Family_Relationships_in__The_Metaporphosis_

Family Relationships in The Metamorphosis Franz Kafka’s, The Metamorphosis (1915) is a short novel that is symbolic of the lives in a dysfunctional family. Kafka chose a mediocre family, dependent on their only son, for their complete existence. Gregor Samsa, takes on the image of a worker bee inside the family structure. In the beginning of this story Gregor wakes up to find himself transformed into a cockroach stuck on his back inside his room. The cockroach, an insect that has never evolved over time, is an appropriate transition for a man with a boring, repetitive life of waking, going to work, returning home to rest for the same thing the next day. The “metamorphosis” that occurs in the novel is the change in the relationship between Gregor and the other members of his family. Gregor, the son in the Samsa family, leads a very boring life. He seems to have no real existence other than work. Gregor is the strength in the family because he provides for their needs. As a young adult, he has no friends or hobbies, his only interests lie in reading the train tables and making money for his family’s support at a mediocre sales job. When Gregor changes into a cockroach it seems the only differences are his external shell has changed and he now has no way to financially support his family. Gregor begins this story on his back, unable to roll over to answer his Mother’s wakeup call, he has only little legs that just want to keep moving, but getting him nowhere. (320) In the Samsa family Gregor is stuck in a rut, his only moves are as useless as the little cockroach legs moving so quickly but going nowhere. Gregor is frustrated by his changed body and inability to do his job and soon realizes that his body change also changes the relationship with each family member. Gregor’s mother and father are parasites existing solely on their son. The parents seem to have minimal communication with Gregor other than to ensure he goes to work each day. (328) Gregor begins to realize that he has only been a means to support his parent’s lazy lifestyle. At first the change in Gregor is an inconvenience, but as time goes on the family members stop any attempt to communicate with Gregor. The members of the family at first begin to treat him as an inconvenience and later an outcast to be destroyed. The only form of communication Gregor seems to have is with his younger sister. The younger teenaged sister tries to maintain a relationship with Gregor, even in his cockroach state. The younger sister has looked up to Gregor, and continues to make sure he is fed each day. Initially she seems concerned and attempts to communicate with Gregor, but later grows tired of his changing voice and stops as she finds communication with a cockroach useless. The sister lets go of Gregor in order to allow her own life to morph into a developing young lady. Gregor’s father, had no job and depended on Gregor for support, but begins to resent the cockroach that has invaded his life. The father changes, goes back to work and releases his dependence on Gregor as he develops his own independent life. He is described as changing from an old man to holding himself erect. Gregor’s strength, as a young working man, acted as an obstacle to his family. Gregor as the bread winner seemed to disable other members of the family leaving them lifeless. As Gregor the cockroach becomes lifeless due to his changed condition, the barrier is removed and the individual potential of each family member grows strong. In the end the metamorphosis is the developing strength of each member of the family until there is no longer a need for Gregor and so he is killed. (343) Gregor’s death has brought new life to each family member.