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Metamorphosis by franz kafka summary and analysis
Family in the metamorphosis critics
Metamorphosis by franz kafka summary and analysis
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One of the most curious aspects of The Metamorphosis was the fact that Gregor sincerely cared for his family members even though none of them really showed any appreciation towards the young man and what he had done for them. Gregor himself, however, remained blissfully ignorant of this fact for most of the story. Later on, after he morphed into an insect, the true feelings of his family were revealed, and Gregor came to the realization that they, in fact, did not love him unconditionally. Familial responsibility and alienation were underlying themes presented throughout this short story. Franz Kafka examined the untraditional and rather twisted relationship between the main character, Gregor, and his family members to further emphasize these themes. At the beginning of the novella, Gregor was the one who worked hard to support his family, when the family themselves did …show more content…
“If I didn’t hold back for my parents’ sake, I would have quit long ago…” (4) All of the family’s funds and expenses were based solely on Gregor’s income. He was unhappy and discontented with his current occupation, yet he had to keep it for it was a stable source of revenue. The imbalance in the responsibility distribution resulted in strained relationships between the family members, though mainly between Gregor and his father. Gregor also alienated himself from anything that was unnecessary. He developed a habit “of locking all the doors during the night even at home.” (6) Kafka used this image as an example of how Gregor subtly isolate himself as a result of the weight of his role as the only money provider in the family. When the job shifted to become his father’s, a sense of instability was displayed when “his father had put the worst interpretation on Grete’s all-too-brief announcement and assumed that Gregor was guilty of some outrage” (35). The burden of financial responsibilities on a single person, again,
Gregor Samsa is the protagonist in the famous novella The Metamorphosis, written by the Czech author Franz Kafka. Gregor goes through a physical metamorphosis during his sleep, awaking to find himself entrapped in the body of a giant insect, not knowing how or why it happened. Yet, throughout the story you see that Gregor’s humility, as a human and as an insect, shows that he truly cares for his family in the 1915 classic. Through Gregor’s love for his now neglectful family, we can ask this question: is Gregor actually more human than his family? This question can be answered by looking at one of Gregor’s greatest attributes, his selflessness.
From the beginning of The Metamorphosis Kafka offers a comical depiction of Gregor’s “squirming legs” (Kafka 13) and a body in which “he could not control” (7). Gregor’s initial reaction to this situation was the fact he was late to his dissatisfying job as a salesman, but Gregor knows that he has to continue his job in order to keep the expectation his family holds upon him to pay of the family’s everlasting debt. When Gregor’s family eventually realizes that Gregor is still lying in his bed, they are confused because they have expectations on Gregor that he will hold the family together by working. They know if Gregor was to quit his job there would be a great catastrophe since he is the glue to keeping their family out of debt. The communication between his family is quickly identified as meager and by talking to each other from the adjacent walls shows their disconnection with each other. Kafka introduces the family as lacking social skills in order to offer the reader to criticize and sympathize for Gregor’s family dynamics. Gregor’s manager makes an appearance quickly after experiencing the dysfunction within the fami...
Gregor’s family loved him while he was an asset, but they despised him when he was a burden. When people lose value as laborers, they begin to lose value as a whole person, too. Thus, they also become a ‘bug’ in society because of their inability to continually contribute to the world. Metaphorically speaking, this is how Gregor felt. He was discarded at the slightest change in his laboring ability. Following the Marxist theory, economic and monetary principles far surpassed any emotional attachment in the Samsa family.
