It is easy to get stuck in the mud of routine. Life can be difficult, and complacency is all too sweet a friend in these times. If one is not careful, however, this stagnant way of life can be crippling, as it causes one to settle for less than their best. Once caught in this rut, it can be almost impossible to get out. In Franz Kafka’s novella, The Metamorphosis, the protagonist, Gregor Samsa, finds himself in this very situation. Gregor leads a mediocre life. He provides for his family, but he’s not particularly close to them. He finds little satisfaction at work and does not have any friends. He is going through the motions. When a traumatic alteration hurls Gregor’s life into an entirely different state, many would expect him to
