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Metamorphosis

Decent Essays

In the short story Metamorphosis, author Franz Kafka, describes a young man seemingly wheeling in a world of depression. By illuminating certain hardships of the protagonist in this story, Kafka shares what it is like to live life with an illness or disease. Specifically I will focus on Kafka’s depiction of alienation and how sick individuals are often shunned by loved ones. Additionally, I will look at the burden taken on by the family who must deal with a loved one suffering from an illness; often leading to wishes of the family member to just pass away.
The need to feel loved by others is a basic psychological need. The protagonist (Gregor) slowly loses touch with his family, having (ironically) worked so hard for their sake. This predicament …show more content…

Being the selfless person that he is, Gregor hoped to provide for his family so that they would not have to live in poverty. While he is working so hard however, he loses touch with his family and himself, as post Metamorphosis he notes this disconnect most notably between himself and his parents. This alienation develops over time as the work life consumes Gregor. One day Gregor awakes and finds that has transformed into cockroach; unable to communicate with his family. It is at this point, when he is fully transformed that he reflects on how alienated he has always been with his family “Oh Lord! He thought. If only I didn’t have to follow such an exhausting profession! On the road, day in, day out.” (Simon, 2013, p. 1205) Later on Gregor refers to this feeling as “imprisonment” as he is still living but is alone and alienated (Simon, 2013). Post transformation Gregor is not able to leave his room and his contact with the outside world is limited to two short sightings of his sister bringing food to him. This alienation only serves to fuel Gregor’s mental illness of depression; once transformed everything Gregor once felt emotionally now is conveyed physically. For …show more content…

He was an honest man who worked hard and tried to do what he thought was expected of him. Once his metamorphosis occurred, his role changes and his family’s view of him starts to erode. Kafka mirrors this transformation of Gregor’s metamorphosis perfectly with a sick relative. The family pitied Gregor at first for his sudden misfortune of turning into a large insect; however, over time they began to despise Gregor. The final straw came when Gregor snuck out of his room one day to watch his sister sing and was seen by “the boarders” who were renting rooms in the house at the time. After this incident the family had no patience left for Gregor anymore. As with any sick member of a family whom you care about, it is often shocking and easy to show compassion when dealing with an illness. As time passes and the individual does not show signs of either improvement or passing the family continually faces an extra burden. The shock of the loved one showing deficits wears off and there is a certain numbness that can develop towards the situation on the family members’ part. This is seen in the Metamorphosis as Gregor’s sister (Grete), who most deeply cared for him, began to visit him less frequently until not at all. Once Gregor realized the burden he was placing on his family was too much he passed away. Instead of the family being shocked or heartbroken, Kafka paints a much different picture. Gregor’s family is morbidly calm when they

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