The Metamorphosis Study Guide
Franz Kafka wrote the “Metamorphosis” in 1915 and together with his other works it was supposed to be destroyed after his death. Luckily his wife and friends didn’t obey the orders of the writer and the world still praises him as a great modernist and master of the words.
The protagonist of the story, Gregor Samsa is a provider for his family of four. After his father lost his job, it’s now Gregor’s duty to feed the family that is not the most caring and loving one. He once comes home for a break in between long work trips and wakes up as a huge insect.
How? Why? Don’t even try to look for answers to your questions why things happen the way they happen in the book – Kafka simply puts the reader in front of the fact without giving any explanations. Gregor is a typical example of a working class representative, naïve and helpless, standing up to the established system.
The protagonist goes through this strange transformation fighting to keep his human side while being inside of a disgusting parasite. At the same time his family also goes through a metamorphosis process, but a slightly different one. Trying to solve the problem of losing a sponsor of their life, they become even more selfish, shallow-hearted and mean.
The plot is a fascinating one. The main character of the book, who is an animal, calls for respect and fascination from a reader while the actions of those around him, who are humans, evoke condemnation and pity.
“Metamorphosis” is a tough read, with a strong focus on the absurdity of modern relationships, the fragility of human feelings, alienation of families and cruelty of the society with its stereotypes and pressures. But it is very relevant to the nowadays society that doesn’t accept people once they become flawed and unnecessarily.
Author: Ralph Boyd
New Essays
The Metamorphosis is a novel written by Frans Kafka. The book basically talks about a transformation from a human into a bug that took over Gregor. The best theme that fits the Metamorphosis is isolation and self-sacrifice. Because first of all Gregor sacrificed his freedom of will by working all...
1. Groups of three identified in the book: The number three plays a considerable role in the story. The story is divided into three parts. There are three doors to Gregor’s room. His family consists of three people. Three servants appear in the course of the story. Three lodgers have three beards...
Brendan Michalicek Mrs. Burns Honors English / Pre IB 19 September 2010 If Gregor never died. If Gregor had never died, the end of the story “” would be a little different. The story might go something like this. “ My family is breaking apart. My mother loves me but can’t stand me. My sister has...
Since the Greek philosophers people have debated endlessly the extent to which the mind in? uences one? s personal reality, or even reality in general. In the Metamorphosis, the link between Gregor? s mental and physical reality are in some way linked, and as Gregor? s ability to function within...