Introduction
Franz Kafka’s novel, “The Metamorphosis,” is regarded as one of the most fascinating and absurdist works of literature and offers a complex philosophical and psychological examination of current circumstances. There has been much discussion on the plot’s intricacy and underlying significance. Kafka well captures the ephemeral and existentialist character of industrial urbanization. The change of Gregor symbolizes freedom from social restraints and eventually draws attention to modern life’s immorality, alienation, and misery.
Discussion
Kafka leaves several ideas unjustified or without explanation resulting in absurdity. The transformation takes place, and neither Gregor’s nor his family’s reactions suggest that the world as it is portrayed is genuine, but instead that it exists in a condition devoid of any order or integrity. However, this may reflect the reality of modern life, which fosters an environment where alienation, the loss of core human values, and dysfunction are constantly present. Hierarchical social interactions overshadow the notion of biology and family. Gregor’s change turns into a source of resentment for the family despite years of love and cares on their part, “That is to say, Samsa, having been a successful salesman, was once the pillar of his family, but now, being helpless, his sister assumes in the eyes of his parents the role of leadership and reassuring strength that he had once occupied,”( Kafka 21). The torture he endures at the hands of persons he loves deeply is what ultimately kills him. As a result of Gregor’s death, the family has emerged as a functioning unit, a perverted type of redemption.
These days, estrangement is a typical occurrence in the contemporary world. Despite sophisticated technology that improves connectedness, many people nevertheless feel disconnected. In the novel, Gregor experiences a similar feeling while performing a relational job without genuine relationships. A crucial aspect of the plot is the superficial interactions. Gregor’s transformation further distanced him psychologically from everyone, even his family. Kafka highlights that he was a“man who used to lie wearily sunk in bed” (Kafka 36). His incapacity to speak and physical condition, which was only an outgrowth of his human body, led to a state of seclusion. Gregor feels odd in his own space, with his preferences, and in his interactions. The transformation just reaffirmed the climate of alienation that the contemporary social order has produced.
Gregor, through metamorphosis, became a wild creature. His initial reaction is bemusement, “What has happened to me?” (Kafka 15). The history of the human race indicates that civilization has developed into a complex state. However, by turning Gregor into an insect, Kafka suggested that species can evolve into more basic forms, producing the impression of a reverse transition in Gregor. The Samsa family’s sentiments are highlighted as a criticism of the reality of modernist civilization and suggest that people may not have changed all that much. In today’s metropolitan culture, identity is reduced to economic output, with value only lasting, provided one can make a living in a profession that dehumanizes one. If a person is different, they are intentionally separated, and family values and ethical behaviors are devalued.
The humiliating end of Gregor is a true portrayal of people in today’s technological age. Computer networks and sophisticated information systems emphasize the relevance of materialistic worldview and the rate at which it deteriorates as more components of life shift into cyberspace, resulting in a “subversion of an ethical universe” (Michaelides 101). The bug, a hideous vermin operating solely on instinct, represents how low the human soul has sunk in the era of societal systems and technical advancement. However unpalatable, the idea, people are being transformed into informational digital files. Automation and other inorganic factors have reduced humans to a basic state akin to an insect’s.
Gregor’s displeasure with his employment is a metaphor for his dissatisfaction with his societal position and the treatment he receives from others. Gregor propagates his dissatisfaction with his job to the entire population. A person can become alienated from society and other people, but Gregor experiences self-alienation, which is a far more severe issue. He loses his identity to fulfill his family’s expectations and get money. The transformation represents contemporary life, which makes individuals forget about their presence and potentialities, which may be brought into existence if they recognize their power and Gregor’s empty and useless life as a traveling salesman who dedicated himself exclusively to making money. However, bourgeois social life discourages the unique qualities that set one apart and encourage people to resemble one another. This system transforms people into interchangeable parts of a machine by reducing their individuality and homogenizing them. It also covers their personal and cognitive capacities. So, if someone quits their job, another person can take his place.
Conclusion
In conclusion, “The Metamorphosis” raises questions regarding commonplace beliefs. Relationships, social standing, and money achievement may all be illusory or irrelevant. The temporary character of human life, which even the smallest shift in circumstance may impact, is shown by Gregor’s transition. Self-identity has grown reliant on societal responsibilities and outside validation in the facts of the contemporary world.
Work Cited
Kafka, Franz. The Metamorphosis (International Student Edition)(Norton Critical Editions). WW Norton & Company, 2016.
Michaelides, Pavlos E. “Modernity and the Existential Metaphysics of Life and Death in Kafka’s Metamorphosis.” International Journal of Arts & Sciences, CD-ROM. ISSN 6934.09 (1944): 04.