Metamorphosis By Franz Kafka Essay

Although the short story by Franz Kafka, The Metamorphosis, occurs in a realm of fantasy, the story highlights many problems that actually occur in the real world. Many of Karl Marx’s ideas and theories can be seen throughout the story, including that of alienation. The main character of the story, Gregor Samsa, represents the working class, also known as the proletariat according to Marx. Gregor’s manager on the other hand represents, as Marx would state as, the bourgeoisie. Gregor’s transformation into an insect represents any impairment that could affect a laborer and render him unable to work. Gregor’s manager abandons Gregor when he is no longer able to provide his labor, just as a bourgeoisie would treat such a situation. Another Marxist idea is found in the novel when referring to how Gregor’s family treats him after his transformation. After Gregor’s transformation, he no longer has any value to his family. Eventually Gregor’s inability to work causes his death.

Gregor works as a traveling salesman, even though he wishes for a different life, he cannot quit his job because his family needs his financial support and to pay off a large debt. Towards the beginning of the story, Gregor mentions “What a grueling job I’ve picked! Day in, day out--on the road... To the Devil with it all!” (Kafka 3-4). During this quotation, Gregor uses words such as miserable, grueling, and torture to describe his job. Yet he is unable to quit because not only he, but his entire family depends on Gregor’s income as their only means of survival. Due to the fact that Gregor is forced to work for someone else, he is alienated from his labor and conflict arises from Gregor’s desire to work and the economic demands that cause this