Analysis of the Main Characters in the Play the Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka - Research Paper Example

The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka Introduction The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka is a very interesting story that has a metaphorical title. Metamorphosis denotes change or transformation. In the story, there are many transformations mirrored in the characters of the play. Readers of the story become familiar with the transformations that are evident in the book. This paper will delve into the analysis of the main characters in the play, highlighting those that have undergone transformations justifying the title The Metamorphosis. Plot Overview George Samsa, a travelling sales representative, wakes up in his bed to find himself transformed into a large cockroach. He tries to get out of bed, only to realize that he cannot because of his convex back. While still in bed, Gregor reflects on how dreary life as a salesman is and how fast he would quit if his parents and sisters did not depend on him for their upkeep. Gregor, who detests his job, has to work to support his family after his father’s business went under due to financial problems. When he turns to the clock, he realizes that he has overslept and has missed the train to work. He quickly dismisses going to work, and so he continues to slumber. His mother knocks on his bedroom door, requesting him to open the door. After answering his mother, Gregor realizes that his voice has transformed as well (Smith 189). His family suspects that Gregor might be sick, so they politely ask him to open the door. He defies their requests and refuses to open his bedroom door. Eventually, Gregor decides to open the door using his mouth since he lost both his hands in the transformation. While struggling to get up from bed, Gregor hears his office manager come into the family’s house to find out why he has not turned up for work. Gregor’s manager walks to his bedroom door where he starts talking to him. His manager warns him of the consequences of his not reporting to work. Gregor eventually opens the door, horrifying the manager with his appearance. The manager runs away from the house and Gregor chases after him explaining himself. His father forcefully pushes Gregor back to his room using a rolled paper and cane, squeezing him through the door. Due to exhaustion, Gregor falls back asleep shortly after the struggle with his dad (Yaron and Herzog 1098). Later, Gregor wakes up to find milk and bread in his room. He does not touch the food. Instead, he settles on the couch and listens to the quiet apartment. The next morning, his sister, Grete, brings him rotting food scraps, which he gladly eats. This starts a routine in which the sister feeds him and cleans up after him (Aichele and Walsh 281). Gregor grows more comfortable with his transformed body. He begins climbing walls and ceilings, forcing her sister to move the furniture in order to provide Gregor more space for his new pastime activity. His mother, on accidentally seeing Gregor hang on a wall, passes out. His father immediately arrives from a newly found job, misunderstands the whole situation, and assumes that Gregor has attacked his mother. He throws apples at Gregor, lodging one deep into his back, seriously injuring him. Gregor is not pleased with the way his family was wearing down due to his transformation and new poverty after he quit his job. Because of poverty, Gregor’s family decides to hire hoarders, and hire a cheap housekeeper who can withstand the disgusting looks of Gregor (Aichele and Walsh 280). One evening, the cleaning lady leaves Gregor’s door unlocked while the hoarders lounge around the living room. Gregor listened to his sister play the violin for new hoarders. One of them spots him, coercing them leave their family apartment without paying rent because of the “disgusting conditions” in the apartment (Pedot 413). The family eventually plans to get rid of Gregor, but he dies shortly before they get their heinous plot rolling. They feel relieved and kick out the hoarders and the cleaner that found Gregor’s dead body. His family then moves to a better apartment, leaving the memory of Gregor behind in the old family apartment. Analysis of Major Characters Gregor Samsa Despite the fact that Gregor has undergone a complete physical transformation into a cockroach at the beginning of the story, he changes very little as a character. In the story, Gregor is portrayed as a complex and whole human being because he detests his job. Besides the fact that he is now an insect, he still has his human sense of feeling, which is why he hates his profession. Most notably, Gregor accepts the hardships without complaint. He readily accepts his new role of being his family’s breadwinner after his father’s business failed; without complaint (Roger 85). He works hard, not only to support his parents and family in general, but because he dreams of sending his sister to a conservatory, where she can learn to play the violin professionally. When Gregor realizes that he has changed into an insect, he does so without bemoaning his condition (Roger 85). He swiftly accepts his new condition and tries his best to adapt to his new state. The narration mirrors Gregor’s forbearance