Preview

Metamorphosis By Franz Kafka Literary Analysis

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
535 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Metamorphosis By Franz Kafka Literary Analysis
Metamorphosis is a psychological drama by Franz Kafka. The existential framework of this story is that Gregor is a failure to himself and his family and himself, and falls victim to the psychological consequences of it. With this in mind, themes of alienation, isolation, self determination, absurdity of life, and limits of suffering start to take place. Gregor’s family seems to blame him for their own failures. The family is struggling financially and relies on Gregor to work and provide for them, while they stay home and do nothing. He doesn’t get a say in anything, all of his decisions are made for him. This ties to the theme of absurdity of life. Throughout the book it is made very clear that Gregor is to work. Page 27 clearly states,
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Summary Of Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis
    • 239 Words
    • 1 Page

    Summary Of Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis

    Franz Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis” is a nightmarish tale with a very straightforward, matter-of-fact style, and this style enhances its nightmarish quality. An example of this is found in paragraph, which states, “His many legs, pitifully thin when compared with the size of the rest of him, waved about helplessly as he looked.” When describing this scene, the narrator definitely uses illustrative words, but does not have the disgusted tone one would expect from a story like this. The narrator speaks in an emptier way, which helps magnify the eerie feeling of the work. Both it and Gregor act very removed from the events, not how a normal human would react. Another instance of this is, “So then he tried to get the top part of his body out of bed…

    • 239 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Analysis Of Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis
    • 329 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Analysis Of Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis

    In the Metamorphosis,Gregor must work to support his family after they lost the company and lost all their money. One morning he wakes up and discovers he is a vermin. The first thing that occurs to him when he discovers this is how will he get to work and that his boss will come to his house and demand that Gregor come to work, meanwhile Gregor is locked in his room unable to get out of bed because he is a bug. Finally he is able to get out of bed, but the boss is gone the time he gets up. His family sees him and is disgusted and shocked by his transformatio. His sister brings him food and cares for him like no one in his family ever has, but even she becomes disgusted with him after a while. They all ignore Gregor. At one point Gregor is…

    • 329 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Analysis Of Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis
    • 288 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Analysis Of Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis

    In “The Metamorphosis” by Franz Kafka, the style enhances the nightmarish quality of the work. The text states, “It took just as much effort to get back to where he had been earlier, but when he lay there sighing, and was once more watching his legs as they struggled against each other even harder than before, it that was possible, he could think of no way of bringing peace and order to this chaos,” (Kafka 12). This is interesting because the situation that Gregor is in is extremely scary and unusual, and the calm language used makes the event seem like a normal occurrence. Although one would think that Kafka would use chilling and disturbing language to describe these events, that is not what he did. The emotionless tone of the story confuses…

    • 288 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Analysis Of The Metamorphosis By Franz Kafka
    • 254 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Analysis Of The Metamorphosis By Franz Kafka

    In “The Metamorphosis” By Franz Kafka, the style enhances the nightmarish quality of the work in many ways. This quote from line 304-306 can be used to illustrate this when Gregor says, “I’ll open up immediately, just a moment. I’m slightly unwell, an attack of dizziness. I haven’t been able to get up.” These lines from the text show that Kafka describes this nightmare in a simple style. Gregor has completely transformed from a human into a vermin yet he treats the situation as if it could happen to anyone, and he still attempts to complete his normal responsibilities. Gregor thinks his transformation is simply a cold, and Kafka describes it very blankly, leaving it open to interpretation by the reader which in turn shows how horrifying the…

    • 254 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Metamorphosis By Franz Kafka Analysis
    • 330 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The Metamorphosis By Franz Kafka Analysis

    The nightmarish quality of “The Metamorphosis,” by Franz Kafka, is enhanced by the straight forward -almost academic- nature of the writing. One such example of this occurs on page 93, reading, ““What’s happened to me?” [Gregor] thought. It wasn’t a dream. His room, a proper human room, although a little too small, lay peacefully between its four familiar walls.”(Kafka) From thereon, he abandons the description of his transformation to describe the room and previous night. As the audience reads this, they are thrown by the sudden shift of topic, still wondering what has happened. The fact that most works put an emphasis on the “why?” makes the reader expect an answer, developing their panic as it becomes less and less likely that there will…

    • 330 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Kafka's Transformation In The Metamorphosis
    • 555 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Kafka's Transformation In The Metamorphosis

    In The Metamorphasis, Kafka’s treatment of Gregor’s transformation demonstrates how beyond human control the natural world is. The human turning back into nature demonstrates a relationship between man and the environment. Throughout the novel there is, however, much talk of the cure and of acceptance, yet nature goes on unrelated to all talk of ways to change the situation.…

    • 555 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    A compare and contrast Analysis of Frank Kafka’s, The Metamorphosis and The Things They Carried.
    • 1069 Words
    • 4 Pages

    A compare and contrast Analysis of Frank Kafka’s, The Metamorphosis and The Things They Carried.