Family’s ignorance has also quickened the process. In exposition of The Metamorphosis, Gregor is presented as a relatively successful citizen. He and his family live in their own house, although Gregor is the only one working, they still have a maid to work for them. Nonetheless in the end, Gregor dies alienated and involuntarily. As “his head involuntarily sank down altogether” (Kafka 49), his destruction as a human is determined. Kafka reveals to readers the process of Gregor’s self-destruction throughout the story. Some would argue that the story begins with a climax, which is most biggest sacrifice Gregor made: He is transformed into “an enormous bug” (Kafka 11). As he did not make sacrifices to the family, he is still considered as an individual with all the human attributes as the rising action develops. He is able to think logically; there is a detachment between his bug body and human mind, as “each time he rock[s] back into the supine position” (Kafka 11) when he wants to move. He is also able to see. However as the rising action develops, the family begins to ignore him as Gregor but see him as a monster, he is forced to make sacrifices and compromises to wards the family. His human qualities begin to destruct. He has more connection with the body, and starts to enjoy “hanging up on the ceiling” (Kafka 32) like a bug. He also “no longer derive[s] the slightest pleasure from eating” (Kafka 32) when Grete starts to neglect him. When the story getting closer to the climax, Gregor loses more humanity when he sacrifices his room into a cave where a bug lives. His last confrontation with the family is when he comes out to save his sister from the lodgers. He has almost no humanity at the time; to others Gregor is only a giant bug. Grete eventually declares that “[they] have to get rid of it” (Kafka 47). The declaration can be
Strained, overworked and mistreated was all Gregor has known. His family needs him so they can live comfortably with as little effort as possible. There are no strong family bonds or relationships because there is no love and respect within the family. Gregor provides and makes a comfortable life for his able bodied family with little regard to his own well being. However, he gains no respect and continually puts up with the family de-humanizing him. In Franz Kafka’s “Metamorphosis”, the well being and financial stability of Gregor’s family rest solely on him by the consent of the family making it impossible for close family relationships to form.
The protagonist of Gregor is meant to resemble Franz Kafka. Out of sense of duty to his parents, Kafka took jobs that he did not enjoy. His relationship with his father remained strained throughout his life; his father’s impact can be seen in much of Kafka’s writing (Kafka Birthday: A Letter From Franz Kafka To His Father). Gregor’s relationship with his father is similar to Kafka’s relationship with his father. For most of Kafka’s life, he did not live to fulfill his own needs; Kafka was living under his father’s expectations. He was under enormous pressure to become a successful businessman like his father, but Kafka had a profound love for literature which went against his father mindset; hence, the strained relationship between Kafka and his father (Kafka Birthday: A Letter From Franz Kafka To His Father). Franz Kafka had two younger brothers, Georg and Heinrich; unfortunately they both died leaving Kafka as the only...
In The Metamorphosis, through the characterization of Gregor Samsa, Franz Kafka can question the existence of unconditional love. Throughout the post-modernist era, writers argued against society’s ideas and customs, and Kafka decided to narrow it down to focus on the lack of love among people at this time. Kafka begins by making his argument evident through a description of Gregor’s room, which is depicted as an isolated area in the house for Gregor. He later on goes on to describe Gregor’s personality as one who is dedicated to his family and gives little time to himself and his own social life. Also, Kafka’s choice of what creature Gregor is transformed into, a large bug, helps establish the idea of the Gregor’s unimportance to his family and the idea that Gregor’s disability now makes him a pest rather than one who the family should care for more.
In Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis, Gregor is not the only presence that undergoes a complete transformation. Sometimes a change in one area of life will give way to changes in other areas, but the ensuing changes would not have come about without the first change that set things in motion. This is the case with Gregor and his family. Gregor’s family was in dire need of change, and Gregor’s condition became a powerful catalyst for that change. Gregor’s metamorphosis facilitates the change of his entire family, proving that oftentimes an outside source is needed to pull people out of a rut and get them on their feet again.
