Gregor Metamorphosis
The “Metamorphosis”, by Franz Kafka
A significant change in Gregor’s family
Before anyone can change, they certainly have to go through a metamorphosis. Here is where life takes another form. In novels there are always certain events that make the characters change. These changes can be for good or bad. In “The Metamorphosis”, by Franz Kafka the protagonist, Gregor Samsa suffers a significant change. This novella is about a young man who has taken care of his family during the last five years. His life was limited to work and care for his family. None of the members of his family were used to work. In this family had to happen something really bad, so they can notice that they have to do something for themselves. The nature of Gregor’s reality changes insignificantly in spite of his drastic physical changes. Gregor’s metamorphosis leads an important change in the members of his family. The metamorphosis of Gregor eases the sudden change of his family, showing that a disgrace is needed in order to force people or even family, out of the stagnation and put them into life.
Before Gregor’s transformation his family had such a great confidence on Gregor. Gregor wanted to behave as a good son, so he sacrificed his life in order to save his family after his father’s failure in business. After his metamorphosis, the first thing that comes to his mind is his job. “The upset of doing business […] I’ve got the torture of traveling, worrying about changing trains, eating miserable food at all hours” (4). In this part, Gregor is showing his preoccupation about his job, and also his fear about losing it. If this happens he knows we will not be able to pay his father’s debt. He has knowledge that his entire family is used to an easy life in which needs and wants are provided by Gregor. Gregor’s entire support causes that none of his family members live productively.
The family begins to follow a path of existentialism because of what their lives have become. In the
A significant change in Gregor’s family
Before anyone can change, they certainly have to go through a metamorphosis. Here is where life takes another form. In novels there are always certain events that make the characters change. These changes can be for good or bad. In “The Metamorphosis”, by Franz Kafka the protagonist, Gregor Samsa suffers a significant change. This novella is about a young man who has taken care of his family during the last five years. His life was limited to work and care for his family. None of the members of his family were used to work. In this family had to happen something really bad, so they can notice that they have to do something for themselves. The nature of Gregor’s reality changes insignificantly in spite of his drastic physical changes. Gregor’s metamorphosis leads an important change in the members of his family. The metamorphosis of Gregor eases the sudden change of his family, showing that a disgrace is needed in order to force people or even family, out of the stagnation and put them into life.
Before Gregor’s transformation his family had such a great confidence on Gregor. Gregor wanted to behave as a good son, so he sacrificed his life in order to save his family after his father’s failure in business. After his metamorphosis, the first thing that comes to his mind is his job. “The upset of doing business […] I’ve got the torture of traveling, worrying about changing trains, eating miserable food at all hours” (4). In this part, Gregor is showing his preoccupation about his job, and also his fear about losing it. If this happens he knows we will not be able to pay his father’s debt. He has knowledge that his entire family is used to an easy life in which needs and wants are provided by Gregor. Gregor’s entire support causes that none of his family members live productively.
The family begins to follow a path of existentialism because of what their lives have become. In the
Bibliography: Binder, Hartmut. Kafka’s “Verwandlung”: Entstehung, Deutung, Wirkung. Forthcoming: 175 Bruce, Iris. “Elements of Jewish Folklore in Kafka’s Metamorphosis.” Orig. “Kafka’s Metamorphosis: Folklore, Hasidism and the Jewish Tradition.” Journal of the Kafka Society of America 11.1/2 (June-December 1987): 119. Rev. 1994. Corngold, Stanley. The Commentators’ Despair: The interpretation of Kafka’s “Metamorphosis” London and Port Washington N.Y.: Kennikat, 1971. Kafka, Franz, “The Metamorphosis”. Ed. And trans. Stanley Corngold. New York: Bantam, 1972 Straus, Nina Pelikan. “Transforming Kafka’s Metamorphosis.” Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society 14.3 (1989): 128 Rev. 1994.