Transforming and Romanticizing a Storyline The Metamorphosis, a novella written by Franz Kafka, attracted the attention of many of its readers due to the writing framework and shocking concepts. The story depicts a man named Gregor Samsa who has befallen the fate of a cockroach- literally. After being transformed into a large bug, Gregor goes through the struggles of misunderstanding, neglect, and loss of his family relationships. These concepts create an impact largely to Kafka’s use of literary devices, including the occasional use of euphemisms. Euphemism specifically lends an insight into the time period, character of Gregor, develops a comical tone, and makes a less harsh, romanticised version of the tale. In the general exposition of the book, initial thoughts of Gregor Samsa showed what his life before the fateful day consisted of. His job as a traveling salesman had …show more content…
“He remained in this state of peaceful reflection[...]Then, without his consent, his head sank down to the floor, and from his nostrils flared his last weak breath”(54). It is common in literature, movies, and plays for a death to be one of two extremes: either bloody and horrible, or sad, dramatic and horrible. Kafka used the latter, employing the phrasing of ‘his last weak breath’ instead of a show of twitching and coughing gruesomeness. It gave Gregor one last human sentimental, human connotation. In short, almost all of Franz Kafka’s literary devices had a definite purpose in The Metamorphosis. Euphemisms in society lend a cultural insight to touchy subjects and thought process. They transformed Gregor’s weird and awkward situation into an entertaining and thought provoking one. As a device in the novella, euphemisms helped to develop characters, contribute to the dark comical tone, lessen the harsh edged words and emphasize the dramatic