Perception Changes in Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

Change is unavoidable and inevitably in every moment of our lives. In every second of our lives, changes appear and disappear, impacting our lives. Humans perceive change differently and it reveals the true nature of our heart. It is due to the dissension of change between humans that determines the differences in our individual perceptions. In the novel, “ Metamorphosis” by Franz Kafka, the word change is taken to a entirely absurd degree as the main protagonist, Gregor Samsa is illogically transformed into a bug. Although Gregor’s thoughts still shown traces of his human self, Gregor’s family is unable to cope with his hideous form and isolates him from their world. Once perceived as the breadwinner of the family, Gregor is now seen as a burden to the family. Distorted by the behavior of his family, Gregor questions his existence and his perception of his own self begins to change into like his family’s, seeing himself as no more than a useless vermin. Ultimately, Gregor allows his perception of a human be influenced by the ones of his family, which determins

The novel immediately begins with Gregor, the travelling salesmen, waking up in his bed and discovers himself transformed into a “monstrous vermin” ( Kafka ). Gregor is the money-earner of the family due to the failure of his father’s business. He is perceived as the most important man in his family as he “[earns] enough money to meet the expenses of the entire family” (26). Even though he disliked his job as a salesman, he readily accepts his new role as the money-earner in the family without hesitation. Similarly, as he wakes up to see himself in his new body, he quickly accepts that he has become a bug and tries to go about his life as best he can in his new c...

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...re losing hope on Gregor’s existence as a human. As the furniture is being removed by his mother and Grete, he clings on to a photo so that they couldn’t take it away. Despite his efforts to protect his feelings of a human, his mother was faints from the sight of the disgusting creature and was rewarded by a beating from the father. Once perceived as the breadwinner of the family, his family doesn’t even see him as human, but simply a bug that lives in a room. Imprisoned in a cage of isolation and denial, Gregor’s perception begins to change because of this and questions his existence and role in the family. In effect, it causes him to lose his appetite and a loss of sleep. Not only does his body deteriorates, his perception of himself follows as well.

Gregor’s perception is utterly reversed and sees eye to eye with his family during the climatic violin scene.