Metamorphosis and the Life of Kafka - Research Paper Example

Metamorphosis and the Life of Kafka Literally translated, metamorphosis is change. Franz Kafka’s Metamorphosis is a storyabout a man who just worked to be able to provide for his family. One morning as Gregor Samsa woke up and discovered that he transformed from a human being into a vermin. Just like every man, he got shocked as to what he has transformed into and why it happened to him. However, it was not his main concern. The question that bothered him the most was how he would go to work in his condition. His family was depending on him since his father’s business was unsuccessful yet his father was too proud to admit it (Kafka & Jarvis, 3-30). Though physically a person will eventually change, his mind and emotions will always be the same. The more a person will deny it, the more obvious it will become. The body can adjust faster to its environment but the mind could not. It was one of the realizations Gregor grasped when furniture in his room was being removed to give him more space to move. The movement made him at ease physically but a sense of agitation is enveloping his mind. A person may adapt to his environment almost at an instant but what that person is in the inside would not change, at least not as quickly as the physical adaption can occur (Kafka & Jarvis, 3-30). There is a certain connection between Kafka’s relationship with his father and Gregor’s relationship to his. Both of them have a estranged with their fathers. Franz Kafka wrote to his father in 1919 (Bataille, 3), “What I would have needed was a little encouragement, a little friendliness, a little keeping open of my road, instead of which you blocked it for me, for instance, course with the little good intention of making me take another road. But I was not fit for that” (Kafka-Franz.Com). Gregor said his father now from the room to his left, "the chief clerk has come round and wants to know why you didn't leave on the early train. We don't know what to say to him. And anyway, he wants to speak to you personally. So please open up this door. I'm sure he'll be good enough to forgive the untidiness of your room" (Gutenberg.Org). Not even asking if there is something that is bothering his son, Gregor’s father nonchalantly talked to him while there was still a wall separating them. Mr. Samsa is obviously more concerned as to what will transpire with Gregor’s work and not with his condition. Instead of talking to his son with a calming tone to gain his trust to find out what was truly happening, he spoke to him fiercely to inculcate fear in his son as a way to make him follow his instructions. Metamorphosis seems to mirror the author’s personal relationship with his father: I was a timid child. For all that, I am sure I was also obstinate, as children are. I am sure that Mother spoiled me too, but I cannot believe I was particularly difficult to manage; I cannot believe that a kindly word, a quiet taking by the hand, a friendly look, could not have got me to do anything that was wanted of me (Kafka-Franz.Com). Further Kafka wrote to his father, “As a father, you have been too strong for me, particularly my brothers died when they were still small and my sisters came along only much later, so that I alone had to bear the brunt of it – and for that I was much too weak.” In this passage in Kafka’s letter to his father, one can see the connection in the emotions of the author and protagonist. However, the protagonist stood up from the expectation and proved to his father that he can do whatever it is that is expected from him. It was not the case for the author. Kafka stood his ground and did what he wanted to do. He did it not to please anybody but he has done those things because that is what pleased him (Begley, 15). As the author did not have the same characteristics as his father did, he wrote: When I look at my whole way of life going in a direction that is foreign and false to all my relatives and acquaintances, the apprehension arises, and my father expresses it, that I shall become a second Uncle Rudolf, the fool of the new generation of the family, the fool somewhat altered to meet the needs of a different period; but from now I’ll be able to feel how my mother (whose opposition to this opinion grows continually weaker in the course of the years) sums up and enforces everything that speaks for me and against Uncle Rudolf, and that enters like a wedge between the conceptions entertained about the two of us (Begley, 17). Being the only son who was able to reach adulthood, Kafka was put up to be just like his father. As he put it, he may not have enough Kafka in him because he also has Lowy family characteristics that made the two of them different. Though they share the same last name, they are still not to be compared as they two are 2 different individuals with different identities and goals (Begley, 17). Franz Kafka was the eldest child of 6 children, 2 of which died at an early age, of a Jewish family headed by Herrman Kafka and Julie, nee Lowy. The family resided in Prague however Franz’ father enrolled the Kafka children in German schools. There is that superiority thing going on with the middle and upper class people living in Prague during those times. Growing up, Franz and his siblings were taken care of by a governess which was a custom to the middle and upper class families. Their governess spoke in Czech and Franz also did the same as well as the other children in the Kafka household. He went to German schools and spoke German just like other elites which show Herrmann Kafka’s desire of social development (Kafka-Franz.Com). Kafka wrote in 1910: When I think about it, I must say that my education has done me great harm in some respects. This reproach applies to a multitude of people—that is to say my parents, several relatives, individual visitors to our house, various writers, a certain particular cook who took me to school for a year, a crowd of teachers (whom I must press tightly together in my memory, otherwise one