The Metamorphosis of Gregor
Metamorphosis - a change in form, structure, or
appearance. Change is a major theme throughout Franz Kafka's novella,
The Metamorphosis. There is a significant relationship between the title,
The Metamorphosis, and the theme of change. Kafka's main character, Gregor
Samsa, undergoes many changes and his transformation evokes change in his
family.
Several metamorphosis take place involving Gregor. First, a
physical change occurs "When Gregor Samsa woke up one morning from
unsettling dreams, he found himself changed in his bed into a monstrous
vermin." After that happened, Gregor's voice changes from human into the
voice of a bug. "That was the voice of an animal," Gregor's manager said,
but the words seemed perfectly clear to him. Beginning to see things
less and less, Gregor experiences a change in his vision. An example,
found on page 29, would be Gregor seeing the hospital less and less
distinctly. A mental change in Gregor occurs when he starts not caring
about or having no consideration for his family. " It hardly surprised him
that he was showing so little consideration for the others; once such
consideration had been his greatest pride."
Everyone in the Samsa family experiences changes brought on by
Gregor's metamorphosis. Since Gregor's physical change renders him no
longer able to work, the family's financial situation changes. Gregor's
mother, father, and sister have to get jobs. Mrs. Samsa, Gregor's
mother, sews lingerie for a local clothing store. His sister, who took a
job as a salesgirl to help the family,
also learns French in the evening so she might get a better position in
the future. Mr. Samsa, Gregor's father, takes a job as a messenger for
banking institutions. Turning into a bug, Gregor causes a lack of harmony
among the family members. They keep away from him and will not even look
at him. Now, because they are afraid of Gregor, at least two people
always stay home together. Lifestyles that they used to have change. No
maids want to stay. "...On the very first day the maid- it was not
completely clear what and how much she knew of what happened- had begged
his mother on bended knees to dismiss her immediately..;" (26) Besides
that, the necessity arises to rent rooms out to three borders to add to
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