In Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis, the main character, Gregor Samsa, is transformed overnight into a cockroach. The story tells of Gregor's acceptance of his condition and the subsequent transformation of his family. Kafka wrote this story that, on the surface, seems to be about the change that is brought about by the loss of a family member, it also is about how a person can sometimes adapt and reinvent themselves only to still feel ostracized. This story is Kafka and his own struggles for acceptance in a life that gave him no satisfaction.
The beginning of The Metamorphosis finds Gregor in bed, realizing what has happened overnight, the author is very matter-of-fact "he found himself changed into a monstrous cockroach in his bed" (KAFKA 210). In most cases, an author would write of a certain, coming about, a realization, but Kafka is having none of that, Gregor's eyes open and there is hardly any doubt or questioning, just the state of his body as it is. It's almost as if Gregor has always been a cockroach, but has only now lost his human costume and can no longer pretend, he has always known what was underneath and, therefore, it isn't a surprise at all. When you read of Kafka's life, he was a German Jew growing up to be a businessman in Christian Czechoslovakia in a world that was coming to despise Germans, and in part Jews, because of what Germany represented politically. Could it be that this unrest and hate in the world brought Kafka to literally hate himself because of what he was? What more disgusting and hate worthy of a creature is a cockroach?
As the story develops, Gregor is lost in thought observing the changes in the world around him; his family is now working together to bring in money, his room is dirty and no longer cleaned, his sister and mother remove his furnishings, his family is disgusted by him. At one time, he was the sole breadwinner in the family, he was so successful that he was able to, alone, support his household and work toward paying off his family debts while the rest of them had "just become used to it,...They gratefully took receipt of his money,..but there was no longer any particular warmth about it." (KAFKA 224). Kafka also worked and was a success in business regardless of his interest in it, his father whom he had a horrible relationship with, urged him into the career and he excelled! But instead of being happy with the life he had made, he choose to lament his inability to complete his literary works, much like Gregor's lamenting of the travel that his position required. Certainly both men could have seen their positions as those that provided them the time to pursue things they wanted. For instance, Gregor could have used the travel to his advantage to see parts of the city or country that others didn't get to see. As Kafka, could have looked at his success as a businessman as giving him the opportunity and free time to work as a writer without financial worry.
In conclusion, The Metamorphosis is but a way of Kafka writing his own story, a discontented Jew in a Christian country just trying to get by. He didn't settle down and raise a family, he didn't want his works published, but gave orders to have them burned upon his death. Oh whoa is me! If he wanted them burned, he could have done it himself. This story is one that invites pity upon Gregor and, consequently, on Kafka, hopefully the reader finishes it with a want to make a better way for themselves instead.
The beginning of The Metamorphosis finds Gregor in bed, realizing what has happened overnight, the author is very matter-of-fact "he found himself changed into a monstrous cockroach in his bed" (KAFKA 210). In most cases, an author would write of a certain, coming about, a realization, but Kafka is having none of that, Gregor's eyes open and there is hardly any doubt or questioning, just the state of his body as it is. It's almost as if Gregor has always been a cockroach, but has only now lost his human costume and can no longer pretend, he has always known what was underneath and, therefore, it isn't a surprise at all. When you read of Kafka's life, he was a German Jew growing up to be a businessman in Christian Czechoslovakia in a world that was coming to despise Germans, and in part Jews, because of what Germany represented politically. Could it be that this unrest and hate in the world brought Kafka to literally hate himself because of what he was? What more disgusting and hate worthy of a creature is a cockroach?
As the story develops, Gregor is lost in thought observing the changes in the world around him; his family is now working together to bring in money, his room is dirty and no longer cleaned, his sister and mother remove his furnishings, his family is disgusted by him. At one time, he was the sole breadwinner in the family, he was so successful that he was able to, alone, support his household and work toward paying off his family debts while the rest of them had "just become used to it,...They gratefully took receipt of his money,..but there was no longer any particular warmth about it." (KAFKA 224). Kafka also worked and was a success in business regardless of his interest in it, his father whom he had a horrible relationship with, urged him into the career and he excelled! But instead of being happy with the life he had made, he choose to lament his inability to complete his literary works, much like Gregor's lamenting of the travel that his position required. Certainly both men could have seen their positions as those that provided them the time to pursue things they wanted. For instance, Gregor could have used the travel to his advantage to see parts of the city or country that others didn't get to see. As Kafka, could have looked at his success as a businessman as giving him the opportunity and free time to work as a writer without financial worry.
In conclusion, The Metamorphosis is but a way of Kafka writing his own story, a discontented Jew in a Christian country just trying to get by. He didn't settle down and raise a family, he didn't want his works published, but gave orders to have them burned upon his death. Oh whoa is me! If he wanted them burned, he could have done it himself. This story is one that invites pity upon Gregor and, consequently, on Kafka, hopefully the reader finishes it with a want to make a better way for themselves instead.
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