Transformations and Symbolism in Frank Kafka’s "The Metamorphosis"
Transformations and Symbolism in Frank Kafka’s "The Metamorphosis"
Franz Kafka 's stories are perhaps one of the most open-interpreted works of literature of the twentieth century because of his alienated and disturbed characters placed upon modern backdrops of despair and horror that in the years to come after his writings would come to life. While there will be some who wish to interpret "The Metamorphosis" as a work of prophecy that depicts the grotesqueries and dehumanization from future events such as the Holocaust, and others who believe it to be a reflection of Kafka, even though Kafka has denied such accusations. "The Metamorphosis" is symbolic not for coincidences that collide to future events nor is it symbolic for any similarities to Kafka 's personal life though his psychoanalytical history and Freudian analysis, since even works of fiction will always reveal something about the author 's personal life as well as Kafka 's denial of this theory (Janouch 372)., but it is symbolic for revealing how the frustrations, horrors, and despairs of life under an occupation such as a salesman along with feelings of broken dreams and helplessness can dehumanize a character into an insect and how humanity can trample upon anything it deems less than human to fill itself with pride, no matter if the "insect" is innocent, or in the "Metamorphosis" case, the once entire support of the family who sacrificed his dreams for them.
In the first part of the "Metamorphosis", Gregor Samsa awakes from troubled dreams and finds himself transformed into a "monstrous insect." (Kafka 337). As he tries to find a way to fall back to sleep in the chance of waking up again he will revert to his normal self, he ponders upon the nuisances of his job as a traveling salesman: "What an exhausting job I 've chosen! Always on the go, day in and day out. There are far more worries on the road than at the office, what with the constant travel…the wretched meals eaten at odd
Franz Kafka 's stories are perhaps one of the most open-interpreted works of literature of the twentieth century because of his alienated and disturbed characters placed upon modern backdrops of despair and horror that in the years to come after his writings would come to life. While there will be some who wish to interpret "The Metamorphosis" as a work of prophecy that depicts the grotesqueries and dehumanization from future events such as the Holocaust, and others who believe it to be a reflection of Kafka, even though Kafka has denied such accusations. "The Metamorphosis" is symbolic not for coincidences that collide to future events nor is it symbolic for any similarities to Kafka 's personal life though his psychoanalytical history and Freudian analysis, since even works of fiction will always reveal something about the author 's personal life as well as Kafka 's denial of this theory (Janouch 372)., but it is symbolic for revealing how the frustrations, horrors, and despairs of life under an occupation such as a salesman along with feelings of broken dreams and helplessness can dehumanize a character into an insect and how humanity can trample upon anything it deems less than human to fill itself with pride, no matter if the "insect" is innocent, or in the "Metamorphosis" case, the once entire support of the family who sacrificed his dreams for them.
In the first part of the "Metamorphosis", Gregor Samsa awakes from troubled dreams and finds himself transformed into a "monstrous insect." (Kafka 337). As he tries to find a way to fall back to sleep in the chance of waking up again he will revert to his normal self, he ponders upon the nuisances of his job as a traveling salesman: "What an exhausting job I 've chosen! Always on the go, day in and day out. There are far more worries on the road than at the office, what with the constant travel…the wretched meals eaten at odd
Cited: Joanouch, Gustav. "Conversations with Kafka." Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. Ed. X.J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia. New York: Pearson Longman, 2005. 371-373. Kafka, Franz. "The Metamorphosis." Trans. John Siscoe. Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. Ed. X.J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia. New York: Pearson Longman, 2005. 336- 370.