Theme Of Alienation In Kafka's Metamorphosis

Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka tells the story of Gregor Samsa, a man who wakes up as a giant cockroach one morning and the self-realization he goes through as a non-human being. This tale is analogous to Karl Marx’s theories about capitalism and alienation since these theories state the issues with the capitalist system and the effect work has on individuals. For instance, Karl Marx’s theories about alienation of the worker states that workers are alienated from other human beings, producers are alienated the products of their labor, and laborers are alienated from the act of the labor. These theories align with events that occur in Metamorphosis because in the life of Gregor Samsa he is alienated from all human beings when he is a cockroach, as well as when he was human. He is alienated from the work he produces as he has no direct benefit from his job. Also, Gregor did not enjoy his job, and as an individual he was not fulfilled in his …show more content…
Karl Marx expresses that capitalism is degrading and dehumanizing because humans are alienated from the system. Gregor Samsa in Metamorphosis has realizations throughout the story of his life as a human and the isolation he feels as a cockroach he notices he also felt as a human. Gregor notices that he was alienated from other human beings in his job since he was never able to make meaningful connections with others including his own family. He was disconnected from the product he received at his job as a traveling salesman for all of the money he earned went toward his family’s debt. Gregor is distant from the act of his job as he does not enjoy the work he does, and he notices that he was not fulfilled in his life as a human. These events align with the theories that Karl Marx explains about alienation of the worker. Humans are dehumanized from their jobs in society just as Gregor is alienated from society as a