Symbolism In The Metamorphosis By Gregor Kafka

“The Metamorphosis” (1915), symbolism is using widespreadly. The metamorphotic process of Gregor Samsa, in the book, the insect that Gregor has becomes a symbol that represents the social situation of the middle-class life. Not only the situation, but also reflects the social issues behind, which are like how significant are the jobs and how money plays the role in the society at the time Kafka lived. The metamorphosis of Gregor also represents the real status that Gregor is in his family and how is that a symbol of the society that indicates the brutal reality. Kafka also uses the symbolism through the writing of the family and family members of Gregor. He uses them as symbols that represent the real connotation, the social issues …show more content…
The idea of showing the connotation through the metamorphosis of Gregor Samsa by using symbolism is started from the beginning of the story, "When Gregor Samsa woke up one morning from unsettling dreams, he found himself changed in his bed into a monstrous vermin" (3). As Gregor transform from a normal business man to a “monstrous vermin” without any reason, Gregor becomes a symbol that deeply reflects human inside world. It also asserts that humans exist in an irrational, chaotic universe beyond our full understanding. “‘What happened to me?’ he thought. It was no dream” (3). Also, why does Gregor become a insect, but not something else? Kafka uses the insect that Gregor became to represent the importance of the social status. Since Gregor becomes to an insect, a thing that is not desired by the society. This also indicates the social situation. In the story, Kafka didn’t even mention what type of the insect it was. The insect is just a symbol of the insignificant creature in the society. Even Gregor realized that he changed into an insect and it is not a dream, he still wasn’t worry about it that much. His attention turns to the weather outside and even more he try to ignore the reality. It is written as “‘How about going back to sleep for a few minutes and forgetting all this nonsense.’ He thought” (3). This also shows the attitude of Gregor towards to being a “monstrous vermin”. As Gregor himself a low-status, low-paid …show more content…
“On the wall directly opposite hung a photograph of Gregor from his army days, in a lieutenant’s uniform, his hand on his sword, a carefree smile on his lips, demanding respect for his bearing and his rank” (15). This is the last thing Gregor has that helps him feel more like used to be human, he tried to hold on to it as much as possible after having all the things taking away from his father and sister in this room. This is an important symbol that let the reader to know about Gregor when he was a human. The photograph is set on the wall of the room to give more information about Gregor and his life experience. And this is also one of the only things left when he changed into a bug and live in the bedroom. In the whole book, the word door has been used by Kafka for a huge amount of times. The door in Gregor’s room symbolizes the connection between him and the world. It is an absurd that when Gregor was a human, he locked his door and cut off the connection with the people outside. Nevertheless, after Gregor turned into a bug, no one care about him although the door is open. The window is also a symbol that is representing freedom. "He watched as it slowly began to get light everywhere outside the window too. Then, without his willing it, his head sank down completely, and his last breath flowed weakly from his nostrils” (29). Kafka symbolizes the