StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...

Franz Kafka: The Metamorphosis - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
While Franz Kafka has assumed a seminal place in canon of classic literature, one recognizes that for many reasons he is highly unique. …
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER93.9% of users find it useful
Franz Kafka: The Metamorphosis
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Franz Kafka: The Metamorphosis"

Download file to see previous pages

In examining Gregor Samsa’s destiny it’s necessary to consider the text in terms of metaphor and figurative language. Early in the text Kafka writes, “One morning, upon awakening from agitated dreams, Gregor Samsa found himself, in his bed, transformed into a monstrous vermin” (Kafka). While in the narrative context of the story Samsa literally transforms into a vermin, on a figurative level one further recognizes that Kafka is referring to the way Samsa interacts with the world, or the way the world treats him.

Indeed, throughout the text one of the themes is the extent that Samsa’s alienation is an element of his own creation or something wrought on him by the failure of his family’s business and his own life challenges. As the text advances one of the greatest ironies is the recognition that while Samsa’s transformations has a tremendous impact, it is accepted by those around him as in the normal events of life. This irony is furthered as the greatest concern is not Gregor’s transformation but rather external occurrences.

Kafka writes, “Gregor’s sole desire was to do his utmost to help the family to forget as soon as possible the catastrophe that had overwhelmed the business and thrown them all into a state of complete despair” (Kafka). This text is specifically referring to Gregor’s feeling of responsibility regarding the family’s failed business and the anguish that it has caused. While such a responsibility and burden is a prominent part of Samsa’s destiny, another insight that can be gleaned from this is that Samsa’s position is such that these concerns rest more firmly on his consciousness than his own transformation into a vermin.

As the text progresses so does Gregor’s condition. . As the text progresses so does Gregor’s condition. Even as early on in the text he had assumed the vermin form, as the story progresses Samsa is psychologically drawn further into that specific mindset. Kafka writes, “Did he really want the warm room, so cozily appointed with heirlooms, transformed into a lair, where he might, of course, be able to creep, unimpeded, in any direction, though forgetting his human past swiftly and totally?

” (Kafka). The text literally refers to the question of whether or not Gregor preferred to have the past things in his room removed so he could freely move about like an animal. This consideration is significant not because of the literal significance however, but rather for the figurative impact it has in terms of Samsa’s psychology. In these regards, removing Gregor Samsa’s things from his room would demonstrate his complete transformation from human to vermin. In terms of destiny such recognition seems to point more towards external elements.

Namely, it is as Gregor Samsa has progressed through his existence, including career and relations with his family that he has ultimately been forced to assume this vermin state. In part three of the short story Gregor’s condition deteriorates further and his family is forced to encounter him. Kafka writes, “He must go,” cried Gregor’s sister, “that’s the only solution, Father. You must just try to get rid of the idea that this is Gregor. The fact that we’ve believed it for so long is the root of all our trouble” (Kafka).

In terms of destiny one considers that the change that the psychological change that has undertaken Gregor has resulted in his

...Download file to see next pages Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Franz Kafka: The Metamorphosis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words”, n.d.)
Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/literature/1449798-franz-kafka-the-metamorphosis
(Franz Kafka: The Metamorphosis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 Words)
https://studentshare.org/literature/1449798-franz-kafka-the-metamorphosis.
“Franz Kafka: The Metamorphosis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/literature/1449798-franz-kafka-the-metamorphosis.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Franz Kafka: The Metamorphosis

Structure of The Metamorphosis

In the paper “Structure of the metamorphosis” the author analyzes work of fiction of the post-modern era the novella by Franz Kafka.... hellip; The author states that like most of the novels of Kafka, the novel, “the metamorphosis” is also eclipsed by the clouds of ambiguity and neither Kafka explains the reason for the transformation nor did the novella throws light explicitly for the reason of such transformation.... Critics and scholars have always pondered upon the choice of Kafka's tripartite structure for “the metamorphosis” and the researching of scholars on this area has also generated a volley of thesis which is valuable and contextual to the theme and motif of the text....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

In the essay “the metamorphosis by Franz Kafka” the author analyzes Kafka's protagonist, Gregor Samsa, who was a hardworking, dutiful young man, taking pride in his achievements at work, and in supporting his family single-handedly.... the metamorphosis gave him time to think and examine his life, the family, and his own place in the world and showed he was still human.... By the end of the story, 'metamorphosis' happened to them all....
3 Pages (750 words) Book Report/Review

Alienation in Franz Kafkas The Metamorphosis

In the metamorphosis, Gregor Samsa is not better off as a beetle than he had been as a person.... Alienation in Franz Kafka's the metamorphosis.... In the metamorphosis, Gregor Samsa is not better off asa beetle than he had been as a person.... In this, we realize that this metamorphosis might be due to Gregor's emotional state of anxiety, as we have read in the novel's opening line; 'One morning, as Gregor Samsa was waking up from anxious dreams, he discovered....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Franz Kafkas The Metamorphosis

franz kafka's Metamorphosis has love as a major theme.... … franz kafka is so obsessed with his need to get up from bed to go to work that he cannot change his attitude towards his compulsion to attend office even when he realizes that he has become a bug.... franz kafka hides this new development from his family because he cannot share with them his problems.... ” (kafka 3) After Gregor transforms, his unemployed family members were forced to transform too and seek work to earn a living....
10 Pages (2500 words) Essay

Discuss the theme of dream and reality in The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

?? the metamorphosis, though shocking and striking, is yet grounded in reality.... kafka brings about a sardonic tone to the narrative by using a broad range of literary devices.... Gregor Samsa (pronounced Zamza), the protagonist, has for his parents Flaubertian philistines....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

Analyze The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

William Henry Davies (1871 – 1940) implies that human lives are wasted if we do not make time to enjoy the small blessings in our life in the last two lines of his poem ‘Time to Stop and Stare;' he concludes thus: “A poor life this, if full of care, We have no time to… The dreariness of the modern day living, indeed, has the potential to reduce human beings into automatons and deprive us of our The Post-Modern Society and the metamorphosis by Franz Kafka Introduction William Henry Davies (1871 – 1940) implies that human lives are wasted if we do not make time to enjoy the small blessings in our life in the last two lines of his poem ‘Time to Stop and Stare;' he concludes thus: “A poor life this, if full of care, We have no time to stand and stare....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

The Development Of Dystopian Novel Using We By Zamyatin And Nineteen Eighty-Four By Orwell

This paper "The Development Of Dystopian Novel Using We By Zamyatin And Nineteen Eighty-Four By Orwell" focuses on the fact that dystopia, as a sub-genre of science fiction, is gaining popularity day by day.... It was first seen during the first half of the twentieth century.... nbsp;… Dystopia refers to a state of affairs which causes negative effects on our imagination....
7 Pages (1750 words) Assignment

The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

This study presents an analysis of “the metamorphosis” by Franz Kafka that illustrates the transformation of Gregor Samsa.... In the metamorphosis, Franz Kafka brings out many issues that people face in the society, for example, seclusion, work, change, happiness and the role of family members.... The story “the metamorphosis” begins by describing the transformation of Gregor from a normal human being into a monstrous insect....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us