Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

In this short novella, Franz Kafka was trying to teach modern society a lesson of a man reduced from human to insect. We are introduced from the very beginning with a man named Gregor Samsa who awakes to find he has become an insect. Gregor is the only provider for his selfish family. His father stopped working and left a debt for Gregor to pay off. The mother is presented as an elderly woman who obeys her husband. The sister Grete, is the only one in the family who talks with Gregor.

Gregor has a very hard life, he is a traveling salesman, dedicated to his job as well as obligated to support his family and their needs of living in an expensive apartment as well as having a maid. Gregor is taken advantage of. Gregor is alienated from his family as well as from humanity. Gregor has no friends or personal relationships. He works long hard hours. When he is at home he is in his room alone.

Gregor has never missed a day’s work but the morning he awakes as an insect he feels ashamed and confused. He is so determined and obligated to his family he forgets about himself and what he has become. After all, it has always been as if his family ignored him. His family sees him as a provider rather than a member. Now after the metamorphosis he is no longer needed. He is treated as if he was nobody, and the family is eager to rid of him. The father throws rotten apples at him and his sister brings him rotten food. The family has no guilty feelings or regrets. Gregor is now useless.

Gregor was not human even before the metamorphosis. He has been alienated from his family, his humanity and his job. He has no life for himself. He has dedicated his life for his family, and for what? They compensate him by showing him he is worthless. Instead of mourning for Gregor the family each seek for their own needs. The father, mother and sister all seem to have found jobs. They moved to an inexpensive apartment and got rid of the maid. They were not capable of doing these things as long as Gregor provided for them.

The lessons Kafka was teaching his readers of the “Metamorphosis” are first; that society is capable to reduce any human from man to insect if he lets you. Second, humans are self-absorbed and act in selfish ways. Third, this is a world of give and take. A person must be able to take as well as to give if not, he will be lost. Society will alienate anyone who does not have the characteristics of giving as well as taking. Finally, no one should take for granted the good things in life yet should not forget his/her loved ones in their worst times in life.

Felicia Beth