Isolation In Franz Kafka's 'Metamorphosis'

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Reflective Statement: The Metamorphosis It has not been uncommon throughout history for people to feel alienated and isolated from their peers. Many factors such as gender, race, sexuality, and beliefs cause people to feel completely alone in the world they live in. However, these people are never physically forced to live in the same confines as their alienators, and they have the power to break through their isolation. In The Metamorphosis, the setting leaves the protagonist, Gregor Samsa, unable to leave the hostile environment in which he faces severe alienation and isolation from his family. After Gregor’s unfortunate metamorphosis, he witnesses the consequences from his family as he remains trapped in the same house as his loved

It is not in Gregor’s character to miss a day of work, which is why the family and his manager are so surprised when he is unable to get out of bed. After they realize Gregor’s transformation, they immediately quarantine him to his room due to his disgusting appearance. Kafka reflects Gregor’s isolation as an insect by confining him to his bedroom. Gregor remains trapped in his room with no access to the outside world. The setting remains the same until Gregor ends his life. After his death, Kafka writes, “Then all three of them left the apartment together, something they had not done in months...The car, in which they were the only passengers, was completely filled with warm sunshine”( Kafka, page 55). Kafka’s positive description of the new setting conflicts with the negative connotation of the Samsa’s old apartment. The shift in setting and tone shows Kafka’s attempt to compare Gregor’s isolation with the freedom of the outside

As Kafka describes the setting of Gregor’s work environment, it gives the reader of sense of the oppression Gregor faces from his career, “what a grueling job I’ve picked... I've got the torture of traveling, worrying about changing trains, eating miserable food at all hours, constantly seeing new faces, no relationships that last or get more intimate. To the devil with it all! (page 4).” Despite his displeasure with his job, Gregor feels that his reason for working is justified because it allows him to provide his family with a comfortable home and food. Kafka writes, “In those days Gregor’s sole concern had been to do everything in his power to make the family forget the business disaster that plunged everyone into a total state of despair”(page 25). Gregor’s decision to serve his family shows his dedication and sense of purpose towards his family. Gregor’s existence in the setting of The Metamorphosis is completely revolved around his family which is what makes his transformation difficult for the Samsa’s to respect. As Gregor reacts to losing his job due to his physical state, he leaves his family with their financial burden. As money becomes a more important issue than Gregor’s transformation, they begin to give him less attention, and he thinks to himself, “Who in this overworked and exhausted family had time to worry about Gregor any more than absolutely necessary?”(page 40). Gregor