Metamorphosis: a Metaphor for Complete Isolation and Transformation
Taking place around the turn of the twentieth century, “One morning, as Gregor Samsa was waking from anxious dreams, he discovered in bed he had been changed into a monstrous verminous bug” (Kafka 1). Gregor Samsa is isolated from society before his transformation into a bug. He worked as a traveling salesman, a job he intensely loathes, which provides no satisfaction for human social needs and close relationships. With his metamorphosis, Gregor is taken further away from humanity. He is trapped inside an insect’s body from which he cannot communicate with others, and he appears revolting, so he cannot be seen in public or even by his own family. Trying to assure he is not …show more content…
Gregor constantly removes pleasure from his life—diving deep into complete isolation. After his physical metamorphosis, Gregor ironically begins to develop his human characteristics in order for Kafka to illustrate how extremism starves one from essential human nourishment.
Gregor starves his life from human need in order to cater to the needs of others. He works as a traveling salesman, assuming his father’s debt, and retains a great deal of suffering from it. He says, “what a demanding job I’ve chosen! Day in, day out on the road. The stresses of trade are much greater than the work going on at head office, and, in addition to that, I have to deal with the problems of traveling,... temporary and constantly changing human relationships which never come from the heart” (Kafka 4). Gregor’s work is the most consuming part of his life because he is constantly working. He cannot enjoy a fruitful life if he hates every second of it, as he exclaims “To hell with …show more content…
Gregor decides to complete the laborious task of hiding underneath a blanket in the rare event of his mother entering the room because she faints at the sight of her verminous son. For the same reason, Gregor cannot leave his room in fear of others being frightened. Later on, Gregor is pelted by apples by his father when one eventually sticks to his back; and his father only ceases fire because of Mrs. Samsa’s pleading. For the remainder of the story, Gregor has an apple attached to his back as a symbol of the burdens he has to carry and the disappointment of his father that he has to cope with (Mendoza). Even in this situation however, Gregor truly believes it is his wrongdoing that caused the wound as Mendoza writes in his criticism “The Human Vermin: Kafka’s Metaphor for Extreme Alienation” that “feelings of guilt are renewed at the sight of the wound” (Mendoza). Gregor physically rots away with his apple illustrating that his guilt is killing him. Mr. Samsa again depicts his despicable nature and changes Gregor until his death when Mr. Samsa throws apples at Gregor where one eventually sticks to him. When Mr. Samsa decided to attack him he “was throwing apple after apple. These small red apples rolled as if electrified around on the floor and collided with each other. A weakly thrown apple grazed Gregor’s back but skidded off harmlessly. However another thrown immediately
Taking place around the turn of the twentieth century, “One morning, as Gregor Samsa was waking from anxious dreams, he discovered in bed he had been changed into a monstrous verminous bug” (Kafka 1). Gregor Samsa is isolated from society before his transformation into a bug. He worked as a traveling salesman, a job he intensely loathes, which provides no satisfaction for human social needs and close relationships. With his metamorphosis, Gregor is taken further away from humanity. He is trapped inside an insect’s body from which he cannot communicate with others, and he appears revolting, so he cannot be seen in public or even by his own family. Trying to assure he is not …show more content…
Gregor constantly removes pleasure from his life—diving deep into complete isolation. After his physical metamorphosis, Gregor ironically begins to develop his human characteristics in order for Kafka to illustrate how extremism starves one from essential human nourishment.
Gregor starves his life from human need in order to cater to the needs of others. He works as a traveling salesman, assuming his father’s debt, and retains a great deal of suffering from it. He says, “what a demanding job I’ve chosen! Day in, day out on the road. The stresses of trade are much greater than the work going on at head office, and, in addition to that, I have to deal with the problems of traveling,... temporary and constantly changing human relationships which never come from the heart” (Kafka 4). Gregor’s work is the most consuming part of his life because he is constantly working. He cannot enjoy a fruitful life if he hates every second of it, as he exclaims “To hell with …show more content…
Gregor decides to complete the laborious task of hiding underneath a blanket in the rare event of his mother entering the room because she faints at the sight of her verminous son. For the same reason, Gregor cannot leave his room in fear of others being frightened. Later on, Gregor is pelted by apples by his father when one eventually sticks to his back; and his father only ceases fire because of Mrs. Samsa’s pleading. For the remainder of the story, Gregor has an apple attached to his back as a symbol of the burdens he has to carry and the disappointment of his father that he has to cope with (Mendoza). Even in this situation however, Gregor truly believes it is his wrongdoing that caused the wound as Mendoza writes in his criticism “The Human Vermin: Kafka’s Metaphor for Extreme Alienation” that “feelings of guilt are renewed at the sight of the wound” (Mendoza). Gregor physically rots away with his apple illustrating that his guilt is killing him. Mr. Samsa again depicts his despicable nature and changes Gregor until his death when Mr. Samsa throws apples at Gregor where one eventually sticks to him. When Mr. Samsa decided to attack him he “was throwing apple after apple. These small red apples rolled as if electrified around on the floor and collided with each other. A weakly thrown apple grazed Gregor’s back but skidded off harmlessly. However another thrown immediately