Who Is Gregor Samsa In The Metamorphosis

The Rebirth of Gregor Samsa in Kafka’s The Metamorphosis
Franz Kafka’s novel, The Metamorphosis, utilizes distortion to emphasize the theme of alienation and isolation by its protagonist Gregor Samsa in an exploration of man's struggle for understanding and acceptance. Society is often frightened by those who are different and therefore demands conformity to its norms or it alienates individuals who attempt to deviate from these standards. Gregor Samsa represents this isolation from humanity, his job and even his body when he realizes he can no longer continue to live the life he have been living.
“I cannot make you understand. I cannot make anyone understand what is happening inside me. I cannot even explain it to myself” (Kafka 3).
Gregor’s physical transformation from human into that of a monstrous insect is symbolic for the spiritual transformation he has undergone. No longer able to work for the comfort of others and follow the routines of society, he breaks free from the mental state of what society asks of him. Moreover, as both his family and society can not understand his inner feelings to break free from conformity, they are unable to understand him as an insect. Consequently, as Gregor completes his transformation into an insect he is no longer able to communicate physically with his family and society. This inability to “talk” is symbolic of his inability to continue with the meaninglessness of life. “Gregor had become much calmer...Apparently his words were no longer understandable even though they were clear enough to him, clearer than before...” (Kafka 15). He no longer posses the language necessary to conform as he strives for a purpose as an individual instead of as a drone in society, and as his family can not understand his inner desires, they can no longer understand is speech.
At the beginning of the novella, Gregor contemplates his life as a traveling salesman as isolated. He never truly connects to people and can never establish a lasting relationship with anyone because he's always moving around. "Oh God... what a grueling profession I've picked! ... the steady stream of faces who never become anything closer than acquaintances” (Kafka 7-8). Habits of alienation and isolation from others during his travels at work on the road also translate into Gregor’s everyday life. “Gregor...congratulated himself on the precaution that he had adopted he picked up while traveling of locking all the doors during the night even at home” (Kafka 9). By locking up his room in his own house, it suggests that Gregor feels his home to be just as unwelcoming as a hotel. Additionally, Gregor’s fantasy of revealing his true thoughts and nature to his boss exposes the inner turmoil he is feeling even before his physical transformation. He feels he is treated as a “bug” by his boss and insignificant. “Gregor Samsa feels that he has been treated as a lowly insect and comes to feel that he is one...“I feel like an insect” to “I am an insect” (Kohzadi 1603). He feels reduced to an insignificant “worker” who is thought of as lowly and inconsequential not only the workplace, but mankind as a whole.
Conversely, before Gregor reveals his physical transformation to both his family and mankind, he still clings to the hope that he's part of "human society," and can still be helped or cured by other human beings.
“But at least it was now believed that all was not right with him and they were ready to help him... He felt encircled by humanity again”(Kafka 15). Furthermore, prior to his metamorphosis into a vermin, it had been Gregor who had chosen the isolation of his life. He, himself, had chosen to distance himself from intimacy from outsiders as well as with his family. After the change, it will be the others who alienate and isolate Gregor, who lock him up in his room and separate from him. The forced separation from society further creates a void of understanding and acceptance for who Gregor and in turn Kafka feels he is. “... the metamorphosis into a monstrous insect Gregor is ...total alienation from his family, from human society...from human nature... he still has human sensibility, human feelings, human senses, but they are invisible to all..his isolation so total” (Mendoza 136). Gregor Samsa metamorphosis into that of a bug is truly a representation of the metamorphosis of his awareness that his life had no purpose. Gregor views the transient life of a traveling salesman as dehumanizing and yearns to express his true self and be valued as
such. Gregor's wishes, as well as author Kafka, to be seen as an individual. Each wishes to be “exposed” for their true feelings and to be appreciated for such. Each wants to be acknowledged for their suffering, but is willing to work, make contributions and be valued as the individuals they are instead of as part of the meaningless mass.“...the metaphor here is the automated, alienated life that Gregor led, which is void of any humane appreciation, cold emotions and failed communication ... disregarding important emotional sides of his life”(Assemism). Gregor’s desire to disappear as a man is caused by society's drive for money and perfection, instead of the acceptance of his individual hopes and dreams. He feels that humanity will never truly accept him, as well as others true character, therefore causing him to transform into something other than human. Additionally, as Gregor’s transformation pulls him further from that of a “human being” he is able to fully appreciate the beauty of his sisters music and therefore the beauty of life. “Gregor becomes more adept as an insect, he also becomes increasingly sensitive to Grete’s playing, with the allegorical implication ... modern man must withdraw from ... society that no longer cares about what he thinks, much less what he feels” (Fiero). This new appreciation stems from his ability to live as his true self. It reveals that he must be alienated from the society that has trapped him through bureaucracy and authority in a meaningless world to truly understand the purpose of his life. In an attempt to reveal a man's search for understanding and acceptance as an individual, The Metamorphosis written by Franz Kafka, employs exaggeration to assert a theme of the alienation and isolation of the protagonist Gregor Samsa.
“Kafka’s fiction... captures the alienation of twentieth century life... characters are left adrift in a world...over which they seem to have little control. The Metamorphosis captures all of the fear and doubt with which human beings face their future” (Mazzeno). The power behind Kafka’s fiction, essentially relies on the similarities between the alienation of Gregor, and the isolation that took place during twentieth century life. Religious beliefs, achievements of modern science, as well as the significance of art were denied during this time, giving people limited jurisdiction. Humanity's failure to recognize people's individualities is what ultimately leads to the alienation, isolation, and later metamorphosis of Gregor
Samsa.