metamorphosis”, it was influenced by the life of Franz Kafka, the author, and his real- life experiences. The Freudian concept help explain why “The Metamorphosis” contains symbols and clues that can be used to compare certain relationships throughout Kafka’s life, one being with his father, and the other with woman who entered his life. Franz Kafka was a German man who worked as a lawyer who worked at the workmen’s Accident Insurance

    Read More

  • Freedom Of Choice In Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis

    1058 Words  | 5 Pages

    Neither Kafka nor Gregor followed the existentialist idea of freedom of choice in a person’s life. They both had a life they didn’t ask for and responsibilities they were forced to assume. This principle of lack of freedom is clearly shown by the unexpected transformation of Gregor, waking up as an insect and obtaining the freedom he lacked, emancipating himself of obligations, injustice and final duties. He is freed from the obligation to work to maintain his family and liberated himself from his tyrannical father. Although he turned into a horrible insect, the metamorphosis did not change the beauty of his soul.

    Read More

  • The Reaction To Change In Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis?

    1092 Words  | 5 Pages

    It’s quite remarkable how differently people react to change; how one could be so rebellious while the other embraces it. In “The Man in a Case” written by Anton Chekhov, Byelikov is not only a reserved, quiet man who revolts against any form of change, but is also a man who makes no exceptions to his mental disciplinarian handbook of rules whether it was for personal or professional purposes. On the other hand, “The Metamorphosis” by Franz Kafka begins with Gregor Samsa treating his change from a human being to an insect with complete disregard as though his transformation is a natural occurrence in his life. Chekhov and Kafka, in their respective works of literature, use profound figurative references and discuss the different reactions to change, which as a result intrigue and arouse the reader’s curiosity.

    Read More

  • Identity In Ovid's Metamorphosis

    1857 Words  | 8 Pages

    Franz Kafka, heavily influenced by Ovid’s Metamorphoses, devises the character Gregor Samsa in order to portray a detailed experience of an individual’s metamorphosis. Kafka’s narration style differs greatly from Ovid’s, in that, the narration begins with a first person perspective and changes to a third person narration, which remains consistent to the end of the novel. Unlike the stories within the Metamorphoses, there is a clear contrast in the portrayal of Gregor’s transformation. Ovid and Kafka’s depiction of a metamorphosis incorporates the concept of identity in the individual’s transition, however Kafka emphasizes the family dynamic and the hostility Gregor feels. Gregor’s family’s inability to look past Gregor’s exterior appearance

    Read More

  • Metamorphosis Franz Kafka Euphemism Analysis

    747 Words  | 3 Pages

    Transforming and Romanticizing a Storyline The Metamorphosis, a novella written by Franz Kafka, attracted the attention of many of its readers due to the writing framework and shocking concepts. The story depicts a man named Gregor Samsa who has befallen the fate of a cockroach- literally. After being transformed into a large bug, Gregor goes through the struggles of misunderstanding, neglect, and loss of his family relationships.

    Read More

  • Gender Roles In Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis

    1047 Words  | 5 Pages

    Gregor Samsa’s transition from human to vermin was not the only shift that happened through the duration of Kafka’s The Metamorphosis. The novel is centered around Gregor who wakes up as a vermin, presumably a cockroach, which catalyses a series of emotionally traumatic experiences for him and his family, culminating in Gregor’s death. Yet the most significant change is, in fact, the gender role reversal seen both with Gregor and Grete, his sister, as Gregor becomes more effeminate and Grete becomes more emasculate, directly correlating with their societal and emotional transformation due to Gregor's physical change. From the moment, Gregor wakes up he has transformed. But not just as a vermin.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Cruelty In Frank Kafka's Metamorphosis

    535 Words  | 3 Pages

    In The Metamorphosis by Frank Kafka cruelty is what stemmed Gregor’s change into a large bug and subconsciously motivated him to end his life. Gregor’s new form was a depiction of how he already felt in his household, trapped, voiceless, and small. As Gregor’s metamorphosis developed so did the characters cruelty which affected both the perpetrators and the victims. The Samasa family’s cruelty was demonstrated both physically and mentally by Gregor’s father driving him back into his room, throwing apples at him and by Grete’s use of the word “it”.

