Transformations and Symbolism in Frank Kafka's "the Metamorphosis"

Transformations and Symbolism in Frank Kafka’s "The Metamorphosis"

Franz Kafka's stories are perhaps one of the most open-interpreted works of literature of the twentieth century because of his alienated and disturbed characters placed upon modern backdrops of despair and horror that in the years to come after his writings would come to life. While there will be some who wish to interpret "The Metamorphosis" as a work of prophecy that depicts the grotesqueries and dehumanization from future events such as the Holocaust, and others who believe it to be a reflection of Kafka, even though Kafka has denied such accusations. "The Metamorphosis" is symbolic not for coincidences that collide to future events nor is it symbolic for any similarities to Kafka's personal life though his psychoanalytical history and Freudian analysis, since even works of fiction will always reveal something about the author's personal life as well as Kafka's denial of this theory (Janouch 372)., but it is symbolic for revealing how the frustrations, horrors, and despairs of life under an occupation such as a salesman along with feelings of broken dreams and helplessness can dehumanize a character into an insect and how humanity can trample upon anything it deems less than human to fill itself with pride, no matter if the "insect" is innocent, or in the "Metamorphosis" case, the once entire support of the family who sacrificed his dreams for them.

In the first part of the "Metamorphosis", Gregor Samsa awakes from troubled dreams and finds himself transformed into a "monstrous insect." (Kafka 337). As he tries to find a way to fall back to sleep in the chance of waking up again he will revert to his normal self, he ponders upon the nuisances of his job as a traveling salesman: "What an exhausting job I've chosen! Always on the go, day in and day out. There are far more worries on the road than at the office, what with the constant travel…the wretched meals eaten at odd hours, and the casual acquaintances you meet only in passing, never to see again, never to become intimate friends." (Kafka 337). This very well explains the origin of the dehumanization process that has taken over Gregor. The way Gregor describes his job can be seen as the way an insect lives its life day by day, always traveling, eating rotten and vile food whenever the chances is given, and passing by acquaintances but never making friends or partners. The job Gregor has taken up can very well be what has dehumanized Gregor, causing him to change into a hideous insect. This becomes more prominent when Gregor's boss comments on his mutated voice, "That was the voice of an animal," (Kafka 343). Perhaps this can be seen as stating the obvious but it holds more symbolic power when it is Gregor's boss who is the first to refer to him as an animal since he can very well be the cause of the dehumanizing conditions of Gregor's job.

In part two of the story, Samsa is annexed from the rest of the family and forced to stay inside his room so his parents will not be in fear of him. Samsa is still able to understand what is happening around the house through their conversations. Although they were terrified of Gregor, they still fed him. This is where Gregor's dehumanization process takes a heavier turn. Gregor is not only dehumanized physically by his transformation, but now emotionally. Gregor is distant from the family and is separated from their lives. To understand what was going on with the family, Gregor would press his body against the door and hear their conversations, which was often about him. Gregor also learns that while he was working for his whole family, that his father did in fact save enough money from the business to survive for a couple of years. The narrator describes how Gregor "had to work with tremendous zeal…" and how "They'd simply gotten used to it, both family and Gregor; they had gratefully accepted the money, and he had given it gladly, but no special warmth went with it." (Kafka 351). These explanations can also explain the dehumanization process and trace it to his family, who even before his metamorphosis, showed little to no warmth for his sacrifices to financially support his whole family, much like a slave or beast of burden.

Gregor's metamorphosis into an insect is becomes even more prominent as pleasures he once enjoyed no longer satisfy him and his vision becomes more indistinct as the days go by. His alienation from his family becomes clearer when the narrator states, "Even the way in which she entered the room was a torture for him." (Kafka 353). As a month passes, his family's fear does not subdue or calm, but only