Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka Theme

¶ … Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka [...] theme of isolation in the story, as Gregor becomes more and more an outcast from his family and the world. Gregor's character is completely tragic and hopeless, as he leads a meaningless life, turns into a giant bug, and is eventually an outcast from his family. He is a classic tragic character, made more interesting (if not bizarre) by his complete transformation into a giant, disgusting bug - his life was meaningless and loveless before he transformed, and if anything, he has become even more isolated, alone, and misunderstood.

The tragedy of Gregor Samsa's life is not that he has transformed into a giant bug, but that his family has never appreciated him, supported him, or really loved him. Kafka opens this dark short story with the words, "As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect" (Kafka 19). However, Kafka makes it quite clear very early in the story that Gregor's life is not tragic because he has turned into a bug. In fact, his life was quite tragic even before he woke up one morning and found he was transformed into something completely repugnant and disgusting. Literary critic Harold Bloom writes, "He has been sacrificing himself by working at his meaningless, degrading job so as to pay off an old debt of his parents' to his employer" (Bloom 21). Bloom sees Gregor's life as meaningless and without love or affection, simply obligation and duty. It does not take long for the reader to know that Gregor hates his job and his employer, and only continues to work because of his family obligations. Thus, he continues his meaningless existence for the people he loves, but they do not appreciate or love him in return.

Kafka uses character development, the theme of isolation and transformation, along with plot and setting to indicate the emptiness of Gregor's life and the shallowness of those closest to him. For example, Kafka shows the exasperation of his family when Gregor's appearance becomes known, and even their strong reaction when he will not open the door seems to be self-serving and shallow, they seem to be more worried about themselves than their son. Kafka writes, "His father knotted his fist with a fierce expression on his face as if he meant to knock Gregor back into his room, then looked uncertainly round the living room, covered his eyes with his hands and wept till his great chest heaved" (Kafka 35). His father reacts first with anger, not with compassion or love. In fact, Gregor's appearance is startling, and it is clear there is something wrong, but no one recognizes that he needs help, love, and compassion; they all react selfishly and without love or support for their son. Kafka continues, "For two whole days there were family consultations at every mealtime about what should be done; but also between meals the same subject was discussed [...]" (Kafka 47). His sister feeds him, but does not even speak to him, and none of the family seems to think about his feelings or needs at all. If his life was empty and meaningless as a sales clerk, it is even more so now that he is trapped in his room. He is unloved, unwanted, and a bother, and Kafka seems to be using this to symbolize lack of love and meaning in life, and that in the end, even those who work the hardest and most diligently receive no reward. Gregor's life is hopeless, and yet, he is the only family member who retains any hope at all.

Gregor is the most hopeful of the family members, even though he has become the most hopeless. He still hopes he can live a fairly normal life, and expects his family to continue on normally, which is as unrealistic as his beliefs that his family truly cares for him. Sadly, they only really care about the money he brings home, and his own existence is unimportant to them. Kafka notes, "They had simply got used to it, both the family and Gregor; the money was gratefully accepted and gladly given, but there was no special uprush of warm feeling" (Kafka 49). His family no longer appreciates him, they expect him to take care of them, and their first thoughts are of themselves when he cannot take care of them any longer. Gradually, Gregor discovers how unimportant he really is to the family, and how little they really care about him. He has given them his love and devotion, and they repay him by locking him away when he needs them the most.

Kafka uses the plot to show the increasing disinterest of Gregor's family, and how they have used him for the last five years. His father has grown "fat and sluggish," his mother relied on the servants (that he paid for), and his sister did nothing much at all. He worked like a dog to keep the family together, and in thanks, they lock him away in his room when he becomes an embarrassment. Kafka uses this plot device to add information about the family, all the while showing Gregor's sweet disposition. Gregor's life is meaningless and empty, but he does not blame them for any of it. Instead, he never stops loving them. Kafka writes, "He thought back on his family with deep emotion and love. His conviction that he would have to disappear was, if possible, even stronger than his sister's" (Kafka 83). Gregor never holds their actions against them, and in this, he is almost a heroic character. Even though his appearance is repulsive, he is really the most likeable character of the story.

Ultimately, Kafka uses Gregor's personality and characterization as a symbol for the meaningless activities of life, and to illustrate how meaningless life is. If that were not depressing enough, he makes Gregor cheerful, hopeful, and kind, surrounded by a family that is anything but those things. Gregor, transformed into something hideous, is the best one of the entire family, who could represent the monsters of society. They are unsympathetic, care only about themselves, and blame their condition on everyone but themselves. Gregor has very human bouts of anger and rage, but the reader forgives him because his family treats him horribly. He recognizes they treated him horribly before, as well, but forgives them for it, and in the ultimate act of love, dies, so their lives can get back to "normal." Kafka uses an interesting trick in his characterization. He makes the most hideous "monster" of the story the most kind and sympathetic, thereby making the self-serving family even more horrible and unsympathetic. Gregor's life is meaningless, but his transformation has actually given his family purpose and drive, something they lacked while he struggled to take care of them. Perhaps, in a convoluted way, Kafka is trying to say that his life was not so meaningless and empty after all. In fact, another critic finds the story a parody of the "perfect" home. He writes, "The Metamorphosis' is a parody, if that is the right word, of domestic home life where the uncomprehending and unsympathetic father fails even to attempt to grasp the son's unlucky transformation" (Olsen). Thus, Kafka used Gregor's transformation to make a statement about society. Gregor's life is meaningless, and so is society.