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In Franz Kafka’s “Metamorphosis”, the term metamorphosis means a complete and profound change in structure and substance or a change from one stage to the next in the life of an organism. Gregor’s transformation causes remarkable changes in him and his family. Gregor’s physical transformation makes him a creature, stripping him of his humanity in the eyes of his family. Change is the essence of life, and the theme of change is organic to the action, dictating the unfolding of the plot and influencing the character’s behavior and destiny.
Gregor’s metamorphosis into a gigantic insect and the thoughts, reflections, and feelings profound change causing him on the first day. Gregor’s conscious awareness that he has become an insect and the thoughts and feelings this discovery evokes in him. “One morning, as Gregor Samsa was waking up from anxious dreams, he discovered that in bed he had been changed into a monstrous verminous bug” (Kafka 3). Gregor Samsa wakes up to find himself transformed into a giant beetle. After examining his new physiology, complete with many thin legs, a hardback, and a segmented belly, he wonders only momentarily what has happened to him. The familiar sights and objects in Gregor’s room and how these objects are contrasted to the extreme circumstances he finds himself in. Gregor’s chief concern is his job; the fact that he has missed his early morning train, and his fear that someone from his office may come to check on him. “’ My dear lady, I cannot explain it to myself in any other way,’ said the manager; ‘I hope it is nothing serious’” (Kafka 13). Gregor cannot understand why his sister is already crying, since he is not yet in danger of losing his job and only wants to be left alone. The chief clerk suddenly loses his temper and tells Gregor that he is shocked by his behavior. The response of the chief clerk and his parents as he shows himself to them for the first time. The familiar sights and objects in Gregor’s room and how these objects are contrasted to the extreme circumstances. Gregor’s chief concern is his job; the fact that he has missed his early morning train, and his fear that someone from his office may come to check on him. The chief clerk suddenly loses his temper and tells Gregor that he is shocked by his behavior. The response of the chief clerk and his parents as he shows himself to them for the first time.
The second change in Gregor’s life: is his adjustment to his new body, to his new life as an insect. Recognizing the limitations of his body; his loss of appetite for milk, and his private feelings for his sister. “Was he an animal that music so seized him? For him it was as if the way to the unknown nourishment he craved was revealing itself to him” (Kafka 64). Suddenly Gregor smells food, which his sister had left for him, near the door and moves toward it, discovering that it has bread floating in milk, which used to be his favorite drink. He discovers, however, that he finds milk repulsive and cannot drink it. Feelings of guilt and sorrow when he overhears his father discussing the family’s plight and financial situation. The effect the removal of his furniture has on his spirit; changes in Grete as she cares for him. “But perhaps the enthusiastic sensibility of young women of her age also played a role” (Kafka 45). Noticing this by the tracks he left, his sister decides to remove all his furniture to give him more room. Gregor’s mother suggests that if they were to remove all his furniture, it would look to him as though they had given up on his recovery. How Gregor’s helplessness affects Mr. Samsa and how this changes the balance of power in the house. Gregor’s futile attempt to placate his father’s anger and his hapless retreat to his room when he is being attacked with apples. Noticing this by the tracks he left, his sister decides to remove all his furniture to give him more room. Gregor’s mother suggests that if they were to remove all his furniture, it would look to him as though they had given up on his recovery.
The third change in Gregor’s life and in that of his family is a complete reversal of family roles, that is, the family no longer depends on Gregor for their support, while Gregor must now depend on his family for his survival. His mother’s desperate screams and pleas to spare Gregor’s life when she runs to her husband. “He slid back again into his earlier position” (Kafka 4). One of the apples sinks into Gregor’s back, causing him such pain that he cannot move. As he loses consciousness, Gregor sees his mother running to his father and begging him to spare her son’s life. The different jobs the family takes to earn money. Grete’s increasing ambivalence toward Gregor. “He thought back on his family with deep emotion and love” (Kafka 71). Grete tries to care for Gregor in the same way he used to care for her, but she seems driven by family duty rather than a true human bond, as we see from the fact that she never addresses Gregor directly except on one occasion when she turns to threaten him. Grete seems to think that Gregor cannot understand her, though he gives clear signals of his intelligence and concern for her. Gregor’s decline in health; his slide into disintegration and decay. Grete’s increasing ambivalence toward Gregor. Grete tries to care for Gregor in the same way he used to care for her, but she seems driven by family duty rather than a true human bond, as we see from the fact that she never addresses Gregor directly except on one occasion when she turns to threaten him.
The change in the family fortunes after Gregor’s death. The domino effects the three lodgers have on the plot and Gregor’s fate. “As he was thinking all this over in the greatest haste, without being able to decide to get out of bed there was a cautious knock on the door by the head of the bed” (Kafka 6). The family takes on three lodgers who bring their furnishings, so everything that is not needed is tossed into Gregor’s room. Hope and renewal are symbolized by the coming of spring, the warm sunshine on the train, and Grete’s youthful, attractive body. Grete getting all the responsibility from Gregor. “When the violin started playing, they became attentive, got up, and went on tiptoe to the hall door, at which they remained standing pressed up against one another” (Kafka 62 and 63). The lodgers, after listening for a short while, move over to the window and begin whispering to show they are no longer interested and are disappointed with the performance. The three lodgers were physically attracted to Grete because she was so young and beautiful as a woman.
Discuss Gregor’s death. Grete’s metamorphosis into a young, beautiful eligible bride. “The family was all caught up in the violin playing” (Kafka 64). Grete is beautiful as a woman and the three lodgers are attracted to her but not her music. Mr. Samsa replaces Gregor with Grete as his financial source. His thoughts about his family worried him till his last breath. “Then without willing it, his head sank, and from his nostrils flowed out weakly out his last breath” (Kafka 71). The old woman found him dead and objected to him as “it”. Discuss Gregor’s thinking mentality. Gregor thought about his family and how they going to survive without any source of income.
Change is the essence of life, and the theme of change is organic to the action, dictating the unfolding of the plot and influencing the characters’ behavior and destiny. The metamorphosis of Gregor is in five levels. Gregor’s father asks Gregor to open the door, while his mother is explaining to the chief clerk that Gregor must certainly be ill, or he would never be late since he only thinks of his work and never goes out.
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