The Transformation of Gregor Samsa

The novel The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka explores the theme of change and transformation as insinuated by the title of the book. This relationship between the novels title and the theme is brought to life through the story’s protagonist Gregor Samsa. Gregor wakes up one morning from a troubled dream to realize that he has turned into a monstrous vermin. The story is a follow up of Gregor’s ordeal as he tries to come terms with new condition. But although undergoes tremendous physical change throughout the novel but his character does not experience any significant transformation as the story progresses. The story begins with the death of the protagonist’s father which leaves the Gregor in charge in fending for his family (3). Thus his situation transforms from that of a quiet relaxed man living a quiet life. To a categorically disturbed man who does not like his job but does it anyway to feed his family. His transformation into a large insect leaves him incapable of functioning normally as a human being both physically and psychologically. As a result of his transformation he is isolated and has to come to terms with his situation moving forward. But his transformation affects not only himself but also those around him. Because he was the sole bread winner, his inability to work means that those who depend on him have to find ways to support themselves. Thus by his transformation, the lives of other characters are transformed as well. Kafka uses Gregor’s transformation to explore the theme of existentialism, the philosophy of finding the purpose of oneself and life itself through free will, choice, and personal responsibility. Gregor’s ability to explore existentialism is threatened by his transformation in the physical sense. However, it does not change much in the way of life led by the character before his transformation. He was unable to pull out of his situation and truly find himself. Thus he was a prisoner of his new insect body and mind as he was of his situation of working a terrible job before. But unlike before, the protagonist now finds himself engulfed in a world where he has to battle through reconciling his human thoughts and feelings with those of his new insect self. As he progresses in his new life and body he begins to find some sort of middle ground, he feels more comfortable moving around in his new body. However, he still feels human emotions and experiences love, fear, and joy in a human form. He wants to go to work and do something to help his family but is unable to. This is perhaps symbolic of the nature of life, of human thoughts being bottled and limited by external factors beyond human control. As the story approaches the end, a final transformation takes place. In this final transformation Gregor’s new found comfort in his new body begins to fade away and he starts to feel useless in the world and state he now occupies (76). He cannot do much in terms of work and this leaves him in despair. This is catalyzed by his inability to find a new role in his family. But in his inability to fully adopt into his new body or find a new role in his family, the constant characteristic of Gregor is revealed. His inability to leave his present behind and chart new waters. This is also evident in his old life where he worked a terrible job just to provide for his family even though he could have tried to find something else more suitable for him. In the end of the story, he is not able to find a complete balance between the two worlds that he now exists in; the human world and the insect world. Realizing that he might never be able to play any useful role, courtesy of his inability to embrace either, he begins to feel the urge to undergo one more transformation.