The Metamorphisis Research Analogy

Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka A Discussion about the Methods the Narrator uses to Control the Audience's Perceptions and Attitudes about the Characters and Events The Metamorphosis is a story that makes an interesting use of the third person narrative by narrating the story from a rather unique perspective, but also evolving as the story progresses.

In the beginning of the story the narrator is a witness to all events and is described as being limitedly "omniscient," or being knowledgeable about everything that is going on in relation to the story from one perspective. For example, the narrator is able to illustrate to the reader all of the thought and emotions that are held by the protagonist Gregor Samsa, and after his death this perspective is broadened to including the inner most thoughts of other members of the Samsa family as well.

The level of understanding that the narrator can share from an omniscient perspective is not unparalleled in a more traditional form of narration and has numerous interpretations and applications. One of the most interesting metaphors that identified in the research in regards to the dynamics that is fully relevant in modern society, is how reciprocal exchange relationships guide capitalistic economic systems in a similar way to reciprocity found in Gregor's relationships.

Effectiveness of the Narrator's Role Given the novella's popularity and uniqueness, the story has been subjected to numerous analysis over the course of roughly a century.

The initial analyses are based on a focus of one of three basic concepts: the "extended metaphor"; the "inverted fairy tale"; the "parable of human irrationality" and it has been said that Kafka's literary uniqueness lies in the fact that he dramatizes conventional figures of speech and endows them with full and consistent detail; his tales act out the implications of metaphors buried in the German idiom (Sokel, 1956).

The primary metaphor that illustrated would be that of a non-conformists struggle with complacency and the resulting anguish and ultimate doom that befalls such a character. The image of the cockroach expresses two elements of the metamorphosis that the author is trying to make clear; the first is a frightening exterior and the latter is sheer helplessness that is found in the interior of the character that is illustrated in great detail by the uniqueness of the narration.

There are several instances in the story in which Kafka's ethical and epistemological rigor are can be detected and the author himself has illustrated his position through interviews on topics in which his responses illustrated a search for truth and meaning that serve as a central theme in Kafka's life (Beicken, 2012). Obviously, in the story, the author is using the transformation of the character as something of an exercise in the pursuit of self-knowledge and what it means to be human.

One occasion he states (Beicken, 2012): "One should permit a self-knowledge to be finalized in writing only when it can be executed with the greatest completeness, with all the incidental consequences, as well as with entire truthfulness." This statement was given when Kafka was discussing his own inability to keep a journal and was driven by an intense pursuit of self-knowledge.

Thus the limited omniscient narrative is undoubtedly representative of Kafka's understanding of the subconscious and consciousness spectrum, the "dreamlike inner life," that focuses on the perception of the experience of the characters. This dreamlike state is projected upon the main character's inner conflict which is argued to consist of rebellion against authority or the status quo, and the resulting loyalty to his parents which requires some form of response. "Gregor's conflicting needs, the need to rebel, and the need to suffer punishment for this rebellion.

Above all, by being an unconscious process, the metamorphosis protects him from self-knowledge. Indeed, one of the most curious facts about it is Gregor's lack of curiosity as to the causes of his change." It is argued that Gregor does not really want to know what the causes of the metamorphosis actually are and thus, given the narrative used, these issues are never presented to the reader because they are not part of the inner conflict.

Another interpretation of the metamorphosis is that it is inevitable based on Gregor's actions and his rebellion towards his work and his respect for his parents. "Getting up early all the time," he thought, "it makes you stupid. You've got to get enough sleep. Other travelling salesmen live a life of luxury .. But who knows, maybe that (getting fired) would be the best thing for me. If I didn't have my parents to think about I'd have given in my notice a long time ago.

(Kafka, 2002)" This conflict is quite clear in the story, however, such inevitability surely exists only a metaphorical level and it is not uncommon for many individuals to have similar struggles during their development and while trying to gain their individuality. The dynamics of the family are also illustrated though the process of moving towards a more independent relationship with them. Interestingly, the dynamics of such relationship are not limited to just the family context.

For example, one business ethics journal has published an article that uses Kafka's story to illustrate similar dynamics that occur within an organization and how they relate to organizational ethics (Rhodes & Westwood, 2016). The case is made that the intertwined relationship between Gregor and his boss and Gregor and his family can illustrate the relations involving exchange and reciprocity that serve as the foundation of some business ethical principles.

Much of the capitalist system is based off the efficiencies that can occur when people and/or organizations pursue their own self-interest. Therefore, it is argued that when people are acting in an ethical fashion it is because they expect these actions to mirror social norms and be reproduced by others in which they engage in. Thus the perception of someone's capacity or motivation to maintain these ethical exchange relationships in known as reciprocity.

If someone does not believe that their ethical behaviors will be returned in kind, then the ethical reciprocity can diminish and the balance in the exchange relationship is broken. The question.