The Metamorphosis By Franz Kafka Essay -- Metamorphosis Kafka Essays

The Metamorphosis By Franz Kafka with come out literary history, certain authors are so unique and fresh in their approach to the written word of honor that they come to embody a genre. Franz Kafka is one such author Die Verwandlung or The Metamorphosis is one of his works that helped coin the term Kafkaesque. Through this novella, Kafka addresses the undated theme of people exploit-ing others as a means to an end. He demonstrates this point through showing that a familys unhealthy dependence on the main character results in that characters dependence on the family.Kafkas unorthodox beginning of The Metamorphosis reads as what would seem to be a climactic moment As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect. The reader is henceforth funk to the story in search of the reason for and meaning of this hideous metamorphosis. Shortly thereafter, the reader may also notice that although Gregor is quite aware of his condition, given these unusual circumstances he is not at all in the state of panic one might expect. On the contrary, the insect is frustrated that it cannot get out of bed to go to work As Gregor tries to rouse himself from bed in his present condition, his observation that he himself wasnt feeling particularly fresh and active is queasy in its passive acknowledgment of the absurdity of his state (p. 855). This sets the tone for the remainder of the first chapter of the story. Gregor, a person typically not a hindered by scummy aches and pains, (p. 857) clings to his rational nature as he struggles with the slow-in-coming realization that he is more than temporarily incapacitated (p. 863).The first chapter ends shortly after Gregor reveals his new form. The sight of the insect elicited an expected re do its mother understandably retreated aghast and in shock. Correspondingly, the chief clerk that had been sent by Gregors employer, scrambled in flight as he had quite slipped fro m his mind (p. 864). Gregors father was relatively calm (p. 865) until the chief clerk had completed a hastened retreat. Gregors father, spurred into action by this flight, consequently repelled the insect aggressively and injuriously back into the bedroom from which it had come.The second chapter illustrates a family and a human-insect trying to adju... ... a perfectly normal function to do.Kafka uses a unique method of allegory. He does not say, Gregor is like a bug. He does not say Gregor is bug in a traditional metaphor rather he says Gregor is a bug literally. The movement is dramatic, as the reader, by virtue of the absurdity of the literalness of situation, is swept-up in trying to stay footed in reality. The effect of this technique is that the reader continues throughout the story to ask the question why? It is in this pursuit of why that the reader sees Kafkas message Dont treat people simply as a means, or life will have a way of turning it back on yourself. Through t he transformation of Gregor, and the transformation of the familys life, Kafka wants the reader to observe that despite Gregors metamorphosis into something very un-human, he remains the model of humanity when compared to his family. Not scarce did the family leech from Gregor, society itself seemed to call upon Gregor not as a person, but to serve as a tool to satisfy their needs. Once transformed, Gregor no semipermanent served well in this capacity. Rather, he became the one in need, and he quickly became more of a burden than he was worth to them.