Isolation In Metamorphosis

Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis, details the transformation of a young white-collared man waking up one morning as a bug. As shocking as the situation presents itself, Gregor, the newly formed insect, is not worried about his new appearance. Instead, Gregor is determined to go to work and continue his daily routines. However, his mother, father, and sister have other plans for the vermin. Gregor’s gross exterior prevents the family from properly caring for the son. Months pass, and the insects deprivation of basic necessities lead to Gregor’s peaceful death. Despite his hardship, Gregor’s thoughts, behaviors, and history provide the reader the context of Gregor’s reality. Because of his abnormal social interactions, the main character represents

During his transformation, the family could not care to even bear a glimpse at the ugly beast, which lead to the improper treatment he received. As the room was described:“[s]mears of dirt were left on the walls, here and there were little balls of dust and filth. At first, Gregor went into one of the worst of these places when his sister arrived as a reproach to her, but he could have stayed there for weeks without his sister doing anything about it; she could see the dirt as well as he could but she had simply decided to leave him to it” (3.beginning). Because of his new exterior, Gregor lost sympathy and human connection from his family, yet he never realized their change in demeanor. After his transformation, Grete could not speak to her brother. However, Gregor mentions, “only his sister had remained still close to [him]” (156). But not until halfway through the story does Grete acknowledge her brother. Instead of speaking to him with respect, Grete recognizes Gregor as a source of frustration. Because of scaring his mother to the point of serious health concern, Grete growls at her sibling, ““Gregor, you…,” cried out [Grete] with a raised fist and an urgent glare” (163). Of course, Gregor could have viewed her message as innocent brother-sister fighting. Yet, at the end of the novella, Grete retaliates against caring for Gregor and demands, “It must be gotten rid of” (174). Grete could no longer associate the bug as her brother—or even place a personal pronoun to the vermin—while not being able to justify the burden her brother causes to the family. According to what Gregor tells the reader of his sister and the physical actions of Grete, one is confused on how the main character can believe those