Published in 1915, Kafka’s The Metamorphosis is a tale of a salesman named Gregor Samsa who one day wakes up to discover that he has quite literally transformed into an insect. Unable to support his family as an insect, he is only able to stay in his room and eat the rotting scraps of food that his sister brings him. Over time, Gregor’s transformation into a large bug begins to affect the lifestyle of his family, and they slowly become resentful of him. His family secretly wishes Gregor would leave, and knowing this, Gregor willfully dies in his room. His death marks a new, brighter future for the rest of his family. The Oedipus Complex The Metamorphosis can be interpreted in terms of Freud’s notion of the Oedipus Complex. As an insect, Gregor’s …show more content…
The Castration Complex According to Freud, “castration anxiety” is fear of losing the penis, the one thing that all men need to have any type of sexuality whatsoever, mother or not. While reading The Metamorphosis, I came across several instances that suggest Gregor is full of this castration anxiety. Some scenes can also be interpreted as a symbolic representation of his father actually going through with Gregor’s castration, in fear of Gregor winning over his mother. For example, when Gregor’s father throws apples and other fruits at Gregor: “Another one however, immediately following it, hit squarely and lodged in his back; Gregor wanted to drag himself away, as if he could remove the surprising, the incredible pain by changing his position; but he felt as if nailed to the spot and spread himself out, all his senses in confusion. The last thing he saw was the door of his room being pulled open, his sister was screaming, his mother ran out in front of her in her blouse (as his sister had taken off some of her clothes after she had fainted to make it easier for her to