How Does Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis Relate To Humanity
Metamorphosis and Humanity Essay The physical changes in the Samsa family are insignificant compared to the changes in their family’s reality. In The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, Gregor Samsa’s life is turned upside down when he wakes up one morning as a bug. Adapting and accepting his life as a bug includes many rough patches within himself and his family. As time goes by his family secludes him more and more each month until he passes away from starvation and isolation. Gregor’s family is unforgiving of him after their lives are changed in this expressive novella. According to The Metamorphosis, being human means to be imperfect as seen through Gregor’s lack of loving bonds, Mr. Samsa’s actions and lack of self-confidence, and Grete
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Samsa. This is seen through Gregor’s observations about his father when he thinks, “His father was healthy but old, and lacking in self confidence” (Kafka 18). Throughout this novella it is supported by Mr. Samsa’s actions to Gregor and the rest of his family. The first time Mr. Samsa sees Gregor as a bug Kafka writes, “The flight of the chief clerk seemed, unfortunately, to put Gregor's father into a panic as well. Until then he had been relatively self controlled, but now, instead of running after the chief clerk himself, or at least not impeding Gregor as he ran after him, Gregor's father seized the chief clerk's stick in his right hand (the chief clerk had left it behind on a chair, along with his hat and overcoat), picked up a large newspaper from the table with his left, and used them to drive Gregor back into his room, stamping his foot at him as he went” (Kafka 11). These actions do not make Mr. Samsa a kind human being, but they do make him a human with flaws, which is more humane than being a human without flaws. Another example of a time when Mr. Samsa’s actions are imperfect is when he chases Gregor around the room and throws apples at him. He is afraid of Gregor and doesn’t believe in himself to defend his family from what he thinks is a threat so he tries to defend himself against Gregor by chasing him around the room and lodging an apple in his back. He has given up on the thought of Gregor, just as Grete has given up on
Samsa. This is seen through Gregor’s observations about his father when he thinks, “His father was healthy but old, and lacking in self confidence” (Kafka 18). Throughout this novella it is supported by Mr. Samsa’s actions to Gregor and the rest of his family. The first time Mr. Samsa sees Gregor as a bug Kafka writes, “The flight of the chief clerk seemed, unfortunately, to put Gregor's father into a panic as well. Until then he had been relatively self controlled, but now, instead of running after the chief clerk himself, or at least not impeding Gregor as he ran after him, Gregor's father seized the chief clerk's stick in his right hand (the chief clerk had left it behind on a chair, along with his hat and overcoat), picked up a large newspaper from the table with his left, and used them to drive Gregor back into his room, stamping his foot at him as he went” (Kafka 11). These actions do not make Mr. Samsa a kind human being, but they do make him a human with flaws, which is more humane than being a human without flaws. Another example of a time when Mr. Samsa’s actions are imperfect is when he chases Gregor around the room and throws apples at him. He is afraid of Gregor and doesn’t believe in himself to defend his family from what he thinks is a threat so he tries to defend himself against Gregor by chasing him around the room and lodging an apple in his back. He has given up on the thought of Gregor, just as Grete has given up on