Metamorphisis

In the Metamorphosis, Franz Kafka transforms the main character, Gregor Samsa, into a bug. Kafka chose the bug for several reasons. The bug is a symbol for the life that Gregor has. His life is full of loneliness and emptiness. Furthermore, Kafka wrote this book shortly after the Industrial Revolution. There is a connection between the bug-form of Samsa and the transformation of workers into machines.

Gregor Samsa is a traveling salesman who brings in most of the income for his entire family. Waking up before dusk, he spends all of his day out working. On page four this is evident when Gregor says,” What a grueling job I’ve picked!” He has no time for his own pleasures. Even after he is transformed, all he worries about for the fifteen minutes is getting ready for the train and not being late to work. He is nothing more than a bug, working from dawn to dusk merely for the survival of his family. Which is shown on page four he explains that,” I woulda quit long ago but not for my parents.”

There is evidence that Gregor somehow willed the transformation to occur in various passages at the start of the book. One line on page three stated,” Overcast weather completely depressed him.” And on page four he explains that,” I woulda quit long ago but not for my parents.” Since it is a metamorphosis, which takes time in nature, it could be that Gregor wanted to transform into a bug gradually so that he can have some leisure time and not have to work so hard.

The bug is considered one of the lowest life forms on the planet. The bug is disgusting and revolting. Its physical features are very different from the features of humans. Yet, Kafka chose to transform Gregor into a bug. Perhaps it is to show an example about how quickly it is that people judge physical characteristics rather than what makes up a person and the personality inside. According to the novel, Gregor was the most sympathetic character out of everyone else. He worked hard for the family. He had dreams for Grete, his sister. Gregor never gave up on his family.