The Metamorphosis

Sigmund Freud, the father of Psychoanalysis created a theory of personality, which pioneered new approaches to understand human behavior. Psychoanalysis is a systematic structure, which recognizes the relationship between the conscious and unconscious mind. Freud established that our concealed wills, beliefs, urge, conflicts and even memories are held in the unconscious part of our psyche. In this theory, he describes the psyche structured into three parts called the id, ego, and superego. The three elements are personified in The Metamorphosis. The Metamorphosis is Franz Kafka’s exploration of the emergence of Freudian theory. Kafka sets the stage for Freudian theory through his wondrous transformation of Gregor Samsa. Gregor metamorphosed …show more content…
Samsa's business forced his son, Gregor, into a displeasing job out of financial necessity to support the family. Mr. Samsa enjoys retirement while his son labors at a stressful, dehumanizing job. He is completely dependent on Gregor for financial support. He allows Gregor to believe that his family's existence depends upon him. After Gregor's transformation, Mr. Samsa reclaims his spot as the man of the household. He begins working as a bank messenger. Mr. Samsa is the ego, the rational part of the mind, obtaining a new sense of authority in Gregor’s absence knowing he has to keep his family afloat. The ego is the decision-making component of personality. The ego is based on the reality principle, working out realistic ways of satisfying the id’s demands. It engages in secondary process thinking, which is rational, pragmatic, and aimed towards problem solving. Mr. Samsa also bends to id’s ideas, unconsciously, creating a compromise in both. He is angry with his son for abandoning his responsibilities. Mr. Samsa wants nothing to do with him as Gregor becomes futile. With no forbearance or understanding of the transformation, Mr. Samsa seems disgusted by Gregor’s presence. When Gregor is seen transformed into a vermin, his father “clenches his fist with a pugnacious expression” then “seizes” a cane and began “stamping his feet, and brandishing stick and newspaper” attempting to drive Gregor back into his room. He starts “moving forward implacably, emitting …show more content…
Samsa reveals herself as the id. The id is based on the pleasure principle, which is the idea that every desire should be satisfied immediately, regardless of the consequences. The id engages in primary process thinking, which is unreasonable, irrational, and fantasy oriented. The mother, representing the id, seeks nothing but the return of her son and, hence, her motherhood pleasure. On the day of the transformation, she knocks Gregor door saying “Gregor, its quarter to seven. Don’t you want to be on your way?” She is constantly showing love to her son but prevented from visiting him by the father. Mr. Samsa restrained her, “at first with reasons which Gregor listened to very attentively and which he endorsed.” She begs to see Gregor, “Let me see Gregor. He is my unfortunate son! Don’t you understand that I have to go to him?” After requesting a visit, she is finally allowed in his room by Grete, her daughter. Grete decides to move the furniture out of his room so that he can have more space to move around. The mother, however, decides that moving the furniture will validate his new bug identity. She thinks its better to leave the room as it is, while keeping symbols of humanity. As Gregor appears, she cries out in tears “help, for Gods sake, help!” She suddenly faints into the arms of Mr. Samsa. Grete had “loosened her clothing in order to give her some freedom to breathe in her fainting spell.” She then proceeds to save Gregor from his father assaulting him with