User:Gastraphetes3

There are a myriad talented authors found in Germany during the nineteenth century. Some of these exalted authors include Heinrich Heine, Jurek

Becker, and Franz Kafka. Amongst these writers, Kafka stood out. His unique body of writing - much of which is incomplete and was published posthumously

- is among the most influential in Western Literature. In 1912, Kafka wrote one of his finest books, The Metamorphosis, in merely two weeks. While he

expressed earlier satisfaction with the work, he later found it to be flawed, even calling the ending "unreadable." Though Kafka was not satisfied with

the book, the short story has become one of the most popularly read and analyzed works of twentieth-century literature. The Metamorphosis reflects upon

the different relationships between Kafka and his relatives and describes the events occurring in Kafka’s life.

Kafka was born into a middle class, German speaking Jewish family in Prague. Kafka was the eldest of four surviving children (two brothers had

died of infancy) and, along with his three sisters, who later died in Nazi concentration camps. Kafka’s mother, Julie Kafka, helped his father run a

large, profitable dry-goods store. Kafka’s father, Hermann Kafka was a domestic tyrant, who directed his anger against his son. Kafka grew up in an

atmosphere of familial tensions and social rejection. He was a student at German National and Civic Elementary School and the German National Humanistic

Gymnasium. In 1901 Kafka graduated from his preparatory school and entered Karl-Ferdinand University, where he studied law and began formal studies in

German literature. In June 1906, Kafka graduated with a doctorate in law. Although he practiced criminal and civil law and Prague, Kafka yearned for an

occupation which would allow him to develop as a writer. However, in 1911 Kafka’s father insisted that Kafka help manage his brother-in-laws factory,

and this extra work prohibited Kafka any time to work on his writing skills until the factory closed in 1917. “Without time and energy to put into his

creative endeavors, Kafka grew to lethargic, despondent, and prone to thoughts of suicide.” Kafka, though found little time to write, managed to write a

myriad works, such as The Castle, The Trial, and The Metamorphosis. In 1917 Kafka was diagnosed with Tuberculosis, and he constantly expressed his fears

of the disease in many of his works.

In The Metamorphosis, the main character, Gregor Samsa, is a traveling salesman who awakens one night to finds himself transformed into a

hideous insect. His financially dependent family, are repulsed by his appearance and most of the family member shun him. Gregor becomes a burden to

his family members, who are forced to care for his new miniscule state. Gregor feels intense guilt over not being able to provide for his family.

Eventually rejected, and forgotten, Gregor lives the rest of his days in self-alienation so that he will no longer burden his family.

Grete Samsa, is Gregor’s younger sister. She is the only one of the family members who takes care of Gregor in his helpless state. However, she

soon becomes tired of her role as a caretaker, and leaves Gregor and continues her everyday work along with her mother. Mrs. Samsa, their mother,

remains loving towards her son even after the transformation, but often faints at the sight of him. Like most women during the 18th century she did not

have much power within the family, even though she constantly chastises Mr. Samsa for his aggressive behavior towards their son.

Mr. Samsa, Gregor’s father, allowed Gregor to support the family after his own business collapsed. A slouching and defeated man, Mr. Samsa

commonly chastised and blamed Gregor for his transformed state. After the transformation, however, Mr. Samsa returns as the provider of the family, and

his vitality is restored. Suspicious and angry of his sons degrading state Mr. Samsa, forces him to remain in his room. On one of Mr. Samsa’s fits of

anger, he hurls a half eaten apple at Gregor when he was forced to his room that is the catalyst for Gregor’s declining health.

The novella, is split into three parts, Part I, Part II, and Part III. Part I begins as Gregor Samsa wakens from “uneasy dreams” to discover he

has been transformed into a giant insect. Having never missed work in five-years, Gregor attempts to get ready for work in his transformed state, which

is nearly impossible due to “his numerous legs, pitifully thin in comparison to the rest of his circumference.” As the rest of his family realizes that

Gregor has not left for work, they begin to feel concerned for his well being. Gregor is finally able to get out of bed, and unlocks his door. His

family members are horrified and frightened by his appearance. Through clenched fists and tears, Gregor’s father picks up a walking stick and forcibly

pushes Gregor back into his room which he slams and locks closed.

When Gregor awakens from the next day, bruised from his fathers aggressive treatment from the day before, he finds that his sister has left food

for him outside his door.