ipl-logo

Metamorphosis By Franz Kafka Transformation Essay

624 Words3 Pages

In "The Metamorphosis," the main character, Gregor, unavoidably metamorphosizes into a “gigantic insect,” (Kafka, 1915, p. 89) and undergoes several psychological transformations that demonstrate his growing disassociation from the contemporary world. He is moreover so negatively impacted by his isolation from his family that he ends up putting his own wellness below his intense need to support the family. Throughout the transformation, Gregor begins to prioritize his own personal needs and desires as opposed to other people's needs. Franz Kafka's "The Metamorphosis" furthermore signifies the emotional shift that Gregor experiences; the central protagonist of the novella suddenly stops behaving normally, and his surroundings continue to shift. (Kafka, 1915)

Gregor had already been living an automated life under subjugation, sacrificing his personal and social life to support his family while they all remained home. This is evident when he said, “Oh god...what an exhausting job I’ve picked on! Traveling about day in, day out..." (Kafka, 1915, p. 89) The presumption that Gregor's life was indeed a never-ending loop of labor is formed by the assertion that "since during his five …show more content…

(Kafka, 1915, slide 60) Shortly after, this phase of Gregor's detachment from his family coincides with Gregor succumbing to his frailty. He concedes that he will never be human again; that he will never be free as he once was. Subsequently, he prioritized discovering a carefully planned alternative, tackling the worries that had always forced him to prioritize his family. Gregor was inexorably alienated by enslavement and abandonment, but that also gave him the opportunity to regain his identity, find solace, and die quietly, as he reflected on his

Show More
Related

  • Gregor's Transformation Rhetorical Analysis

    233 Words  | 1 Pages

    Gregor’s initial reaction to his transformation shows his preoccupation with work. His confusion over his radical transformation does not last long, quickly becoming concerned with work and disregarding that he woke up physically transformed into a monstrous vermin. Immediately after realizing he had transformed, Gregor explains, “Well, I haven’t given up hope completely; once I’ve gotten the money together to pay off my parents’ debt to [the boss] that will probably take another five to six years… But for the time being I’d better get up, since my train leaves at five” (4). The quick transition of Gregor’s thoughts from the initial shock to his economic duties reveals his ironic nonchalant attitude towards his nonsensical transformation and

    Read More

  • Isolation In The Metamorphosis By Franz Kafka

    677 Words  | 3 Pages

    Even though his family has assumed the world and thought that their dear son and brother had been turned into a monster. Gregor still looked out for them, was extremely selfless, and still cared deeply about his family. Even in his isolated, depressed state, he spent hours working on a way to make it so Grete didn’t have to see him. “One day he carried the sheet on his back to the couch this job took four hours” (29). Even after being essentially ignored by his family he still puts himself through strain to make sure that they are taken care of in whatever way he can.

    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

    With such a title, one might expect that this story will express the metamorphosis of a caterpillar to a beautiful butterfly, but with Kafka’s troubled upbringing, abuse and feelings of being devalued for most of his life, it’s easy to see how Kafka felt the need to symbolically dehumanize himself. Kafka’s choice of human-to-insect transformation exudes self-loathing because there’s nothing lower than a cockroach. While Gregor is the one who took on the grotesque transformation, it’s actually his family’s behavior towards his change which conveys complete hostility. Grete, for one, had enough near the end when she said, “If it were Gregor, he would have realized long ago that it isn't possible for human beings to live with such a creature, and he would have gone away of his own free will” (Kafka). It’s very disheartening knowing that his own family couldn’t handle his transformation when his first thought in the morning was getting to work on time for their

    Read More

  • Human Survival In The Metamorphosis By Franz Kafka

    215 Words  | 1 Pages

    The Metamorphosis can be called as one of Franz Kafka’s best works of literature. The author demonstrates the struggle of human survival- the problem of living in modern society- through the narrator. The author robs Gregor of every sense of his existence by stealing off all assumptions of his life. He is stripped down to the very core of his existence. The protagonist is encountered with fundamental problems of human existence- what it takes to be? -

    Read More

  • Identity In Ovid's Metamorphosis

    1857 Words  | 8 Pages

    Hurry, get the doctor. Did you just hear Gregor talking?’ ‘That was a voice of an animal’” (12). Through Gregor’s perspective, one may assume that his response to his manager was heard loud and clear and the only modification to his identity is the physical change he has undergone which highlights the importance of Kafka’s change in perspective. Although Gregor believes himself to be in control of the situation, the third person narration as well as the other character’s remarks reveal quite the opposite.

