Work Horse

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Franz Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis” portrays Gregor Samza as the bread winner, someone that is depended on to keep the whole family out of poverty. However, Gregor later finds that his hard work was the leading catalyst to his demise. A biography of Kafka’s life exposes his awkward relationship with is father, “Kafka's father had a profound impact on both Kafka's life and writing. He was a tyrant of sorts, with a wicked temper and little appreciation for his son's creative side”(Franz). Gregor Samza and Franz Kafka’s life seem strikingly congruent at times, an uncanny and troublesome relationship with his family, while not completely feeling recognized for his hard work. Working hard to get ahead truism is not a reality; In Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis” Gregor works hard, but his hard work leads to his alienation. Gregor Samza is unknowingly bamboozled by his family to work hard and take care of their needs. Kafka writes, “Well, there's still hope; once I've saved enough money to pay back my parents' debt to him - that should take another five or six years - I‘ll do it with out fail. That's when I'll make the big change”(kafka,54). Gregor , still lying in bed, late for work, thinks to himself about the day he will be able to quit his job. He is bitter about the situation he is in; however, still loyal to the needs of his family. The debts that he is paying are not of his own and shows how loving Gregor is to his family and can be easily taken advantage of by them. As his family notices that Gregor is still home they become worried: She had probably only just gotten out of bed and hadn’t even begun to put on her clothes yet. Well, why was she crying? Because he wouldn’t get up, and let the chief clerk in, because he was i... ... middle of paper ... ...ther, father, and sister. Gregor, unknowingly, was never able to really find out what type of person he really was or what he wanted to do for himself. In the time period that “The Metamorphosis” takes place a good income generating employment might not be growing on tree’s, but the idea of business is just as prevailent as it is today. If an individual falls short of their duties at an firm as an employee they are noticed and are most likely on the verge of being let go. Gregor, however, is in a much different situation doesent mean that the pressures of life cant at Works Cited "Franz Kafka Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, 2014. Web. 17 Apr. 2014. Kafka, Franz. "The Metamorphosis." The Sons. New York: Schocken, 2011. 53-111. Print. "Literature, Arts, and Medicine Database." Kafka, Franz : The Metamorphosis. N.p., 29 Dec. 2009. Web. 17 Apr. 2014.

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