Kafka's "The Metamorphosis"

1) According to Dictionary.com - a metamorphosis is, "a profound change in form from one stage to the next in the life history of an organism--a complete change of form, structure, or substance--a form resulting from any such change."  In considering this definition, what was Gregor's life like before and after his metamorphosis--do you believe his change was literal or metaphoric and why?

            Gregor Samsa, the protagonist or main character, had a very consistent schedule as he worked everyday as a business salesman in order to support his family who experienced a financial crisis. His family consists of his father (lost money and stopped job), mother (ill), and sister (used to be very close to Gregor). Franz Kafka's portrayal of character, or fictional representation of a person, is on a vast scale in which all the character represent a different aspect. For example, the dynamic characters that grow and change throughout the story include Gregor and Gretta, the sister, and the static characters that faced some challenge but was overall indifferent was the house cleaner that stayed rude and intrusive throughout the story. Whereas the round and more developed characters and flat or barely developed, characters included the parents and the three male guests.  As for the "metamorphosis" of Gregor, he starts off organized and responsible as he supports his family (he also has a close relationship with his sister whom he wants to send to music school despite the family's financial situation) but as he morphs into this creature he loses his job, responsibility and also becomes dependent on family for food. Gregor always desired a life beyond his work and through his transformation he gains this free time- but he finds it is not as beneficial as he thought. His change was both literal and metaphoric because while he literally changed into a bug, he also metaphorically gained insight on life beyond his job, such as his lack of connection to the world and family. He also is "hot with shame and grief (2014)" since he is used to being supportive, instead of supported.  His change was a reality check for him depicting his lack of independence and freedom that unfortunately he never had the opportunity to improve on.  Even when Gregor was finally starting to understand himself as a bug, he was already wasting away and abused.  The most significant observation includes him being a "bug" even before the transformation because he never went out, but rather worked all day, thus in this sense he seems "dead" through his non-interaction with society.

2) Kafka includes many references to hunger and food--what is the significance of these references?

            These references to hunger and food show the importance of dependence because at first the pressure was on Gregor to work nonstop in order to provide food for the family; however, once he became a "bug" other options arose, thus leading his sister to help and finally get a job at the end of the story. It is also used as comfort when the sister brings Gregor the food; however, it later evolves into another chore as the sister barely gives him enough time to eat the scraps she gave him. In addition, an apple was used as an abusive tool by the father who threw it at Gregor when he believed he was misbehaving (2019-20). It holds a consistency of being present throughout the story but also an evolving mechanism as it parallels the characters such as the sister and even Gregor himself.  Lastly, breakfast is the most important meal of the day for the father as he read the newspaper for hours there (2007), which parallels what he does the whole day, virtually nothing.

3) Identify and discuss some of the themes of "The Metamorphosis" - be sure to refer to your notes about what a theme is and in your discussion identify key passages of the text that support the themes you've identified.

            First, a theme is a central or dominant idea or moral of the story, not a plot summary. It also represents values and ideas seen in the story. Some examples include: love conquers all; slow and steady wins the race, etc.  For Kafka's "The Metamorphosis" some themes include to consider responsibilities and consequences of desires, such as his desire to escape his job, but perhaps more importantly the idea of power/control and if it really worth it. This is shown through various instances in the story, specifically through the evolvement of the sister's, Gretta, role in the world. In the beginning, Gregor reflects on the times before his transformation he states, "Those had been lovely times, and they never recurred, at least not with that same luster, even though Gregor was eventually earning so much money that he was able to cover and indeed cover all the expenditures of the family (2013)." This depicts the lack of contentment at the time of his past life; however, as he evolves he soon realizes that he had a good life before despite the non-stop work, whereas now he is alone and bored because of his bug-like lifestyle. Next as Gregor experiences his lifestyle, "There was nothing he could do but wait, and so, tortured by self-rebukes and worries, he began to creep about...in his despair when the entire room began whirling around him, he plunged down to the middle of the large table (2018)." Gregor's lack of interest shows he has lost the control and authority he once had since he is no longer of importance to his family and society, rather his sister takes that control as she advises the parents , cares for Gregor and by the end of the story becomes grown enough for a job and new lifestyle.  The sister's authority is depicted as the family is in conflict trying to communicate and deal with the situation of Gregor's transformation, "'It has to go," exclaimed the sister...our real misfortune is that we believed it [was Gregor] for such a long time...If that were Gregor, he would have realized long ago that human beings can't possibly live with such an animal and he would have left of his own accord (2027)," it shows her power and that she is the new center of attention, not Gregor. Lastly, when "Both Mr. and Mrs. Samsa, upon seeing their daughter becoming more and more vivacious, realized almost in unison that lately, despite all the sorrows that had left their cheeks pale, she has blossomed into a lovely and shapely girl (2030)." This growth is witnessed throughout the story as the sister starts as dependent on Gregor, then cares for him and helps the family, she even plays violin to show comfort in her new role, and lastly dominates as she advises her parents, loses interest in Gregor and begins to evolve in her new life. In this sense, she is seen as a butterfly, a beautiful creature with freedom, as she gains responsibility, independence and contributions to her family and society, which acts as a foil, or a character that highlights the main character by contrasting with him, to Gregor's imprisonment as a bug.