Dehumanization In The Metamorphosis By Kafka

In The Metamorphosis, Franz Kafka uses significant symbols to explore intergenerational familial conflict and the trade of human identity for business ventures in modern society. Firstly, Gregor’s absurd transformation into a vermin acts as a symbol that highlights his dehumanization before his metamorphosis, and magnifies his alienation from humanity. Secondly, Kafka uses the symbol of the apple to explore male machismo and Gregor’s strained relationship with his father.

In Franz Kafka’s novella, The Metamorphosis, the main character, Gregor Samsa, turns in a “monstrous vermin” and becomes isolated from his family (Kafka 1). The reason for the transformation is unclear, but his strange predicament can be used as a microcosm to the early twentieth century. The dismal mood and setting, dehumanization and paranoia, and competition for power depicted throughout the novella suggest that the early twentieth century was dreary and routine.

Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis is so strikingly absurd that it has engendered countless essays dissecting every possible rational and irrational aspect of the book. One such essay is entitled "Kafka's Obscurity" by Ralph Freedman in which he delves down into the pages of The Metamorphosis and ferrets out the esoteric aspects of Kafka's writing. Freedman postulates that Gregor Samsa progresses through several transformations: a transformation of spatial relations, a transformation of time, and a transformation of self consciousness, with his conscious mutation having an antithetical effect on the family opposite to that of Gregor. His conjectures are, for the most part, fairly accurate; Gregor devolves in both his spatial awareness and his consciousness. However, Freedman also asserts that after Gregor's father throws the wounding apple, Gregor loses his sense of time. While his hypothesis certainly appears erudite and insightful, there really is no evidence within the book itself to determine whether if Gregor has a deteriorating sense of time. If Freedman had only written about Gregor's spatial and conscious degradation, then his entire thesis would be accurate.

“Life can either be accepted or changed. If it is not accepted it must be changed. If it cannot be changed it must be accepted.”- Winston Churchill. Change is frightening, but without change you can never accomplish a greater goal. Gregor experienced a dramatic change in his life. He may or may not have experienced the physical change described, but he did experience a mental change. The mental change opened Gregor’s eyes to what really mattered in life. Once Gregor accepted his physical change he was able to begin his mental change. Gregor’s values in life had changed dramatically from beginning to end. Though Gregor was subjected to ridicule, he was given the greatest gift. The opportunity to change is the greatest gift anyone can

The monster's final soliloquy, after Frankenstein died on the ship, revealed that the monster, contrary to Frankenstein’s belief, never found any sense of justice or satisfaction from enacting revenge. The only thing that could make him happy was finding himself a mate- someone who could accompany him in his wretchedness, and thus mitigate his suffering. Additionally, the monster also acknowledged that what Frankenstein had said all along was true: because of the monster’s actions, he is a wretch. The monster believed he was a miserable wretch only due to the atrocities he committed to seek revenge against Frankenstein. However, he only became a wretch in response to Frankenstein rejecting him and calling him a wretch, thus creating a self-fulfilling

As one reads The Metamorphosis, Grete's change and development in character is evident throughout each part of the story. Through several of her actions, as well as information given by both Gregor and the author, Grete undergoes her own metamorphosis from a seemingly young, light, fragile child, to a beautiful, mature, strong woman.

Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis The play metamorphosis was written by Franz Kafka but Steven Berkoff produced a theatre adaptation of Metamorphosis in the late 1960’s. Kafka was born 1883, his childhood was most troubling and life hard, as he was a Jew growing up in German culture, also being ignored and alienated is why Kafka could relate to the character Gregor. Kafka had a hard relationship with his Father who would mistreat him and often tell Kafka he was a failure and a disappointment, which came through on to the character of Gregor’s Father, another reason for Kafka to relate to Gregor. Both the way Kafka relates to the alienation of Gregor’s character and the way the characters Father mistreats him, is seen to be based on Kafka’s family experiences.

Transformation is prevalent in the ever-changing world, whether the outcome is desirable or undesirable. In the final paragraph of Kafka’s “Metamorphosis”, Gregor’s metamorphosis and death results in transformations of Samsa family. When analysing the last paragraph, Gregor’s family embraces a new light, with new hopes for the future, which contrasts with the initial feeling of darkness and despair. The transformation of the Samsa family is evident in the change in atmosphere, change in setting, and through the use of symbolism. Although atmosphere is not directly connected to the characters, there are indirect connections as the atmosphere reflects the interiority of the characters.

The Dehumanization of a Bug Imagine a person waking up as a bug and having their employer and family more upset about how the transformation is going to affect them, rather than making sure the person is alright. In the book The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, Gregor Samsa was treated with this kind of disrespect after his own transformation . Gregor had many circumstances in his life that dehumanized him even before he turned into a “gargantuan pest” (Kafka 13). Gregor’s metamorphosis ,although straining on the family, created many positives for the overall well being of their characters. Before his metamorphosis, Gregor’s work, relationships and family all dehumanized him, and through his metamorphosis he positively impacted the lives of his father,mother and sister.

...ause of Gregor’s relationship with his father and his abusive nature towards Gregor. When the Metamorphosis was first written Kafka live in a discriminatory society where people were forced to work due to economic demands. The author felt forced to work for an insurance company he despised because it took away time from his writings. At that time discrimination was a reality for Kafka, he felt alienated much like the main character in The Metamorphosis. In the book Gregor is seen as different, and his family and manager look at him as if he is lower than a human being. Just like the main character in the story Kafka had trouble getting himself up to a higher social status .This relates to the way society viewed Kafka at the time. The metamorphosis describes a human being who is suffering and dying a slow painful death much like the way Kafka depicted his own life.