Indirect Characterization In Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis

The main character of Kafka’s book, The Metamorphosis, is a normal, everyday salesman named Gregor Samsa who happens to wake up one day only to find that he had suddenly become a hideous insect overnight. Throughout the book, Gregor experiences neglect, disgust, and eventually complete isolation

     Throughout the story there is a metamorphosis that is taking place in his home. He has traded places with the family and is now living the life they had previously embelished in. His father begins to work along with his sister and his mother must now work and do the cooking and cleaning. Gregor on the other hand does nothing but daydream, crawl, and nap through his days. One ironic statement from his sister “He must go, if this were Gregor he would have realized long ago human beings can’t live with such a creature, he’d have gone away one his own accord. This creature persecutes us, drives away our lodgers, obviously wants the whole apartment to himself, and would have us all sleep in the gutter.” How selfish of her, had he not taken care of them and he was not the only one working

In the article, written by Walter H. Sokel, he goes into depth about how Franz Kafka’s life is reflected in the book The Metamorphosis and his other writings. Sokel ties together multiple aspects of the novel and their importance to Gregor and his family dynamic as a whole. Many of the points made in the article address the absurdity of the situation the novel presents and the underlying meaning in the actions of the characters. The premise of the article is pointing to the facts that Gregor's predicament is Kafka inserting his own life frustrations into his literary works. In each passage of the article another part of Gregor's life is laid bare. Sokel’s many inferences that the fault is in Gregor's own doing and not his situation in life, create a complex maze of cause and effect.

Grete undergoes a change in perspective to such a degree that by the end of the novella it is she who declares, “we must get rid of it” (84). This change in perspective shows how Kafka believes that members of society often stop sympathizing with the isolated group when it becomes inconvenient for them to continue doing so. Gregor’s mother reacts in an initial manner somewhere between the father and sister since when first seeing him she “went two steps toward Gregor and collapsed right in the middle of her skirts” (23). These conflicting desires continue through the novella, such as when Mr. Samsa tries to kill Gregor, “she begged him to spare Gregor’s life” (65) but at the same time she is repulsed by him. This illustrates how she wants to help him and tries to think of him the same way she did before his transformation, yet is unable to. This resembles the idealists in society who theoretically support the alienated person but often succumb to social pressures when they are forced to face the problem. These three reactions to Gregor’s transformation as a result of the initiation of his isolation by the manager demonstrate the spectrum of reactions. From the immediate acceptance of the hierarchy represented by Mr. Samsa, to the true compassion of Grete and the idealism of Mrs. Samsa, Kafka shows how a wide variety of reactions is expected from society, and how people often change their opinions.

Kafka’s The Metamorphosis, is the story of Gregor Samsa, a traveling salesman who is responsible for the financial well-being of his entire family, yet experiences an unfortunate metamorphosis into a giant bug. However, while Gregor undergoes a disturbing physical transformation, the family dynamic changes drastically as well. The family’s treatment of Gregor slowly deteriorates from them regarding him as the basis for their financial success and security to regarding him as no more than an extraordinary nuisance that holds them back from a brighter future.

The story is very sad and realistic, some of the things that are related in Kafka's story can be found in modern families today. Gregor was a man who sacrifices himself working to pay his father's debts, instead off on his own where he could prospered. Gregor never was recognized by his family of all the efforts that he did, he was taken for granted and he was

In the novella, Gregor transforms into an insect; he and his family must navigate his new life as a bug. As Gregor undergoes a physical transformation, there is also a shift in financial power in his family. Kafka shows that a capitalist society dehumanizes the working class, this is seen through the characterization of Gregor, the symbolism of food, and diction surrounding Gregor’s father

Waking up one morning as an insect is not a common occurrence. Although there are many different ways to interpret and describe The Metamorphosis, there is no doubt that the main character, Gregor Samsa, experiences prominent acts of betrayal after his strange alteration, both with others and within himself. Consequently, Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis embodies various examples of betrayal through Gregor’s father abandoning him, Gregor giving up his life, and Grete losing her faith in Gregor’s human restoration.

