Theme Between Metamorphosis And Metamorphosis

In the novel Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka and Barbara Gowdy’s short story “Flesh of My Flesh” a metamorphosis occurs where Sam, in Gowdy’s story, was born in the wrong body just as Gregor, in Metamorphosis, wakes up in the wrong body. However, the perception of the theme of harmony between the body and identity are distinguishable between the two stories. They differentiate between who establishes the separation between the body and identity, the evolution of the perception of the separation of identity and body and how the character that establishes the separation comes to accept the division. The person directly affected by the change, establishes the discord between body and identity in Metamorphosis, whereas in “Flesh of my Flesh”, it

Throughout the novel, Gregor’s family thickens the boundary that divides Gregor’s body from his identity - therefore the process is more regressive. For instance, at the beginning of the novel when Greta places a bowl of milk in his room she shows that she has hope that Gregor is the beetle. However, since Gregor begins to reject all the foods he previously liked as a human, because he is adapting to his new body’s needs (Kafka 27-28). Greta takes this as an indication to destroy any hope in believing Gregor is the beetle. She demonstrates this when she removes all the furniture from his room so he has more space to crawl around. Therefore, by tending to his needs, as an insect shows how she is identifying him less as her brother and more as a beetle. Not to mention Greta’s comment before Gregor dies as she states, “‘It must be gotten rid of,’ cried the sister; ‘That is the only way, father. You must try to get rid of the idea that this is Gregor. The fact that we have believed for so long, that is truly our real misfortune” (Kafka 69). This shows that she coldly identifies him fully as beetle. Regarding Sam, Marion’s progression in accepting and seeing Sam as who he really is, is positive. At first, she was completely and utterly repulsed at the fact that he is transgendered, but her love

After Marion’s internal debate on whether she should accept Sam for who he is, she gradually learns to accept him and finally finds harmony between his body and identity the night before Sam’s sex reassignment surgery, when she has this realization: “Something just clears out of her mind, gives up. She turns over and kisses him on the mouth” (Gowdy 201). What she realizes is that she loves him no matter what and finally sees him for who he really is. Gregor unfortunately never finds harmony between his body and his identity. Although Gregor manages to adapt to his new body as a Beetle, such as enjoying climbing the walls and preferring dark places (Kafka 41), he still manages to hang onto his humanity. To elaborate, the last moment before his death he thinks, “He remembered his family with deep feeling and love” (Kafka 71). Thus, proving that he held onto love, which is an act of humanity, until the very end. Which means that Gregor, internally, is human however his body remains a beetle. Therefore, he dies with an enforced boundary between his body and identity, unlike where “Flesh of My Flesh” ends where Marion’s perception of the boundary between Sam’s body and identity vanishes into