Oedipus Change In The Metamorphosis By Franz Kafka

The Metamorphosis, a novella authored by Franz Kafka, is a reflection of Kafka’s life. The short story details the physical and mental transformation of a former traveling salesman into an insect. The relationships in his Gregor’s life begin to fall apart, as he becomes unable to communicate with the rest of the world. In contrast, Oedipus the King narrates the downfall of a once-great king, who was affected by a prophecy. In comparison of the two transformations, Gregor is primarily affected by his physical changes, which causes a deterioration in his relationships with family. Oedipus is emotionally affected by the prophecy coming to truth, leading to his increasing mental instability. Oedipus’s transformation stems from his personal

When the narrator introduces Gregor, he grows very concerned about the origin of his metamorphosis: “One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin” (Kafka). Initially, Gregor maintained a strong relationship with his sister, Grete, who kept a constant supply of food in his room. However, as Gregor’s mentality began to develop more animalistic instincts, such as a preference of the rotten food, Grete withdraws herself from Gregor’s presence, despising her meetings with the vermin. When Gregor finally began to accept his form as a bug, he realizes the despicable treatment from his family, “Sometimes he thought that the next time the door opened he would take charge of the family's affairs again, just as he had done in the old days. At other times he was in no mood to worry about his family, he was completely filled with rage at his miserable treatment, and although he could not imagine anything that would pique his appetite, he still made plans for getting into the pantry to take what was coming to him” (Kafka). Gregor’s physical and mental state deteriorated because of his broken relationships with

The oracle said that Oedipus was the murderer of his father, but he openly dismisses that probability. However, Tiresias, the ironically blind prophet, informs Oedipus of his misfortune to come: “I go, but first will tell thee why I came. / Thy frown I dread not, for thou canst not harm me. / Hear then: this man whom thou hast sought to arrest / With threats and warrants this long while, the wretch / Who murdered Laius--that man is here. / He passes for an alien in the land / But soon shall prove a Theban, native born. / And yet his fortune brings him little joy” (Sophocles 444-451). Oedipus refuses to believe the truth of the prophecy until he discovers that his wife, Jocasta, is also his mother. At that point, Oedipus mutilates his own eyes, forcing a blindness unto himself, and ironically realizes that he could not see, even with a set of eyes. Conversely, Tiresias, the blind prophet, was able to witness reality without his vision. Oedipus suffered his hamartia because of a fatal flaw: his