The Metamorphosis, Franz Kafka
All true insects have six legs. But there was an exception— Gregor Samsa. Not necessarily because he had more or fewer than six legs, but because there was once a time when he had only two, in the form of a human. Franz Kafka takes a deep dive into the unfamiliar shift in Gregor’s life as an insect in his short story Metamorphosis. Through Gregor’s transformation into an insect, Kafka delves into themes such as alienation, duty, dehumanization, and more.
The story begins with Gregor’s transformation into an insect. Instead of being concerned over the fact that he had quite literally transformed into a vermin, he begins to agonize over his inability to attend his duties at his job. Gregor’s lack of care for his own well-being and extreme concern over his daily routines demonstrated a key sign of dehumanization early on in the short story. His approach in this situation demonstrates how monetary gains, used to support his family’s well-being, often outweighed his own struggles. Because Gregor had established his sole purpose in life to be the provider of his family, he found it difficult to care about anything other than bringing money home. This showed how crucial it is for individuals to have a strong sense of purpose in life to maintain a healthy mindset even when there are changes in their lives.
Gregor’s transformation into an insect was similar to an individual suddenly falling ill. In both cases, their appearance, abilities, and mental health experience dramatic changes. What matters during these times is witnessing how one’s closest circle reacts to these new developments. In Gregor’s scenario, his family—whom he devoted his life to—treated him with self-interest and neglect. His family could barely stand to look at him. Kafka makes this clear when describing how his father ended up seriously injuring some of his six legs while trying to push him back into his room so that they didn’t have to look at him for longer. Gregor understood that he wasn’t wanted in his family, so he tried to minimize his exposure at all times by hiding under the couch in his room. From the perspective of someone who has fallen ill, this could be one’s closest circle ignoring them or treating them differently than previously due to the changes that the person might be experiencing.
The conclusion of the book was extremely upsetting. Gregor ends up dying in his insect form due to severe neglect, physical injuries, and mental decline. As months passed by, his family stopped caring for him and feeding him as much. This, coupled with the injuries that Gregor experienced due to his father’s violent actions, left him physically weak. Finally, Gregor completely lets himself go, losing his will to continue living, when he overhears his sister (whom he deeply cares about) say that his family should get rid of him. These events, together, lead to the complete mental and physical deterioration of Gregor.
REVIEW:
Overall, it was an interesting story to read and was definitely unique from other pieces I have read. I believe Metamorphosis expresses important themes, but it wasn’t necessarily a personal favorite. Regardless, I would still recommend that individuals try out this piece, as it’s extremely short and does an excellent job articulating the concepts of alienation, duties, and purpose.
By Doga Ozecik
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