ow far does the transformation of Gregor's personality affect you? [NU: 2018, 22] ★★★
Franz Kafka’s (1883–1924) “The Metamorphosis” (1915) is a powerful story of Gregor Samsa. He wakes up one morning and becomes an insect. His body changes, but his mind and heart also change. His transformation is not only his tragedy but also the readers’ pain. Every event in his room, his house, and with his family affects our feelings strongly.
Gregor’s Shock and Our Pity: Gregor wakes up one morning. Then, he finds his insect body. Kafka says,
“One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin.”
He waves his thin legs helplessly. He cannot turn on his side. As readers, we feel pity and fear. His room looks normal, but his body is not. His helplessness makes us imagine ourselves in his place. We feel sad that a man who worked so hard now suffers in silence.
Gregor’s Duty and Our Respect: Even after his change, Gregor still worries about his work. He says,
“Oh, God… what a strenuous career it is that I’ve chosen!”
He worries about the five o’clock train and about his boss. He even thinks about paying his parents’ debts. This shows his duty-loving heart. As readers, we respect him. His body is broken, but his mind is full of responsibility. This makes us admire his sacrifice and also feel pain that his love is not returned.
Gregor’s Strange Voice and Our Sadness: When his mother knocks on the door, Gregor answers. Kafka says,
“Gregor was shocked when he heard his own voice.”
His words are no longer human. His family cannot understand him. We as readers feel sadness because he is still human inside, but cannot express his heart. His separation from his mother, Father, and Sister Grete affects us strongly. We feel the tragedy of a man who wants love but cannot reach it.
Family Fear and Our Anger: When the Chief Clerk visits, Gregor tries to explain. He says,
“I’ll open up immediately, just a moment. I’m slightly unwell.”
His family cannot understand him. Again, he fails to open the door. Somehow, with his mouth, he opens the door. His mother faints, his sister cries, the Clerk runs away, and his father drives him back into the room with the Clerk’s stick. Readers feel anger and shock here. Gregor only wants to save his job for his family. But his family treats him as a danger. His personality becomes powerless. Our hearts feel the cruelty of rejection. His suffering makes us question human love itself.
Gregor’s Silent Love and Our Tears: Grete brings him food to eat on an old newspaper. Kafka says,
“She brought him a whole selection of things, all spread out on an old newspaper.”
Gregor eats quietly and hides under the couch. He loves his sister and thinks of her dream of music. He does not hate his family even when they reject him. As readers, we feel deep sympathy and tears. His selfless personality shows silent sacrifice. His lonely death becomes the most painful effect on our hearts.
Gregor’s transformation is more than a body change. His personality, duty, helplessness, loneliness, and sacrifice touch the reader’s heart. We feel pity in his helplessness, respect in his duty, sadness in his silence, anger at his family, and tears in his death. His life shows the pain of modern man. The audience cannot escape the emotional effect of Gregor’s transformation.
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