Metamorphoses in The Metamorphosis
By Hemanth Soni
Change is so pervasive in our lives that it almost defeats description and analysis. However, change raises subtle
problems. One of the most baffling problems is the consistency of change. Some have held that change is a consistent
process rendered by the existence of time. Others have held that the only way to make sense of change is as an
inconsistency. In The Metamorphosis, by Franz Kafka, the latter seems to be true. The most significant motif of the novel
is revealed in the title itself – metamorphosis. Gregor Samsa, the protagonist of the short novel, undergoes a physical
metamorphosis as he changes from a human to what is described as a very large dung beetle. Because of his
transformation, the entire Samsa family changes, as they move from helplessness and sympathetic fear to emancipation
and hostile rejection. Although Gregor goes through a physical change, it is his family that undergoes a large
metaphysical change. Through the use of connotation of the words used, dialogue, and symbolism, Franz Kafka
effectively conveys that no change can be an isolated incident, and that any change results in more alterations. In The
Metamorphosis, Gregor Sasma’s physical metamorphosis is a catalyst for a lot of other metamorphoses.
When Gregor was human, and was able to provide for the family, his family was lazy and entirely depended on
him. At the beginning of the story, the reader is told that Gregor dislikes his job, but has never been late. Therefore, the
one day he is late is something very unusual – not a result of something Gregor would do to avoid work. Yet the first
thing he hears from his mother is, “Gregor, […] it’s a quarter to seven. Didn’t you want to catch the train?” (Kafka 5).
From this dialogue, the reader can see that Gregor’s parents are more worried about Gregor going to work and earning
money than they are about his safety and well-being. Kafka has Gregor’s mother use the phrase “didn’t you want to…” ,
as opposed to “Can’t you…”, to insinuate that Gregor is staying home by choice. This passage shows that his family
entirely depends on him and expects him to serve them without faltering. However, after his transformation, his family
learns to be independent, and realizes that they need to be able to provide for themselves. When Gregor morphs into
an insect and is incapable of returning to work, Mr. Samsa is thrown back into the role of the breadwinner. Mr. Samsa
becomes a hardworking man who soon regains his pride. During the scene at the kitchen table after Gregor’s death,
there is a common change among the family members: their new willingness to do things independently. The bold act
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of writing letters of excuse to their employers is a clear example of their new independence. By taking initiative and
writing to their employers, Gregor's family proves that they no longer depend on him.
Prior to Gregor's transformation, the family relied completely on Gregor's financial support and had little in
terms of responsibilities. Kafka explains what Gregor thinks of his family through the lines, "they [Gregor's parents] had
formed the conviction that Gregor was set for life in his firm...they were so preoccupied with their immediate troubles
that they had lost all consideration for the future,"(Kafka 16). From this passage, we see that the family is fine with
Gregor being in the firm forever, working to repay their debts. Also, the reader realizes that this narration is unreliable
and only shows what Gregor, in his innocence, believes. In the third person perspective, the reader sees that the family
is not at all busy – the daughter, until Gregor’s transformation, had no obligations but was free to wear pretty clothes,
sleep late, and practice violin. The father was on a five-year vacation, and the mother had a maid doing all the cooking
and cleaning for her. The dialogue between the characters and Gregor’s thoughts show that in some ways, the family
has changed for the better.
However, there is not only a metamorphosis in their habits. The way the family treats Gregor also changes.
Franz Kafka uses this reversal of roles to contrast the character’s personalities and to show how the characters change
throughout the story. Before his transformation, Gregor is the provider, and his family is the recipient. However, after
his transformation, the family becomes the provider, and Gregor becomes the recipient. This reversal allows the reader
to understand how different Gregor is from the rest of his family. The mother herself states, “That boy has nothing on
his mind but the business. It’s almost begun to rile me that he never goes out nights. He’s been back in the city for eight
days now, but every night he’s been home” (Kafka 10). From this passage, we see that Gregor is sacrificing his entire life
to work for his family so that they can live a luxurious life. However, when it becomes the family’s turn to provide, they
shirk from their duties. This is seen from how Gregor’s room was maintained. “His family had gotten into the habit of
putting in this room things for which they could not find another place…” (Kafka 43). The symbolism of Gregor being in
the same room as the entire family’s junk shows that the family does not value Gregor much. They see him more as a
burden and less as a family member. He himself may be part of the “junk” of that room. This becomes apparent when
Grete, his sister, begins to stop caring about Gregor, dropping in whatever food the family can spare, and barely cleaning
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his room. This use of symbolism allows the reader to better grasp the concept of change through the novel, and reminds
the reader that Gregor is not the only one changing. Another example of symbols to convey change is seen when
Gregor’s father chases him back to the room after first seeing him. Kafka includes a very interesting detail that helps the
reader understand what happened. The narration states “…one of his flanks was scraped raw, ugly blotches marred the
white door…” (Kafka 19). Kafka includes a very interesting detail; the door was white. White is a known archetypal
colour for purity and innocence, and we see here that it is marked by blood, the symbol of experience. The inclusion of
this detail in what would otherwise just be imagery allows the reader to understand that Gregor is being forced into
change – from innocence to experience, and it is his father is the cause.
The Metamorphosis is much more than just a story about a man that turns into a bug; it symbolizes the changes
that occur in relationships when sickness inflicts a once healthy and vibrant individual of the family. Throughout the
novel, the reader sees all the main characters changing, and by the end of the story, it is clearly understood that of all
the characters, Gregor is the one who changes the least. Franz Kafka effectively uses connotation, dialogue, and
symbolism to convey, through his novel, that change is a chain reaction. Knowing this, the reader understands that The
Metamorphosis is about the metamorphoses that the whole family goes through. This unique and multilayered motif of
change is what makes The Metamorphosis a timeless classic that will not be forgotten for decades to come.
Word Count: 1200
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Works Cited
Kafka, Franz, and Stanley Corngold. The Metamorphosis . Bantam classic edition. Toronto: Bantam Books, 1986.
Print.
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