Franz Kafkas The Metamorphosis

I.

Overview of Kafka/ Metamorphosis a. Psychologically analyzed as a manifestation of the stages of grief or terminal illness. Many stages are combined in the novel. Denial & Isolation Anger Bargaining/ self-empowerment Depression Acceptance b. Kafka Wrote The Metamorphosis in 3 weeks Nov. 17- Dec. 7, 1912 (time of year the story begins) Novel has a 3 fold construction - 3 is an important number throughout novel - Christ allusion a. The Trinity b. Death at 3 in the morning (inversion of Christs 3 in the afternoon) c. Gregor is a carpenter by hobby, the frame is one of the objects he clings to most fervently d. Wounded in side by Father e. Young, single male - Gregors 3 journeys from room/ steps in character development. Transformation represents Gregors loss of humanity in the modern world, gradually gains it back through forced insight (stages represented by Gregors leaving the room). Why a bug? - Repulsion causes reader to have little sympathy for Gregor - Extended metaphor for Gregors life before transformation

 Book contains aspects of Surrealism and Existentialism - Existentialisms exact definition subject of debate - However: agreed upon to convey feelings of isolation, alienation, and disillusion. - Taken in Kafkas time period, The Metamorphosis can be seen as a commentary on the perceived apathy of a capitalistic, corporate world. (Kafka, born in Prague, had never actually seen this world.) II. Chapter 1 a. Gregor awakes from unsettling dreams to find himself a monstrous vermin Bug un-described, leaves monstrosity for the readers creation Initially, Gregor is in a state of denial. Only thinks of the inconveniences it will cause in his work. b. Gregors Mother sends for a doctor to help Gregor, his Father sends for a locksmith to get him out of the room Displays the different dynamics of Gregors parent relationships: His father is cold and looking to maintain the little authority he retains, while his mother shows the common affection found between mother and child. Gregors father- son relationship in many ways reflects Kafkas own relationship with his father. c. Manager arrives, symbolizing a cold corporate world Emphasizes that, despite his hard work, Gregors dedication is unappreciated and wont be remembered. A statement about the rise of urban environments and corporations/ the lack of personal intimacy in such settings. c. Gregor leaves his room for the first time in order to save his job selfish, unsophisticated reason. Is driven back to his room by his father d. Symbolism surrounding Fathers confrontation w/ Gregor Father hisses at Gregor, displays the breakdown in communication which will be present throughout the novel. The cane

- One of the objects used to drive Gregor to his room - Manager drops it as he flees from Gregor - The cane is a symbol of power - When the father picks it up and uses it against Gregor, it symbolizes the transferal of power between the two. - Gregor had previously been the breadwinner, the father becoming derelict in his familial duties. With the transformation, the Father begins to take authority/ his role back. The Newspaper - Father uses it w/ the cane - Symbol of knowledge - In this case it symbolizes the knowledge of the Fathers renewed power. Gregors picture - Picture described upon Gregors entrance to the kitchen. - Shows Gregor in full military regalia - Helps to display the position of familial authority Gregor had developed - Often idealistic, romanticized military life serves to contrast Gregors current state of wage- slavery - Furthermore, creates ironic contrast with Gregors immediate bug-like state. III. Chapter 2 a. Gregor and his family gradually accept his new state as the chapter proceeds. Gregor begins to learn how to manipulate his new body - Scuttles on walls - Begins to lose his eyesight a. as espoused by How to Read Lit. this causes him to gain more insight, or selfreflection