    Read More

  • How Did Gregor Samsa Change Throughout The Metamorphosis

    484 Words  | 2 Pages

    “The Metamorphosis”, written by Franz Kafka, takes place in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, the city is unspecified. The protagonist, Gregor Samsa, is turned into a giant bug and struggles to regain his harmonious life as a traveling salesman. Gregor goes through both a physical and emotional change throughout the novel, from turning into a bug and then being unable to provide for his family because of his condition. Gregor has been changed into a giant bug where he is a not a pleasant eyesight to his family and isn't accepted by his father and mother but only his sister. As the novella begins,”he found himself transformed right there in his bed into some sort of monstrous insect”.

    Read More

  • Societal Norms In Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis

    153 Words  | 1 Pages

    Kafka conveys the theme of The Metamorphosis through the societal norms of the time period. Typically, the man of the house is expected to have a job and no one else. Women do not usually work during this time and are expected to stay home to cook and clean. Because of these ingrained gender roles, Gregor’s family has fallen into a routine of sorts; Grete stays home to play music, Gregor’s father and mother lounge around, the servant girl takes care of the chores and Gregor supports his family by working. Despite Gregor being the sole provider for his family, no one thanks him.

    Read More

  • Gender Roles In Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis

    1047 Words  | 5 Pages

    Gregor, as the breadwinner and dominant male figure of his household, is committed to his job of traveling salesman. In fact, he awakes as a vermin and is immediately concerned about work. He even ventures to say, “The business worries are far worse than they are on the actual premise at home” (Kafka 77), when he has just turned into a beetle, illustrating just how important his position in the family’s social hierarchy is. He is the breadwinner, while the rest of his family is practically leeching off of his work. But, due

    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

  • Feminism In The Metamorphosis

    795 Words  | 4 Pages

    Gregor is the main provider within the family for the amount of income he brings, and is idolized for his role. Being raised in the 20th century, Gregor 's view on women had been the same as any other male during this time period and looked down upon women as inadequate, and, in most societies, the man provides and the woman maintains; however, this viewpoint alternates once the unexpected change in their life occurs resulting in a switch of leadership within their household. "Gregor felt very proud that he had been able to provide such a life in so nice an apartment for his parents and his sister. (21)" After his mysterious modification within his physical form, his mentality also weakened.

    Read More

  • Metamorphosis Kafka Analysis

    966 Words  | 4 Pages

    Even Gregor himself is aware that his work dominates his life (‘‘ "Oh, God", he thought, "what a strenuous career it is that I 've chosen! Travelling day in and day out. ….It can all go to Hell!" ’’ –p.3).

    Read More

  • The Metamorphosis

    2036 Words  | 9 Pages

    Life is full of twists and turns, but none as dramatic as the events Gregor Samsa experiences in the novella ‘The Metamorphosis.’ Franz Kafka cleverly incorporates elements of his life into this story about a man who wakes up one morning as a bug. During the story, Gregor experiences several conflicts with his family members, specifically Grete and his father, surrounding his living arrangements and money issues. At the end of this novella, Gregor feels dejected and like a nuisance to the family, and decides to embrace the cold grasp of death. Kafka uses characterization, symbolism, and irony to show the familial conflicts caused by Gregor’s transformation. These problems, along with pre existing relationship issues, lead to the rest of

    Read More

  • Examples Of Dehumanization In The Metamorphosis By Franz Kafka

    753 Words  | 4 Pages

    The narrator describes a recently hung picture, “The picture was of a woman clad in a fur stole; she sat upright and held out to the viewer a thick fur muff into which her entire forearm disappeared” (Kafka, 2013, p. 112). The protagonist displayed, this picture in his room to symbolize his search in finding love and a true meaning in life. Therefore, depriving Gregor from having a social life affected his mental

    Read More

  • Economic Drive In Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis

    1504 Words  | 7 Pages

    Kafka uses diction and symbolism to convey the family’s dissatisfaction and the deterioration in their family ties. Each family member acquires a job to compensate the loss of Gregor’s salary. Kafka writes: “They were fulfilling to the utmost the demands the world makes on the poor: Gregor’s father fetched breakfast for the petty employees at the bank, his mother sacrificed herself for the underclothes of strangers, his sister ran back and forth behind the shop counter at her costumers’ behest... And the wound in Gregor’s back would begin to ache anew when… Gregor’s mother…would say: ‘shut the door now Grete’; and Gregor was left in the dark again” (Kafka

    Read More

More about Metamorphosis By Franz Kafka Transformation Essay

Open Document