The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka - Book Report/Review Example

When Gregor awoke to find himself "transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin" (Kafka, 1), he reacted as if he had to work and fulfill his duty, a surprising attitude, in the circumstances. Instead of being horrified at the changes in his body, Gregor dealt with it, first as a dream, then just an odd transformation that would not stop him from working and being the same person. He continued to think of ways to get over the problem and get to work, which is a confusing reaction for the reader, as it was a terrifying situation to be in.

It was absurd that he continued to think and feel as both beetle and man, but in reality, the person who was Gregor still existed, trapped in that awful body. The metamorphosis gave him time to think and examine his life, the family, and his own place in the world and showed he was still human. When his mother and sister cleared out his room, he felt "they were taking away everything that was dear to him" (Kafka, 24). He crept out to listen to Grete's music, asking "Was he an animal if music could captivate him so" (Kafka, 33).

The absurd idea that a cockroach could love music was an allegory for the disabled, damaged person who may be denied normal human contact and status, just for being different. That makes the story very sad, but there was amusement in the way the chief clerk tried to getaway. Gregor stayed calm, wanting to explain, but the man was terrified. "Gregor made a run for him; the chief clerk must have expected something,as he leaped down several steps at once and disappeared, his shouts resoundingall around the staircase" (Kafka, 13)It was surprising that the family sought no help from outside, like a doctor, and also how the young girl fed and cleaned up after a huge cockroach for a long time.

The lack of kindness from them eventually, and the mother not doing much for her changed son, was hard to understand. The absurd situation and how they dealt with it might allow them forgiveness. If we can accept that trauma can turn a person from a capable, fully functioning individual, into a helpless alien, with very different needs, then we can maybe understand their changed attitudes. On the surface, the story might be absurd, but the real meaning is not confusing - it seems to be about denying humanity to those who are different, and how hard it is to deal with it all.

By the end of the story, 'metamorphosis' happened to them all. Gregor's transformation changed his family from being lazy, dependent 'takers' into hard-working people with prospects and goals. As he faded away, starving, and lonely, Gregor's attitudes changed to bitterness, anger, and resentment "he was filled with a simple rage about the lack of attention he was shown." (Kafka, 29). Yet when his room was filled with rubbish, he accepted his fate, though "sad and tired to death" (Kafka, 31). He heard Grete calling him an "it" and realized how little he meant to them all, and died with peaceful acceptance, no more rushing about or eating to live.

Vladimir Nabakov (1998) in a lecture on the book, calls his family "insects disguised as people." In making sense of the attitudes of Gregor and his family, it could be said that he accepted that he was no longer useful or necessary and that they were happy to move on, with relief that a burden lifted was lifted; they abandoned him. Gregor's attitude to duty and survival remained until the end. His duty was to die, theirs to survive. Though absurd, surprising, and sometimes hard to accept that people could be this way, there is a lesson in the story.

Sometimes people who are different are not treated as human beings, and sometimes those who care for them just cannot deal with the differences. That is the meaning of how metamorphosis or drastic change can affect us all.