What leads to Gregor’s alienation in Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis”? Title:Causes of Gregor’s alienation in Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis” In the novel by Franz Kafka, “The Metamorphosis” one could say that there are many causes which leads to Gregor Samsa’s alienation. In examining Gregor’s alienation one has to review causes both before and after his metamorphosis. One has to note that Gregor could only be alienated by his family because he had no friends or significant other. Before Gregor’s metamorphosis the primary reason for his alienation was his job as a traveling salesman and the unfulfilling work schedule he had to maintain.
After his metamorphosis Gregor’s physical appearance ultimately leads him to be isolated and alienated from his family. Although there are many reasons for Gregor’s alienation, his lifestyle and dedication to his family leads to his alienation and tragic demise. Before Gregor’s metamorphosis he worked constantly as a traveling salesman to pay off his parents debts. Gregor mentions that he receives no satisfaction from work. In the novel he talks about how he hates traveling so much and always dealing with new people and never being able to form attachments.
Gregor also talks about his employer and their lack of appreciation for him and what he does for their company. This job caused Gregor’s family to alienate him, as he was the outcast. Never being home and always working put him as a social outcast within his own home. The irony in this alienation is that Gregor did exactly what his family wanted him to do and was still alienated from them. After his metamorphosis, Gregor’s physical appearance was so unbearable that he went into total isolation. His metamorphosis into some sort of insect caused his family to alienate him even more than they did originally.
The Essay on Metamorphosis alienation
In German, the word Kafka uses to describe Gregor Samsa's 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 Gregor's family to show how inhumane society can be. In The Metamorphosis, Kafka uses his experiences to create much of Gregor's life. He indicates that Gregor's ...
Gregor is described as having insect legs as well as many other insect like features, losing his ability to speak, being unable to move at first and then being able to climb walls. His only ally in his home at one point seemed to be his sister Grete Samsa, who ultimately makes the decision that the family needs to get rid of Gregor. She sees him as doing the family harm by Gregor scaring away their lodgers and the money they would have brought the family. Gregor’s father and mother only referred to as Mr. and Mrs. Samsa also force his further alienation by pretending that he doesn’t exist.
His father goes even further by causing injury to Gregor by throwing apples at him, lodging one in his back. Although Gregor was isolated even before his transformation his appearance reinforces this already horrible situation. One who discusses the causes that leads to the alienation of Gregor Samsa, both before and after his transformation must discuss his lifestyle during both. Gregor Samsa’s main focus in life seemed to be the satisfaction of his family and everyone around him. He did everything he could possibly do to please those who were around him including his unappreciative boss.
Gregor was a loner who weighed his self worth in what he could do to please others. Although one knows his alienation was more abundant after his transformation, his life before and during it was still very lonely. Gregor Samsa had many causes to his alienation in his life. From his job as a traveling salesman, his metamorphosis, and to his lifestyle generally, he became the outcast. To alienate means to “arouse hostility or indifference in where there had formerly been love, affection, or friendliness”. That definition is the exact description of Gregor Samsa life until death.
Gregor Samsa was a man who through his alienation ultimately became free in death. Through changing into some sort of insect, his metamorphosis, and being cut off by his family Gregor was emotionally freed from all of the responsibilities the world around him put on his shoulders. Ultimately one would view the alienation of a person as wrong, but in Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis” one is allowed to be indifferent. Despite all of the causes for Gregor’s alienation, one can say that they were all worth the pain and suffering Gregor may have gone through, just because they gave him a moment of no responsibility for others.
The Essay on Government Influence On Family Life
Do government programs influence family life? Some of these programs are Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. These programs have changed family life not only in a positive way, but also in a negative way. These programs are targeted at giving older citizen some form of money or medical care, while other programs are geared at taking money from the working class. Yes, government programs do ...