would drop out here and there—but since I have pressed them together so, the whole mass crumbles away bit by bit anyhow), a school inspector, slowly walking passersby; in short, this reproach twists through society like a dagger... (Begley, 26) Gregor’s drive to work alienated him from his family. Kafka’s education was the one which alienated him from his. A person’s desire for something always has a price. There are only a few instances where success in one aspect comes hand in hand with a successful family life. Kafka believed that he was different from everyone else (Begley, 26). There is some sort of connection between Kafka’s father and Gregor’s father in the novel. Kafka’s father became successful in his business and was able to provide for his family and did not need any help from his children to put the family on the status where they can compete with the upper class families. The business of Gregor’s father on the other hand was not having the same amount of success in comparison to what was happening in real life. Gregor’s father needed help from his son so that they can get by from day to day. After Gregor had transformed, he was treated differently not just by other people but also by his family. The same family that he had provided for in the past to keep them above the water when his father’s business went on a down turn, the same family who bit by bit treated him lesser and lesser until almost a non-existent family member. At first, they would just keep him in his room so that nobody would see him. Ultimately his father, mother and even Grete who at first looked after him decided that it would be better if they would get rid of him (Gutenberg.Org). As Kafka’s father was working blood, sweat and tears or to say the least, his mother was born from a well-off family. This is one point that can also be pointed out as to why Hermann Kafka would prefer his children speaking in German rather than the native Czech. Elites use German language. A way to prove that he was able to provide for his family, he enrolled his children in German schools and let them to be trained in the language of the elites. Relating this to the story, Gregor Samsa is now being Hermann Kafka. As both men did everything to provide for their respective families, both Gregor and Hermann started to lose the compassion and connection with the people that they are providing for. As they worked day in and day out to give the best to their families, they were not able to have that relationship anymore to the very people who are the reason why they were working. What was important to them was that they are giving monetary support and lack in the emotional aspect of life (Kafka & Wyllie; Kafka-Franz.Com). It was pointed out in Metamorphosis that Mr. Samsa considers breakfast as the most important meal of the day (Kafka & Jarvis, 7-8). Kafka wrote in one of his diary entries in 1911 which can be related to Mr. Samsa having such characteristics during meal time: Since I was a child … I was with you chiefly during meals, your teaching was to a large extent the teaching of proper behavior at table....Because in accordance with your strong appetite and your particular predilection you ate everything fast, hot, and in big mouthfuls, the child had to hurry; there was a somber silence at table, interrupted by admonitions: “Eat first, talk afterward,” or “faster, faster, faster,” or “there you are, you see, I finished ages ago” (Begley, 21). The protagonist’s character shifted from being Kafka himself into Kafka’s father. Maybe it is a way of the author to acknowledge the hardships that his father had gone through just to be in the position in society where they would be acknowledged and respected. Coming also from different social class, Kafka’s father would want his wife to still have the life that she had before they got married. Hermann Kafka would prove to Julie’s family that she did not made any mistake of taking a man who belonged to a social class lower than them (Begley, 13-15). Jewish marriages as accustomed were arranged marriages. This was not the situation for Hermann and Julie. Already 26 years old, Julie was feared by her family to be an old maid. Even Hermann was not the groom material the family would want for Julie, however they still approved of their marriage. He was unrefined and was part of another social class where his chosen bride did not belong to. The Lowy may have considered Hermann’s positive traits which include a good business sense, ambition and the aspiration to nurture a family (Begley, 15). The traits that were mentioned suited the character of the protagonist in the Metamorphosis. The author put in the positive traits of his father into the Gregor. It made Gregor’s character focused as to what he wanted. It was not a self-centered character who would just think of his own growth and success. Instead it was for the benefits of others, in both cases the families were the ones who benefited (Kafka & Wyllie; Begley, 15). Gregor took charge of the family’s finances soon after this father’s business collapsed 5 years prior to his metamorphosis. He made it a point to be able to provide for his family. They are all that matters. His father lost his confidence as to what have transpired in his business. This could have also been the reason why they have been a barrier between Gregor and his father. It is a man’s pride to be able to be able to support his family where his father failed and Gregor succeeded. Financial concerns have been taken care of but there was one thing that suffered, this is Gregor’s relationship with his family. The only family which showed compassion to him was his sister, Grete. The sad part of the story, Grete was the character that changed the most throughout (Kafka & Wyllie). However, it was not only Gregor’s father who has lost his confidence in himself. Kafka lost his self-confidence when he was about to choose a career for himself. He was deprived too much by his relationship with his father that he has lost his confidence that he can make it in this world