b. Thoughts gradually become more developed, journey back towards his humanity In many ways his life as a bug is his first break from caring for his family. b. Sister, Greta, becomes Gregors caretaker Shown as having a good relationship w/ her brother. He dreams of sending her to a musical conservatory. Highly perceptive of Gregors needs. Gets him food, determines what he likes, etc. Greta takes the leading role in watching Gregor - Both shown to already being accustomed to taking care of their parents. c. Father The loss of his business has drained more than finance from Gregors father, it has also taken his self-confidence and willpower. Revealed to have been secretive about family funds - Had enough hidden away to live for one year - By withholding the money, Gregors father was taking advantage of him. - With the funds Gregor could have paid of debts much sooner - However, Gregor feels that it was a good decision because it aids the family during the crisis. d. Gregor hangs on the ceiling and reflects during much of his free time/ The family gives up on his physical restoration and begin to remove the things from his room. Gregor begins to gradually lose the remnants of his old life e. Growing disconnect between Gregor and his family Family has no real intimacy or worry for Gregor. f. Gregor leaves room for a second time, in order to save his mother Perceived as an attempt at escape Reasoning contains more human compassion, yet is still primal. He wants to save a member of his family.

 Little complex thought for leaving the room. g. Father, carrying on his unfeeling dynamic, takes little time to brutally punish Gregor Father scrupulously dressed in his new work uniform, another symbol of his new power/ rejuvenation. Uses apples, another symbol of knowledge, to assault Gregor. An apple embeds in Gregors flesh and he literally, and metaphorically, carries it with him. h. Gregors life is spared by his mothers love. Makes an almost sexual plea for Father to spare Gregor. IV. Chapter 3 a. Apple described as a souvenir ironic word usage, contrasts the typically positive image of a souvenir Apple also heightens Christ parallel, a wound in Gregors side. b. Family, including sister, obtain jobs and begin to further distance themselves from Gregor. The familys jobs are unwanted, taken out of financial necessity Only character who shows no fear of Gregor is the new Maid - Speaks to Gregor as if he were an animal. c. Family does feel some guilt over their cruelty to Gregor; as a result, they frequently leave his door open. Why? - They are Gregors family, and for Kafka to complete their separate transformation the reader must not hate them. Despite their coldness, they still have some humanity. d. Father wears uniform constantly. Like Gregor he is constantly at work, mentally and physically. e. Gretas employment causes her music to fall by the wayside. W/ Gregors funding, Greta could dream; however, that ability is strangled by her job. f. Family takes in boarders Need extra money

 Boarders displayed as very rude, symbolizing the objective and cruel world. Due to their collective nature, they have no identity. Important to note, there are three of them. A continuation of the books threefold structure. g. Third, and final, venture out of Gregors room Wants to hear Greta play violin Gregor is literally and figuratively moved by the violin, the power of art. This represents the most thought out and sophisticated reason for Gregor to leave his room Gregor begins the novel as a bug, the longer he stays a bug the more human he becomes. h. Gretas response to Gregors entrance displays the final breakdown between Gregor and his family. Ironically, with what the reader is aware of Gregors thoughts, all of her accusations are false. For example, Greta claims that he persecutes us while Gregor is the one essentially locked in a cage. Or, He wants us in the gutter. Said in response to Gregor wanting to hear her play violin with the delusion that he can fix her problems. Through repeatedly calling Gregor it during her diatribe, Greta displays that the family has completely given up on Gregor becoming human. As far as they are concerned, he is dead. i. Gregors martyrdom Final christ allusion Dies loving his family in spite of his persecution, to quote the bible: Father forgive them, they know not what they do... Dies at 3 in the morning, an inversion of Christs death at 3 in the afternoon. j. The Familys subsequent metamorphosis In a sense, the novel concerns how the family changes rather than Gregor. At this point, they are not done changing and the novel carries on.

 The Father, now fully restored, takes charge and kicks the boarders out for their insolence. As the family takes a trip, the surrounding imagery imparts a more hopeful change in tone. - The sunlight described in the cars is symbolic of the rejuvenating power of nature. - The novel begins sometime in the fall and it ends at the beginning of spring, a time of rebirth and rejuvenation. - Greta blossomed into adulthood a. Her young body becomes the familys new dream, a hope for a brighter future. b. The novel opens and closes with a dream c. Somewhat ironic parallelism of the dreams is created by the opening dreams horror and the closing dreams optimism.

Important symbols: Dreams, the number 3 and its religious association, Christ parallels, the bug itself, symbols that reflect a dispassionate world (i.e. boarders, manager), Symbols of knowledge and power, their transferral