In Franz Kafka’s novella, The Metamorphosis, the travelling salesman Gregor Samsa wakes up one morning, in his family’s home, to find “himself changed in his bed into a monstrous vermin” (Kafka 3). While this immediate physical change, supported by ensuing physical imagery, suggests that the “metamorphosis” introduced in the title is purely physical, other interpretations are also possible. When the reader relies upon the extended and embedded metaphors present in this text, he or she may construe Gregor Samsa’s transformation as an emotional, mental, or internal change. It is a combination of both physical and nonphysical interpretations of Gregor Samsa’s metamorphosis, however, which produces a multifaceted,

Having characters represent Kafka’s life turns an unrealistic story into relatable material. Kafka struggled with family problems throughout his entire life, and growing up he felt useless as if he was an unwanted vermin. This helps the reader make sense of the reading, forcing them to relate Gregor’s feelings to a real person. “When Gregor Samsa woke up one morning from unsettling dreams, he found himself changed in his bed into a monstrous

Many views of existentialism are exposed in Kafka's Metamorphosis. One of these main views is alienation or estrangement which is demonstrated by Gregor's relationship with his family, his social life, and the way he lives his life after the metamorphosis. Namely, it suggests that man is reduced to an insect by the modern world and his family; human nature is completely self absorbed. Kafka reflects a belief that the more generous and selfless one is, the worse one is treated. This view is in direct conflict with the way things should be; man, specifically Gregor should be treated in accordance to his actions. Gregor should be greatly beloved by his family regardless of his state. This idea is displayed in three separate themes. First,

In “The Metamorphosis” by Franz Kafka, Gregor Samsa is transformed into a vermin and can no longer work to repay his family debts. The Kafkaesque style of the story helps to build the expressionism and realism that can be viewed in the short story. While Gregor is the main character, his character does not go into any transformation past a physical one. However, his sister, Grete Samsa, undergoes development as she transforms from a young girl to an independent woman as she tries to deal with Gregor’s unfortunate predicament. Clayton Koelb discussed the improper translation of Kafka’s works.

Franz Kafka was an author born to a Jewish family in Prague. Critics claim that Kafka had a difficult childhood. Critic Walter H. Sokel observes that Kafka felt “deserted and betrayed” growing up (Sokel). After finishing school, Kafka went on to law school and found a friend, Max Brod, who greatly impacted his life. Kafka made more friends and traveled the world with them. His journey of writing began there. He went on to live a very interesting life involving many women and adventures. Most of his work was published after he was deceased. Critic Micah Sadigh claims that “Franz Kafka is often viewed as one of the Fathers of the literature of the absurd, the type of literature that reveals the irrational, acausal aspect of the human experience in a universe that is impervious to the fate of humanity” (Sadigh). Franz Kafka is an author who writes about the very nature of existence in its most revealing form. Sokel also mentions that there is a “peculiar relationship of Kafka's narratives to metaphors,” (Sokel). “The Metamorphosis” shows how Kafka brings metaphors to life in order to define identity and reality.

Describe Kafka’s family life, especially his relationship with his father. How might this have impacted themes or motifs in The Metamorphosis?

Franz Kafka’s Metamorphosis is a fictional story that illustrates an extreme example of how life can be a curse. In the beginning of this story, the main character, Gregor Samsa, wakes up transformed as a gigantic cockroach. Not too much later, his family and employer are shocked to see his new form, and immediately begin to act differently towards him. Throughout the story Gregor experiences being set apart from his family and the outside world, at the same time becoming more accustomed to his new body. At the end, Gregor passes away from injures and by starving himself. Because of Gregor’s death his family becomes relieved and even happy that they are now freed from Gregor’s presence. By examining the use of setting, plot, and symbolism in this story one can easily see how Kafka presents the theme.