Franz Kafkas magic realist novella The Metamorphosis uses the physical transformation of the protagonist Gregor into a bug as a reflection of his place in society

metaphor of transformation (metamorphosis) is used to literally and emotionally alienate Gregor from his family members, and from humanity in general – he refers to it as his “imprisonment”. He experiences little human contact, eventually becoming totally isolated from everyone around him, including his sister Grete who had taken care of him. As the story progresses however, it is revealed that this feeling of estrangement actually preceded his transformation. Shortly after waking up and discovering that he has been transformed into a bug, he reflects on his life and notes how shallow and transitory his relationships have become, “I still have to cope with…never come from the heart.” Although Gregor originally feels immense pride at being able to support his family, he becomes emotionally distant from them when they become dependent on that support, as well as expecting it as one of Gregor’s responsibilities. The symbol of money is introduced as Gregor’s greatest concern is whether or not he will keep his job, “If I didn’t hold back…I’ll do it for sure.” This shows the great superficiality of his relationship with his family, as there is not much emotional value in his role in the family; he is there merely for his practical use value. Irony is also present for this purpose as Gregor has been transformed into a bug, and in the natural world, insects and bugs primarily work to serve a colony or a queen. In addition to Gregor’s physical and psychological change into a bug, his sister and parents experience their own change. Despite their eventual disgust and neglect towards Gregor, his family grows and bonds more tightly as a result of the difficulties resulting from Gregor’s transformation, as well as their financial difficulties, edifying their sense of belonging within their family. Initially, the Samsa family appears static, but when Gregor finally dies, the family no longer has to deal with his presence and is reinvigorated. Gregor’s withering away is a quite arguably a parallel to his life as a human – he had no ambition, no relations to thrive on and as a result was alienated from society.  The alienation caused by his metamorphosis can be viewed as an extension of the alienation he felt as a person, which he did not seem to grasp until this transformation. Like in The Namesake, the consequences of a delusional perception of one’s own state of belonging are explored, although contrary to Gogol in The Namesake, in The Metamorphosis, Gregor has no support system and thus has no means to recover, driving himself into an irrevocable state of estrangement and despair, resulting in his death when he eventually feels there is nothing worthwhile living for.