Matamorphosis Themes

A detailed Summary of Matamorphosis Themes

After exploring both the existentialistic and metaphysical aspects of Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis, I realized that the story was richly filled with other significant themes. These themes help to make this story one of the most unique and intelligently written novellas written in its time and place.

Perhaps the most noteworthy theme in the story is that of isolation. After Gregor transforms into an insect, everyone who sees him, including his family, rejects him. No one wants to look at him or talk to him about his situation. The chief clerk runs away in horror as soon as he sees him. His father locks him back into the room and then injures him with the apples. His mother faints when she sees him, which is understandable, but even after waking up never makes a kind gesture towards him. Gregor's only family member to show compassion is his sister Grete. The care she shows her brother gives him hope of survival, but after he overhears her saying she wishes he would go away, both his hopes and ultimately his body dies. The lodgers are absolutely horrified by the sight of the giant bug. Anyone who sees him wants to get away from him as soon as they can.

Gregor's family alienates him by trea

Modern Man's Dependence on Materialism

The former theme helps to explain another theme Kafka reveals in the novella, which is the addiction of man to materialism. Gregor's family is shown as an example of society as a whole who is preoccupied with financial security. His family is exhibits extreme sloth while still living well because Gregor works. They have an upper class flat as well as servants who wait on them. Yet they do not work at all. Compared to Gregor as both a working man and as a bug, his family is nothing but mediocre. It is only after Gregor becomes useless that they realize they need to find work of their own. The only true and genuine concern his family shows is at the beginning of the story when they realize Gregor is late for work. His family has instilled in him such a sense of urgency and importance of his job everyday that when he wakes up and finds himself to be a bug, he is much more concerned with being late for work and being able to walk with bug legs than being turned into an actual bug.

Exploiting Others as a Means of Survival

These themes show that Gregor's body changing into that of a bug was not the only metamorphosis in the story, for the roles in his family transformed just as much as his body. Because of the materialistic nature of his family, Gregor was taken advantage of. The exploitation he suffered caused the metamorphosis, and the isolation he experienced as a result ultimately led to his death. Franz Kafka presents a tragic view of man

Some common words found in the essay are:
Kafka's Metamorphosis, Survival Gregor's, Compared Gregor, Dependence Materialism, Kafka Gregor, Franz Kafka, , gregor's family, Gregor Samsa, unhealthy dependence, gregor bug, actual bug,

Approximate Word count = 1004
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English