    Leaving behind his desires as a human being all he will think about was his father’s debt and how much he will have to work to help his family. Gregor had earned so much money that he was able to meet the whole family expenses. We can see evidence in the…

    • 1069 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Symbolism In Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis
    • 487 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Symbolism In Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis

    In Franz Kafka's short story Metamorphosis symbolism plays a great part in developing Gregor's character and life. First, s picture Gregor has of a woman is the representation of his last strand of human life in addition to the furniture in his bedroom. Secondly, the apple that Gregor's father implants into his back is a representation of good and evil within the Samsa family. Lastly, Gregor's door represents his isolation from humanity and his true transition into a bug.…

    • 487 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How Does The Metamorphosis By Franz Kafka Change
    • 797 Words
    • 4 Pages

    How Does The Metamorphosis By Franz Kafka Change

    The family's initial reaction towards Gregor is largely extremely negative. When the family and the chief clerk, Gregor's boss, see him for the first time they panic. Gregor is promptly shoved back into his room and he is locked there. "No one came any longer, and, in addition, the keys were now on the outside" (page 25). This represents the family's immediate hostility towards Gregor where as before Gregor's…

    • 797 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How Did Franz Kafka Metamorphosis Change
    • 993 Words
    • 4 Pages

    How Did Franz Kafka Metamorphosis Change

    The first person to encounter Gregor as a bug is boss whose response is fear. Gregor tries to assure his boss that he should not worry because '"a man might find for a moment that he is unable to work, but that's exactly the right time to remember his past accomplishments'"(15). Gregor's desire to be remembered as he was, instead of as he is, reveals his, and Kafka's, discomfort with their new conditions. The security of Gregor's family is threatened by his inability to work; this factor motivates his family's members reactions to him. Throughout the novel, each time Gregor's father encounters him, he responds with hostile actions. For example, when his father first sees him out of his room, he is eager to push him back in, shoving Gregor so hard that he "[bleeds profusely and flies in]"(19). In another scene, Gregor's father becomes enraged to the point that he throws an apple at Gregor and it stays lodged in his back. Gregor's father's hostility signifies his unwillingness to accept Gregor as a bug and the changes brought with it. Gregor's father's characteristics are shared with Kafka's father, who was insistent on controlling him. Gregor's sister, contrastingly, is initially compassionate towards her brother. It is worth noting that Gregor's sister, Grete, is the only other character in the novel who receives a name; the other…

    • 993 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Kafka Metamorphosis Analysis
    • 973 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Kafka Metamorphosis Analysis

    The last paragraph of Kafka’s reading metamorphosis discreetly suggests that the family’s emotions aren’t as they read, but they will travel to the edge to find a successful prospect to lead for the future. The opening sentence reads “then the three of them altogether left the flat,” pg. 241 this section of the sentence has a deeper meaning than the Samsa’s just taking off from their home and going to the park as the sentence follows up . As I read this opening sentence the word “flat” stands out to me. Flat stands out in sentence because it is used in a very untraditional way that makes me believe it has another meaning besides the description of the flat land they are on. When defining the word flat I think of a smooth, even surface without any lumps or indentations. When defining flat in an emotional context, I would define it as a lacking of interest or emotion, perhaps dull and lifeless. The context of “flat” in this first sentence of the last paragraph I would say speaks to Gregory family’s emotions after him not being present. I envision an insect or a cockroach, I always see them crawling up a wall perhaps a flat surface. Which becomes ironic to this situation as Gregor is an insect and has struggle being mobile on the flat surface which they refer to as home. In this opening sentence flat may speak of the family's emotions not just a state of the land. This word…

    • 973 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Metamorphosis And A Hunger Artist: Literary Analysis
    • 867 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Metamorphosis And A Hunger Artist: Literary Analysis

    Gregor hates his job and is very miserable and unfulfilled. Not only was his job a problem but also his family was not supportive. The way Gregor led his life gave many examples of the attempt to isolate and alienate himself from what he feared and detested. The relationship between Gregor and his father was not a good mainly because of the lack of respect for each other. His family's lack of respect and attention would push him further into a state of isolation. Gregor continues to hide inside his room and attempt to become more alienated. One day he wakes up with shell on his back resembling a beetle. The alienation of himself would be greater know. With the new change Gregor's own mother and sister were disgusted and rejected what had happened. His father must work just as hard for the family and becomes more upset with his son. After the metamorphosis it became very hard to understand what Gregor's needs were and even to communicate. "Did you understand a word?" the manger was asking his parents. "He isn't trying to make fools of us, is he?" "My god" cried his mother, already in tears," maybes he's seriously ill and here we are torturing him." (pg 13). Gregor's effort to be alienated is finally truly a problem and is affecting his own family. The only way to escape his way of alienation is to physically take his life and…

    • 867 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Franz Kafka Metamorphosis Change
    • 385 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Franz Kafka Metamorphosis Change

    As the book progresses, Gregor’s family changes tremedously. There are two major changes that occur throughout the story. At the beginning of the novel, we see that Gregor is the leader of the household, as he is the one who works, pays for everything, and is the man of the household. However, once he changes into a cockroach, we see his little sister take charge throughout the novel,…

    • 385 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis
    • 1137 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis

    Since the Greek philosophers people have debated endlessly the extent to which the mind influences oneʼs personal reality, or even reality in general. In the Metamorphosis, the link between Gregorʼs mental and physical reality are in some way linked, and as Gregorʼs ability to function within the parameters of humanity dissipates, his physical links with the human world diminish as well. He loses his personal connection with his own body, and slowly but surely loses connection with the outside world; work and acquaintances progress along without him, and his family shuts him away as if he had never existed. But despite the authorʼs frequent superficial focus on Gregor Samsaʼs physical aspect, it is fundamentally the mental breakdown which Franz…

    • 1137 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    What Is The Theme Of Isolation In Frankenstein
    • 1391 Words
    • 6 Pages

    What Is The Theme Of Isolation In Frankenstein

    To separate themselves, his family lock Gregor in his room and only his sister, Grete, is allowed in to clean and feed Gregor. Gregor is physically and literally isolated from mankind, as he is imprisoned and is in fact, no longer human. Gregor’s new life as a repulsive insect is immediately and heavily induced with isolation and alienation. However, as Gregor reflects on his life as traveling salesman, he notices how superficial his relationships with others have become.…

    • 1391 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More

Related Topics