Empathy In The Metamorphosis

Written by Franz Kafka in 1915, The Metamorphosis provides a bleak view of life in the modern world. From Gregor's initial transformation into an insect, to his family's betrayal, to his unfortunate death, the author relates the story with an air of apathy. The actions and experiences of each character seem insignificant, with no real depth to their emotions. This lack of empathy, paired with the morose events that occur in the story, merge to create a truly in unpleasant worldview. But stripping is characters of both negative and positive emotions, Kafka uses his story to express the futility of life in the modern world.

While some characters initially show signs of love and empathy, every human in The Metamorphosis ultimately acts in their own self-interest. Gregor’s father attacks him when he ventures from his room. Even Grete, who really seems to have a close relationship with Gregor, betrays him once he becomes a burden. This suggests that perhaps her feelings had not been genuine after all, and that she had only cared for him because he provided for her. One must also consider the possibility that Gregor

He identifies the metamorphosis as absurdist literature, a genre that accentuates the meaninglessness of life. In support of his claims, Sutherland references the tone that Kafka takes in his writing, saying " The human condition, for Kafka, is well beyond tragic or depressed. It is “absurd.”". This argument seems logical and sound. Surely a story as void and tragic as the metamorphosis has to come from the author’s own emptiness and sorrow. A short essay written by Andrew Das Sarma gives a similar opinion. Sarma states that without the affection of family or the routine right by his workers life has no meaning and therefore no reason to go on. Clearly John Sutherland's and Andrew Das Sarma’s arguments about Kafka only further proves that no meaning can be found in this