Alienation In Gregor's Metamorphosis

Although there is a large discourse on the whether or not Gregor’s transformation into an insect truly occurred, the realness of his transformation is not important. Whether a delusion or a true metamorphosis, either transformation is equally poignant, as the themes of alienation, humanity, and absurdity are still explored. Gregor’s physical transformation into an insect is just the groundwork of the novella, as it is a metaphor for the mental metamorphoses of the other characters. For Gregor, his physical transformation leads to a mental metamorphosis of alienation. Whether a delusion, a dream, or truly physical, to Gregor's transformation espouses his emotional isolation from his family and society as a whole. The insect, Gregor becomes,
in all actuality, represents the true existence of himself, his innermost self. After Gregor’s metamorphosis, his family members struggle with their feelings towards Gregor. Though initially feeling some sympathy towards him, eventually the stress of his transformation wears down on them, leading to Gregor’s further alienation and his ultimate death. Overall, the physicality of Gregor’s transformation is insignificant. Whether his transformation was a delusion, or reality, does not change the verdict of the story. Gregor still inextricably suffered at the hands of his loved one’s and society, all the while the world prospering, seemingly unchanged by the absurdity of one's man metamorphosis into an insect, and the events that followed.