Summary Of Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis

An Analysis of Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis and the Cause of Gregor’s Death Family is often viewed as important, and at times some will say—regardless of its actual meaning— “blood is thicker than water” to state their belief of putting family first; this belief can also lead to someone to do whatever they must when their family needs them. In Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis, Gregor’s decision to pay his father’s debt by taking charge of his family’s finances is what ultimately leads to his death. By being the only one responsible and the only one contributing to the family’s income, Gregor loses all desires other than to pay his father’s debt. This causes Gregor to become isolated—both from society and his family—and allows a power struggle …show more content…
Samsa that lead to his death. Kafka uses the newspaper as a symbol of power; whoever is holding it, has the power. In the first chapter of the book, both Gregor and Mr. Samsa are mentioned reading the newspaper, which tells us that even though Gregor appears to be in power, Mr. Samsa still desires to be the family’s patriarch. A clear example of the struggle for power is when Mr. Samsa uses the “newspaper to drive Gregor back in his room” (16). This is significant because Mr. Samsa is using a symbol of power to force Gregor in to exile. It is during his exile that Gregor becomes further isolated from his family and Gregor begins to lose his humanity. Another instance where Mr. Samsa uses his power to keep Gregor in his place is when he yells at Grete, and forbids her “from clean[ing] Gregor’s room” (42). In that scene, Mr. Samsa is preventing his family to take care of Gregor, and helping to severe their familial bond. Gregor’s room is a representation of his state of mind, by preventing Grete from taking care of Gregor’s room, he allows it deteriorate the same way Gregor is deteriorating. Despite this, it is during their second and last fight, that Mr. Samsa wins the power struggle and causes Gregor’s death. In the last fight Mr. Samsa throws an apple at Gregor, which “literally forc[es] its way into Gregor’s back” (37). This is another instance where Kafka uses symbolism to show a relationship regarding Gregor. In this case, the apple is Mr. Samsa rejecting any affection towards his son. The symbolism is made clear when the narrator says that the apple had become a “visible souvenir…that Gregor was a member of the family” (38) but he had to be “endure…and nothing more” (38); which is to say that the only reason to take care of Gregor is out of a sense of duty, and that they are only required to do the bare minimum. This leads to Gregor’s death,