in whatever aspect he would desire because he can. He became afraid to make a decision that will eventually make his father disappointed as to what he has become. He was not just carrying his own name. But he is carrying a family name which needs to prove a lot not just in the society but also the maternal side of the family (Begley, 26). In the story, it was Gregor who had the apple at his back which resulted into discomfort. Kafka was quoted after his father had a back operation, “[h]is affection for me diminished day by day (no, on the second day it was at its peak, but then went down steadily). And yesterday he could not get me out of the room quickly enough, while he forced my mother to stay” (Begley 24). Grete’s character seemed to be fashioned to his mother’s characteristics as she took care of his father while he was recovering. Grete was the only person in the family who cared for Gregor after his physical transformation. Certain compassions are normal for siblings. However, as time passes by, Grete either got tired of taking care of Gregor or realized that he was not worth any more to the family because he was not able to provide any financial help any longer. This is a reality in every person’s life. One would be treated like a king or a queen especially if they have something other people need. When the time comes that they are not able to accomplish the same tasks, they would be left by the same people whom used to care for them and look for another person who can provide their needs. It is a way to survive for some, for others that is just the way it goes (Kafka & Wyllie). He took on the responsibilities of his father. Five years after the business collapsing, he was already a travelling salesman and his father grew a heavy with a noticeable belly and an air lacking in confidence as to what have transpired. He proved to his family that he can provide for them. As he was doing so, the lesser compassion he gets from his family even to a mother whom would typically spoiled her children (Kafka & Wyllie). With that in mind, Gregor died. He did not give his family a hard time to get of him. He left them. He had them in his mind even at his death bed. After everything that he has done for his family, they still decided to get rid of him because he does not have any worth to him anymore. Because of his physical transformation, his family had an emotional transformation against him. It did not matter what he have done in the past, since he was not able to be of service to them, he was worth nothing (Gutenberg.Org). Even on his last hours, Gregor thought of his family full of love and emotion. He even thought that the family would be better off without him than without her sister whom their parents think should be getting a husband already at her age. Even at his death bed, he did not thought of what would happen to him instead he was still thinking of his family, it was the same family who decided to get rid of him. It was a bit too late for the Samsa family to show just a little remorse for Gregor since he is already gone. Tears would not bring him back to life. However, they did not mourn over him for that long. They though that the day Gregor died was a day for relaxation and a walk as a family (Gutenberg.Org). Kafka did not have an heir nor got married as he has a different point of view towards the whole child making process. Even if he got engaged several times, he would be putting off the engagement just to avoid what he considers to be repulsive. Gregor was so focused on his family that there were no girlfriend’s character visited him when he transformed. The protagonist’s death was quiet and just like the rest of the story he was alone. Kafka was not alone; he had a woman named Dora beside his death bed. Kafka died June 3rd, 1924 (Kafka-Franz.Com). Franz Kafka’s sisters were victims of the Holocaust. As that part of history came, the Kafka family lost it glitz and glamor so to speak. When Kafka was in Berlin with Dora, they barely had money to pay for the electric bills. Unlike the Samsa family after Gregor’s death, they had enough to get them a new life, Kafka barely had enough to get them day after day besides the fact that his health was already fluctuating. Even if he had in his pockets, Kafka was happy. It was the opposite for Gregor who seem did not experience any happiness in his life (Kafka-Franz.Com; Gutenberg.Org). In a letter to Felice, Kafka concluded: would be incomparably happier living in a desert, in a forest, on an island, rather than here in my room between my parents’ bedroom and living room … Felice, beware of thinking of life as commonplace, if by commonplace you mean monotonous, simple, petty. Life is merely terrible; I feel it as few others do. Often—and in my inmost self perhaps all the time—I doubt that I am a human being (Begley, 23). Even in this passage, one can acknowledge why Kafka would write about a person who would have a physical transformation yet leaving his mind still the same as he was still in his human form. What was written in the Metamorphosis is an exaggeration of physical change. People change every day as they live. They may change via the way they dress, talk or walk. But still, as much as that person changes his looks, it did not change who he truly is. His mind and his heart is still the same. Works Cited: Bataille, Georges. Kafka. 2003. Retrieved December 6, 2011. www.sauer-thompson.com/essays/Kafka.doc. Begley, Louis. The Tremendous World I Have Inside My Head: Franz Kafka: A Biographical Essay. New York: Atlas & Co. 2008. Bloom, Harold. Franz Kafka. Blooms Literary Criticism. 2010. Kafka, Franz. Metamorphosis. Trans. David Wyllie. Gutenberg eBook. 2005. Kafka, Franz. Metamorphosis. Trans. Ian Johnston. Mobile Reference. Kafka, Franz. Metamorphosis. Trans. Michael Jarvis. Aventura Press. 2008. Franz Kafka Biography. Retrieved December 6, 2011. http://www.kafka-franz.com/kafka-Biography.htm Franz Kafka Letter to His Father. Retrieved December 6, 2011. http://www.kafka-franz.com/KAFKA-letter.htm. Read More