The Metamorphosis by Kafka
The following are a collection of thoughts I had well reading The Metamorphosis again after about sixteen years since the last time I read it. I remember reading it in university for a course, not sure which one now, it was a long time ago.
Of course the first thing that jumps out at a reader is the obvious understatement and nonchalant attitude that our protagonist, Gregor, takes to waking up and find himself changed into the shape of a giant, nasty, horribly, ugly bug. Instead of screaming, “Ahhhhhh! Ahhhh! I’m a bug!” and running around the room like Micheal Jackson with his hair on fire, he simply thinks about getting dressed and catching the next train to work. The ridiculousness of it actually made me laugh out loud as I imagined Gregor rolling around pointlessly in his bed trying to answer the door to his bedroom.
I loved the nameless Chairman, Manager, Chief characters, who represent the collective authority figures of the world. Those people who are in power for some reason, but seem to do little actual work, other than to tell us everything we do wrong. They could work in offices, schools, governments, anywhere — Kafka saw them everywhere. Typing memos and bulletins for the masses to read and follow without ever being questioned or challenged. Unchallenged authority — one of the worst problems in the world. It is reasonable for all sorts of destruction and mayhem every day. It drives the humanity out of us. Don’t think! Don’t ask any questions! Just do what the authority tells you to do. One day in five years Gregor is late for work and the Manager comes to check on him — crazy! Paranoid.
One of the objects that I’ve noticed this reading is the picture of the women dressed in furs. It is mentioned during the beginning of the story and then pops up again when Grete and the mother try to remove all the furniture from the room Gregor is in. Gregor attempts to defend the picture from his sister, but is unable to keep from her in the end. This simple picture has lot’s of room for exploration. First of all, why does Gregor have a prize-possession that is a photo of a complete stranger? Not a family member, but an absolute stranger to him. This is a definite symbol of his alienation from the family/society. Furthermore, why does Gregor fight so hurt to protect it and keep it from his sister? It is only a photo, or is it. It becomes the last hope for Gregor; the last connection to the human race; the last connection to his family, even though it is a picture of a total stranger. Kafka was weird!
Then there is the whole idea of metamorphosis in the story. Gregor, who goes through the obvious physical change, becomes more and more lost to his family as he changes slowly toward more bug like behavior. Yet, he always remains partly human. The sister, Grete, becomes important in the family by caring for Gregor and helping her mother and father to deal with the nasty new form of Gregor. The mother begins to help out and then gets a job. And let us not forget Gregor’s father, who was a helpless lump of lard until Gregor’s change, becomes a functional member of the family again. They all change in their behavior toward Gregor as well. Poor Gregor, who acts bug like, never truly forgets his empathy for his family, but they have shunned him. Twisted and crazy!
This brings me to a question: what exactly does Gregor look like? Draw a picture based on the description in the story; scan it and email to me for extra credit.
