’ve chosen!”
His job makes him very tired. He doesn’t have time for friends or fun. Gregor sacrifices everything for his family. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Samsa, depend on him for financial support. His sister, Grete, also benefits from his hard work. However, they don’t appreciate his efforts. When Gregor turns into an insect and can no longer work, his family rejects him. This is a sad part of Gregor’s life.
Transformation into a Vermin: When Gregor turns into an insect, his tragedy becomes even worse. He is no longer part of society or even his family. His family becomes distant and neglectful. At first, his sister Grete helps him, but soon she gets tired. She says,
“We have to try and get rid of it.”
She stops seeing him as her brother and starts calling him “it.” She decides they must get rid of Gregor. This is a heartbreaking moment. The family rejects him. It shows how alone he has become.
Gregor’s Death: The story ends with Gregor’s death. He dies alone in his room. The cleaner shouts,
“It’s dead, just lying there, stone dead!”
His family doesn’t mourn his death. Instead, they feel relieved. They quickly move on and start planning a better life without Gregor. This is the cruelest part of the story. Gregor gave everything for his family, but when he was no longer useful, they left him behind.
Comic Elements
Strange and Humorous Opening: The Novella, “The Metamorphosis”, starts with a strange and funny event. Gregor Samsa wakes up one morning and finds that he has turned into a giant insect. This is very odd and surprising. Kafka writes,
“One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin.”
This line is funny. Gregor discovers his transformation. But he doesn’t scream or panic. The idea of a man turning into a bug is ridiculous.
Insect Body: After turning into an insect, Gregor’s reaction is not what we would expect. He doesn’t panic or cry. Instead, he worries about being late for work. He is more concerned about his job than his new insect body. His attempts to get out of bed are funny. He struggles with his many tiny legs and tries to move, but it’s difficult. The narrator describes how Gregor becomes used to his insect body in a way that is both tragic and funny. Kafka says,
“He was especially fond of hanging from the ceiling.”
This shows how Gregor becomes comfortable with his new insect form, which is humorous.
Interactions with Family: The way Gregor’s family reacts to his transformation also has comic moments. When Gregor’s father sees him, he tries to push Gregor back into his room using a cane and a newspaper. This scene is both sad and funny.
“The Metamorphosis” is both tragic and comic. Gregor’s suffering, his family’s rejection, and his death bring tears. Yet the strange images, absurd events, and irony make us laugh. Kafka unites pain and humor brilliantly.
Continue Reading
Subscribe to access the full content
Upgrade to Premium