Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka - Does Gregor Ever recieve justice?

Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka - Does Gregor Ever recieve justice?

In the short story “Metamorphosis” by Franz Kafka, the protagonist of the story, Gregor Samsa, goes through a strange transition where he is transformed from a human being into an insect. Throughout the story Gregor’s physical appearance changes but it is apparent that his life as an insect is not that different from his life as a human being. To the reader it seems as though justice is served when Gregor, who has been transformed into an insect by some unexplainable force, can no longer work. Therefore his family, who have been living off him are forced to go get jobs. This would be considered justice if it weren’t for the fact that Gregor is living his life as an insect therefore the idea of justice seems to be undefinable.

“Metamorphosis” is the story of a man named Gregor Samsa who awakes one morning from “unsettling dreams” and realizes that he has been transformed into a

“monstrous vermin.”

Gregor is a traveling salesman who works ridiculous hours every day while his family sits at home enjoying the luxuries which come from the money that he earns. Gregor spends his time “traveling day in, day out.” He awakes every morning at four o’clock

and has “not once been ill during his five-year employment,” therefore it is quite rare that when the story begins he is late for work. It is so rare that the head clerk of the company where he works appears at his house wondering why he is not out of bed yet and why he is late for work. Finally with the “aid of his chair” Gregor is able to open the door. It is a complete shock to everyone to see Gregor in the state that he is in.

The head clerk is ready to leave and it appears that Gregor has lost his job for good. Gregor’s job loss is not only detrimental to him but also to his family because he is their only source of income. Seeing as how Gregor is unable to get another job, his family is forced to get jobs of their own. Roles are now reversed because now Gregor’s family is forced to take care of him. Gregor’s life as a human was unjust because he was

forced to financially support his family and wake up at four o’clock every morning to go to work as a traveling business man.