“I cannot make you understand. I cannot make anyone understand what is happening inside me. I cannot even explain it to myself”(3). Before even getting up from bed, Gregor Samsa’s life and the life of his family is irreversibly changed. In The Metamorphosis, written by Franz Kafka, Gregor, a traveling salesman, transforms overnight into a gigantic insect. As a result of this physical change, Gregor’s relationships with his family deteriorate as they are repulsed by his vile appearance. The Metamorphosis suggests that Gregor’s transformation serves as an allegory for mental illness. Kafka creates these parallels through the casual nature of Gregor’s metamorphosis, his inability to function as a member of
Unlike Esther, Gregor does not cause his controversy. Kafka depicts Gregor as a humble and selfless individual who keeps to himself and seems to have only one purpose: to support his family. His selflessness is why he has the sole purpose to work and pay off the debt for his family; he self-acquired the burden of his father’s debt. After Gregor wakes up and realizes that he has transformed into an insect, he does not look after himself. Instead, he concerns himself with the duty to support his family. Kafka writes how determined Gregor is to resume his work; “Well, I haven’t entirely given up that hope; once I’ve got the money together to pay of my parents’ debt to him—that ought to take five or six years—I will do so, no two ways about it” (30). Although Gregor expresses great devotion and sacrifice, his family does not appreciate his hard work. The family taking Gregor for granted never troubles him. Kafka displays how human cruelty leads to individuals becoming
The main character in The Metamorphosis, Gregor Samsa, undergoes transformations both physically and psychologically that determine the events for the rest of his life. Kafka captured his audience’s attention by opening The Metamorphosis with Gregor’s physical transformation into an insect. As Gregor lifts his head from his bed he feels his now rock-hard back and sees the brown ridged sections that consume his belly. Gregor soon realizes that his bug-like physique is going to prevent him from completing his daily activities; some as simple as sleeping. Gregor’s transformation into an insect is one of the most shocking metamorphosis’ experienced in the entire novella. The absurdity that a grown man can physically change into a bug overnight provides a shock factor and initiates the plot of the novella. By transforming into a bug, Gregor is the first example of a metamorphosis. As a result of Gregor’s physical metamorphosis, he also succumbs to a psychological transformation the longer he lives in his insect body. Gregor accepts his new physical form and begins using it to his advantage. He develops a love for food scraps and climbs the walls of his room fo...
In Franz Kafka’s short story, Metamorphosis, the idea of existentialism is brought out in a subtle, yet definite way. Existentialism is defined as a belief in which an individual is ultimately in charge of placing meaning into their life, and that life alone is meaningless. They do not believe in any sort of ultimate power and focus much of their attention on concepts such as dread, boredom, freedom and nothingness. This philosophical literary movement emerged in the twentieth-century, when Kafka was establishing his writing style in regards to alienation and distorted anxiety. A mirror to his own personal lifestyle, this story follows the short and sad life of a man unable to break out of the bonds society has placed on him. These bonds are not only evident in the work place, but at home too. Being constantly used and abused while in his human form, Gregor’s lifestyle becomes complicated once he becomes a giant insect and is deemed useless. Conflicts and confusion arise primarily between Gregor and his sister Grete, his parents, and his work. Each of these three relationships has different moral and ethical complications defining them. However, it is important for one to keep in mind that Gregor’s metamorphosis has placed him into a position of opposition, and that he has minimal control over the events to take place. Conflicts will also occur between family members as they struggle with the decision of what to do with Gregor. In the end they all come to the agreement that maintaining his uselessness is slowly draining them and they must get rid of him.
In "The Metamorphosis", Gregor's family responds to his transformation fearfully rather than attempt to understand him; Kafka reveals that the best way to respond to change is to embrace it and try to understand it rather than fear it. Gregor's family is very scared of him. Gregor's "mother was not used to the sight of him; it might make her sick" (Kafka 513). Gregor's mother, who is supposed to be one of his closest and understanding family members, changes her perception of him completely when he transforms into a large beetle. Gregor's
Gregor was a young man born and raised in a middle class family during the late-nineteenth century or early twentieth century. During this time period children were raised to follow on their parents steps; however, in Gregor’s situation this tradition did not took place due to the family financial situation. Gregro was force to work as a traveling salesman to help with the family’s business debts and during this process, he became the solely bread winner. It seemed that during the time that he was the bread winner of the household he became emotional disturb creating a disconnection between his mind and realty in the blink of an eye. On the novel the author describe Gregor was an educated, ethical, and responsible young man willing to go any length to help his family; however, one day Gregor went to bed and woke as a disgusting and giant bug according to Gregor’s
Within family there will always be sacrifices each member makes. Sometimes we dread making these sacrifices because they prohibit us from doing things we would rather do with our time or because they simply make us unhappy, but regardless of the resentment, we are able to say that we do things for our family, which gives us a sense of pride. In the novella, “The Metamorphosis” by Franz Kafka, the ability or inability to sacrifice one’s time for work or for the well being of one’s family create a divide between the family members. Through Gregor’s transformation from human to bug Kafka shows the family’s divide via the inevitable need for the family’s changes in roles, indirect implications of Gregor’s human disappearance, and symbols that Gregor