Metamorphosis by Franz Kapka

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Recommended: Experience in adolescent stage

Gregor Samsa, the protagonist from the novella “Metamorphosis,” experiences many events similar to what teenagers would experience as they develop and mature. During the novella, his struggles gradually worsen over time. Teenagers often experience quite similar events as Gregor does. They are similar due to their change in physical appearance, fluctuating emotions, way of communicating with others around, and gradual change in growth.
Both Gregor Samsa and teenagers experience change in appearance. During the beginning of “Metamorphosis,” Gregor finds himself in his bed, transformed into an insect. One of his first conflicts was getting out of bed to go to work which was near impossible because his transformation changed his body in such an abnormal way that it was very difficult to get his body to cooperate with him to get out of bed and open his bedroom door. He has an armor-like back with thin legs. His voice sounds very unfamiliar and difficult to comprehend.
Teenagers experience changes in their physical features during their “transformation” as well. Their body changes, especially during growth spurts. Male teenagers grow approximately 4 inches taller on average as their bodies develop. They gain more weight, and their voices deepen. Females have a growth spurt later than males. They grow approximately 3 inches taller on average as their bodies develop.
Gregor suffers all sorts of conflicts throughout the entire novella due to his transformation. During the first part of “Metamorphosis,” he is conflicted with the idea of losing his job and trying to pay off his parents’ debt that they have accumulated through the failure of his father’s business. Gregor’s mood changes slowly during the novella. He was once an emotionally...

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...eenagers suffer from depression and thoughts of suicide. Others may have experienced a death of a loved one. The life of Gregor Samsa and teenagers are significantly alike in certain situations, such as growth, death, emotions, and way of communicating.

Works Cited

"Information on Depression." Depression. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2014. .
"Puberty." Information for Teens. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2014. .
Distinguishing Mood Swings from Depression in Teenagers. Harvard Medical School, n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2014. .
Foucault, Michel. Madness and Civilization: A History of Insanity in the Age of Reason. Trans.
Richard Howard. New York: Vintage-Random House, 1988. Print.

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