Franz Kafka: The Metamorphosis - Essay Example

In examining Gregor Samsa’s destiny it’s necessary to consider the text in terms of metaphor and figurative language. Early in the text Kafka writes, “One morning, upon awakening from agitated dreams, Gregor Samsa found himself, in his bed, transformed into a monstrous vermin” (Kafka). While in the narrative context of the story Samsa literally transforms into a vermin, on a figurative level one further recognizes that Kafka is referring to the way Samsa interacts with the world, or the way the world treats him.

Indeed, throughout the text one of the themes is the extent that Samsa’s alienation is an element of his own creation or something wrought on him by the failure of his family’s business and his own life challenges. As the text advances one of the greatest ironies is the recognition that while Samsa’s transformations has a tremendous impact, it is accepted by those around him as in the normal events of life. This irony is furthered as the greatest concern is not Gregor’s transformation but rather external occurrences.

Kafka writes, “Gregor’s sole desire was to do his utmost to help the family to forget as soon as possible the catastrophe that had overwhelmed the business and thrown them all into a state of complete despair” (Kafka). This text is specifically referring to Gregor’s feeling of responsibility regarding the family’s failed business and the anguish that it has caused. While such a responsibility and burden is a prominent part of Samsa’s destiny, another insight that can be gleaned from this is that Samsa’s position is such that these concerns rest more firmly on his consciousness than his own transformation into a vermin.

As the text progresses so does Gregor’s condition. . As the text progresses so does Gregor’s condition. Even as early on in the text he had assumed the vermin form, as the story progresses Samsa is psychologically drawn further into that specific mindset. Kafka writes, “Did he really want the warm room, so cozily appointed with heirlooms, transformed into a lair, where he might, of course, be able to creep, unimpeded, in any direction, though forgetting his human past swiftly and totally?

” (Kafka). The text literally refers to the question of whether or not Gregor preferred to have the past things in his room removed so he could freely move about like an animal. This consideration is significant not because of the literal significance however, but rather for the figurative impact it has in terms of Samsa’s psychology. In these regards, removing Gregor Samsa’s things from his room would demonstrate his complete transformation from human to vermin. In terms of destiny such recognition seems to point more towards external elements.

Namely, it is as Gregor Samsa has progressed through his existence, including career and relations with his family that he has ultimately been forced to assume this vermin state. In part three of the short story Gregor’s condition deteriorates further and his family is forced to encounter him. Kafka writes, “He must go,” cried Gregor’s sister, “that’s the only solution, Father. You must just try to get rid of the idea that this is Gregor. The fact that we’ve believed it for so long is the root of all our trouble” (Kafka).

In terms of destiny one considers that the change that the psychological change that has undertaken Gregor has resulted in his