Metamorphosis – Alienation
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In German, the word Kafka uses to describe Gregor Samsas transformation is ungezieter, which is a word used by the Germans during his lifetime in reference to the Jews. The literal English translation is “monstrous vermin.” Kafka uses Gregors family to show how inhumane society can be. In The Metamorphosis, Kafka uses his experiences to create much of Gregors life. He indicates that Gregors family only saw him as a means of survival before the change and took advantage of him. After the change
he family is unable to communicate with him because they are blinded by his outer appearance. Kafkas life of alienation directly relate to his development of Gregor Samsa, the outcast son who Kafka symbolically turns into a huge, repulsive creature.
Kafka pulls much of his personal experience into the writing of this book. Kafka was a German-speaking Jew in a society where Jews were oppressed. He pulls this into the writing of the book showing Gregors employer expecting more of him because he is a Jew. The company does not trust him, even though he has not missed a day of work in five years, and a chief clerk comes to check on him . Had this been a German employee, the company would not have so quickly questioned his absence.
Kafka also had a rough time dealing with his family because he renounced his Jewish heritage and did not live up to the expectations of his domineering father. Kafka implies that Gregors father to father feels the same way about Gregors life. Gregors father had hostile intentions when he saw Gregor transformed for the first time, but then only wept, conveying his disappointment in his son (20). Gregor never mentions a friend or someone outside his family or work that he must explain his predicam
t to once he morphs into the hideous bug. Kafka had a booming social life, but did not build any lasting relationships during his life time outside of his family. These two similarities show the personal experience Kafka tied into the character of Greor Samsa.
Before Gregor is transformed into the creature, he only the “bread-winner” for his family. Like a work horse he was only there to serve a purpose, to pay the bills. His family alienated him from their lives before the change. Gregor worked hard, kep
to himself, and had minimal communication with them because of his long work hours. This is what they