Kafka's View of Society in The Metamorphosis

Authors Avatar
                         Kafka's View of Society in The Metamorphosis  The point of this paper is to expose Kafka's view of society as revealed in his Metamorphosis. Namely, it suggests that man (as represented by Gregor Samsa) is reduced to an insect by the modern world and his family, and human nature is completely self absorbed. Kafka reflects a belief that the more generous and selfless one is, the worse one is treated. This view is in direct conflict with the way things should be; man (specifically Gregor) should be treated in accordance to his actions. Gregor should be greatly beloved by his family regardless of his state because of his great love of them. This idea is displayed in three separate themes. First, Gregor's family is only concerned with the effect Gregor's change will have on them, specifically the effect it will have on their finances and reputation. They are more than willing to take completely gratuitous advantage of Gregor; he works to pay their debt and they are happy to indulge themselves with luxury. Gregor is the soul employed member of his family and this is their primary interest when Gregor is transformed. Secondly, Gregor is penalized for his efforts to be a good son, and a good worker; his toils are completely taken for granted by both family and employer. The Samsa family is not interested in Gregor beyond their own needs, outsiders are reverentially treated. Thirdly, by the positive changes that occur in the Samsa family as Gregor descends into tragedy and insignificance. As Gregor's life becomes more painful, isolated, and worthless the Samsa family becomes more functional and self-reliant. Metamorphosis is completely self sustained as a novella, however it takes on a deeper meaning when one is aware of its relation to the author; for this reason I am providing some biographical information on Franz Kafka. Franz Kafka lived from 1883 to 1924. According to A Nightmare of Reason: A Life of Franz Kafka by Ernst Pawel, Kafka was the child of an upper-middle class German speaking Jewish family. His father was a domineering tyrant, both emotionally and physically abusive, and his mother was loving but distant; Kafka and his siblings were most often left in the
Join now!
care of domestic servants. Kafka's father married into Growing up Franz Kafka not only felt unloved and undesired at home, but was an outsider in his native Austria-Hungary; as a German speaker he was considered a German by Czechs and a Jew and a Czech by Germans. He was plagued by guilt throughout his life because of his hate for, fear, and jealousy of his father; this was compounded when his two brothers died within a year of each other leaving Franz the only son. He saw the elder Kafka as a "giant of a man, my father, the ultimate ...

This is a preview of the whole essay