Metamorphosis Unveiled: Exploring Gregor Samsas Literal and Figurative Transformation

Abstract

[Name] Introduction The metamorphosis, a book published in 1915 by Franz Kafka, is a novella that centers around Gregor Samsa, a traveling salesman who, one morning, wakes up and finds that he had been transformed into an insect. Samsa's transformation affects not only himself but also his family members, especially his father and his sister. The story depicts many forms of change expressed in both symbolic and literal forms. The author's symbolism caters to the figurative style, successfully illustrating a theme of maturity and alienation. This essay discusses how "The metamorphosis” acts as a reflection of how modern life would provide a misunderstanding of the predicaments and lack of empathy towards people who unforgiving and unavoidable circumstances may have beaten down in life, discussing the literal and figurative transformation of Gregor Samsa. The significance of the story is based on the significant shift, which means being accustomed to changes. For Gregor, instead of questioning and whining about the situation, he changes very little like a character in both physiques, as a man and as an insect, and accepts the hardships he faces without complaints. The first transformation is the physical one where Gregor wakes up early one morning to realize that he had been transformed into a horrible vermin (Kafka, 1915). Shockingly, the reader learns that Gregor is not so concerned about his physical transformation as he is about getting to work on time. The primary reason Gregor goes to work is to provide for his family, and it evident that Gregor is alienated from the household that he works so hard for since he is rarely home. This is in line with Carrkevin's analysis, whereby he argues that Gregor does not have friends since his job entails traveling a lot, and he never has friends because he is always so mobile. Gregor's career has changed him to be a loner regardless of having a family and meeting so many people, therefore in a position to making good friends. Still, he is not able to mingle and socialize (Carrkevin, character analysis). The second transformation is the Mental, where Gregor descends into complete alienation. Mental transformation, as far as Gregor's family members are concerned, tends to be positive for them, although it tends to affect Gregor's worsening condition. Due to the mental transformation of these family members who accept that Gregor is no longer the breadwinner, they become responsible and do not rely on Gregor, which makes Gregor feel less human. It is for this reason that Kafka says, Gregor realized that after the lack of all direct human speech for some months and his suddenly disinterested family, life must have confused his mind" (Kafka, 1915). In this respect, Gregor has lost the human feelings that he used to possess, loses the ability to communicate with humans, and starts enjoying crawling under the bed and on the walls and hanging from the ceiling. All of this is due to how his family members...