The Metamorphosis

The novel The Metamorphosis was written by Franz Kafka, and was published in 1915. It is an absurdist novel.



Author Biographical Information
Franz Kafka was born on July 3, 1883, to a well-off family in Prague, now the Czech Republic. He was sent to German schools, as his parents wished him to be successful. He mastered the language, later writing his works in German. Kafka attempted to write seriously, but could not do so until 1904. He was persuaded by his friends to publish his writings, and did so, The Metamorphosis being his most famous. As his health worsened, he published his last novella, "A Hunger Artist", before finally dying on June 3, 1924.

Setting: Historical Information
The story takes place mainly in the Samsa apartment Gregor picked out for them, in an unspecified city and country. The time, at the very earliest is the later 1800s as trains and streetcars are mentioned in the story.

Genre
Works of this genre typically include an existential look at life, including topics such as humanity and alienation. Typical situations include a solitary or befuddled protagonist set in a world where absurd events may occur that further these topics.

Plot Summary
Gregor Samsa, a traveling salesman who is the sole provider for his family, wakes up one day to find himself transformed into an insect-like creature. Gregor, who awakes to find himself late for work, attempts to get out of bed and worries not about what has happened to him but what will happen to his job. As his chief officer comes to speak to him, Gregor finds he cannot communicate with his family and that, once they see him, they are terrified of what has come of him. Gregor's father forces him into his room, where Gregor then stays captive. His sister feeds and takes care of him as his family decides what to do with him and get jobs to support themselves. As time goes on and Gregor does not get better, his sister becomes tired of caring for him and gradually starts neglecting him as he is left alone in the dark, alienated from his family and always alone. The family takes in three lodgers to help with more income, but cannot move as they do not know what to do with Gregor. After Gregor comes out of his room to the sound of his sister's violin playing and scares the lodgers, his family resolves that he needs to be dealt with and is nothing but a burden to them. Gregor agrees to this, always wanting the best for his family, and dies soon thereafter. His family finally feels relief and moves on with their lives.

Characters

 * Gregor Samsa - The protagonist, he is what puts the story into place when he awakes one morning to find out he is a large insect. He was also the sole provider for his family before he turned into an insect. He is hardworking, unlucky, and very accepting.
 * Grete Samsa - Gregor's caretaker, she is the one that takes care of Gregor as an insect, believing that they should keep him around as he's still part of the family, though ultimately she is the one that convinces them to rid themselves of his burden. She is thoughtful, emotional, and caring.
 * Mr. Samsa - The man of the house and the landlord, Mr. Samsa had to return to work after Gregor turned into an insect, something he did not have to do before as Gregor provided for them. He also had to rent out rooms in his home to pay for rent and the cost of living.

Author's Style
Franz Kafka employed a technique of using words with multiple possible interpretations, both to provide intentional ambiguity and to use such words to make clever statements through the use of double meanings. As his original works were written in German, it is sometimes difficult for translators to replicate the effect. An example that demonstrates this style: "As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect." This sentence in it's original German form used a word most like "bug" in place of insect, and various translators interpret it differently.

Themes

 * Alienation - even before Gregor turns into an insect, he is alienated from the world as his whole life revolves around his work, and he has no real friends. He is even further alienated and alone when he turns into an insect and no one understands his attempts at communication and are scared of him now as well.
 * Guilt - Gregor is plagued with guilt throughout the story. After he turns into an insect, most of his thoughts revolved around his guilt over not being able to work even though what happened was completely out of his control. Gregor's unfounded guilt is a recurring element throughout the story.

Symbols
The insect that Gregor turns into could represent how he felt about his job as a traveling salesman, and how small and insignificant his life is. The furniture, as well, symbolizes Gregor's family's hope for him to turn back to normal, and their removal of it seems to signify their fading hope as the furniture is tied to his past life.

Significance of the Opening/Closing Scenes
The opening scene throws the reader into the story, as Kafka reveals in a nonchalant way that Gregor has transformed into an insect. It also shows how little Gregor complains and how much he will simply accept something, such as his transformation.

The story ends with Gregor's parents and his sister walking in the city after Gregor finally dies, relived that he won't plague them anymore. They realize that their daughter has grown into a beautiful woman and that her prospects look good. This shows that, much like Gregor's attitude towards everything, life goes on.

Memorable Quotes
"Oh God, he thought, what an exhausting job I've picked on! Traveling about day in, day out. It's much more irritating work than doing the actual business in the office, and on top of that..."

"The boy thinks about nothing but his work."

"Gregor perceived that the chief clerk must on no account be allowed to go away in this frame of mind if his position in the firm were not to be endangered to the utmost."

"He had indeed been so near the brink of forgetfulness that only the voice of his mother had drawn him back from it."

"He must go," cried Gregor's sister, "that's the only solution, Father."