    Read More

  • Cruelty In Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis

    777 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Repercussions of Cruelty Cruel actions lead to cruel endings. Gregor Samsa, the protagonist in Franz Kafka’s novella The Metamorphosis, is turned into a bug from the mental and emotional abuse by the hands of his own family. The cruelty in the Samsa household is apparent from the beginning of the storyline. Their neglect and lack of compassion for Gregor's condition immediately sets the dark and miserable mood of the novella. Gregor’s whole existence has been about caring for his family and making sacrifices for their well being.

    Read More

  • Outsiders In The Metamorphosis By Franz Kafka

    289 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the story “The Metamorphosis” by Franz Kafka, Gregor, was a boy who was turned into some sort of bug in the beginning of the story. As the story went on, Gregor's family started to isolate him for everything that they did. Towards the ending of the story “The Metamorphosis” Gregor’s family started caring less about him, especially his sister who was trying to help him. In Franz Kafka’s story “The Metamorphosis” Gregor a hard working

    Read More

  • Summary Of Deconstructionism In Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis

    769 Words  | 4 Pages

    As the main character, Gregor Samsa, transforms from human state to that of a beetle, there are many aspects that are left unexplained and seemingly unstable. For example, in the novel, Gregor’s transformation into a beetle is left unexplained by Kafka. Kafka opens up the novel by stating, “When Gregor Samsa woke up one morning from unsettling dreams, he found himself changed in his bed into a monstrous vermin” (Kafka 1). There is no scientific or physical evidence as to why this transformation occurred, but it can be ascertained that it is a psychological transformation.

    Read More

  • Mr. Samsa In Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis

    616 Words  | 3 Pages

    1. Almost from the very beginning of Gregor’s metamorphosis, Mr. Samsa has been unwilling to accept Gregor as his son. Furthermore, Gregor’s transformation into an offensive form of an insect, constantly reminds Mr. Samsa of the grotesque, feeble, and pathetic aberration that he has fathered. Consequently, now that Gregor has genuinely revealed himself in all his audacious behavior, his cruel father is driven to destroy him. In his eyes, Gregor has become everything loathsome to him—scrawny, parasitic, and futile—not the kind of son this once successful and ambitious storekeeper could be proud of.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Dehumanization In The Metamorphosis By Franz Kafka

    753 Words  | 4 Pages

    Once the sole provider for his family, he now becomes a burden. Internally, he is the same Gregor Samsa, but his physical appearance causes his family to alienate and mistreat him. The use of dehumanization is prevalent in the novel causing the protagonist to suffer with symptoms of depression. He is unable to be a positive contributor in society or for his family. The use of symbolism in the novel displays his isolation and humanity.

    Read More

  • Economic Drive In Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis

    1504 Words  | 7 Pages

    Kafka was born into a middle-class family; his mother was well educated, and his father had a long history in business. Kafka, however, didn’t have the greatest relationship with his parents. His father had a terrible temper and didn’t approve of Kafka’s writing endeavors. He also put Kafka under tremendous pressure to continue the family business since he was the only son. Kafka’s childhood experience with an economically driven family dynamic was manifested in his novella The Metamorphosis.

    Read More

  • Critical Analysis Of The Metamorphosis

    1168 Words  | 5 Pages

    Otherwise how would Gregor have missed a train? That boy has nothing on his mind but the business’” (Kafka 10). Evidently, in normal circumstances, Gregor is a diligent and punctual employee; however, his boss claims the opposite. He threatens and berates Gregor in front of his entire family saying that Gregor’s “job is not the most secure” (Kafka 11) and his “performance of the late has been very unsatisfactory” (Kafka 12).

    Read More

More about Theme Of Metamorphosis By Kafka

Open Document