by never questioning why or how the transformation occurred. However, his humanity never disappears entirely. He still has strong memories of his life as a human and still feels human emotions. As a result, he knows that he would feel better if his room were emptied of all the furniture, allowing him to crawl anyhow he pleased to. He panics when his mother and Grete are taking out the desk on which he remembers doing all his assignments when he was a young boy. Ultimately, Gregor is unable to find a new role in a family that is disgusted by him. In addition, Gregor could eavesdrop on his family members’ conversations about how disgusted they are by his current state, but does not react negatively towards them. His human sense of understanding is still in play. Thus, he has not transformed in character. Towards the end of the story, Gregor feels haunted by thinking that he might be able to resume his initial role as the family’s breadwinner and control the family’s affairs once again (Roger 87). Despite the high hopes, he decides that it is for the best of his family if he were to disappear. Therefore, Gregor dies as he lived: accepting his fate without thinking of his family’s interests and without complaint. Grete Samsa Grete is the only character to be referred to by her real name, reflecting her importance in the novella. She is the only character that shows pity to Gregor. Consequently, she becomes his primary caregiver. She cleans his room, brings him food and removes the furniture to provide Gregor more room to climb and scurry. In her role, Grete is the only real human to exhibit strong emotional ties with Gregor, acting as a tie between him and the rest of the family (Trudeau 87). She is the only character in the story that essentially transforms from a girl to a grown woman. This change occurs as her pity and kindness towards Gregor diminishes, regarding the job of taking care of his brother a duty. Grete does not enjoy taking care of her brother, but it defines her role in the family. Grete later on becomes territorial about caring for Gregor, not wanting her mother’s involvement. Grete matures, taking on more adult responsibilities, notably getting a job in order to help her family financially. This is what majorly contributes to the resentment of the job of caring for his brother. Towards the end of the story, Grete resents taking care of Gregor, and decides that they must get rid of Grete. The novella ends with the parents acknowledging that Grete has become a beautiful mature woman, advising her to look for a husband. It is clear that Grete has completed her transformation from a young girl into adulthood (Trudeau 56). The Father The father of Gregor and Grete is seen from Gregor’s point of view in the story. In the greater part of the story, he appears as an unkind and hopeless man, whose primary concern is money. He is not particularly close to his son. In the story, he had a business that failed and gave up working, forcing Gregor to become the sole provider for his family’s needs. He has to work extra hard to pay off his irresponsible father’s debts (Roger 89). Despite Gregor’s contribution towards his family, his father has no sympathy for him after he undergoes his metamorphosis. In the story, he directly interacts with him in two instances, first when beating him back to his room at the start of the story. Later, he attacks him by throwing fruits at Gregor. These details prove that there is estrangement between Gregor and his father. Gregor never explains why he strongly resents his father, but it is clear that he is working as a travelling sales agent to make up for the failures of his father in business. This way, Gregor feels trapped by his father’s problems. Moreover, Gregor never displays similar affection that he displays, albeit rarely, towards his mother and sister. In the story, Gregor yearns to see his mother and sister moments before they begin moving furniture out of Gregor’s bedroom. Thus, it is clear that his father does not transform in any way in the novella, because he despises Gregor before and even after the transformation (Yaron and Herzog 1112). Conclusion The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka is a metaphorically titled story. In the narration, Gregor transforms physically into an insect. His sister, Grete, also transforms from teenage hood to adulthood. This transformation makes her take on adult roles, more than just taking care of his brother. She gets a job and starts supporting her family. She has grown into a woman, ready to look for a lifelong partner in marriage. Therefore, The Metamorphosis has a symbolic title, not only reflecting “changes” in the main character alone, but the supporting characters as well. Works Cited Aichele, George, and Richard, Walsh. "Metamorphosis, transfiguration, and the body." Biblical Interpretation: A Journal of Contemporary Approaches 19.3 (2011): 253-275. MLA International Bibliography. Web. 2 Mar. 2015. Pedot, Richard. "Kafkas Ape? Metamorphosis in Ian Mcewans short stories." Comparative Critical Studies 2.3 (2005): 411-425. MLA International Bibliography. Web. 2 Mar. 2015. Roger, Sarah. "A Metamorphosis? Rewriting in borgess translations of Kafka." Comparative Critical Studies 8.1 (2011): 81-94. MLA International Bibliography. Web. 2 Mar. 2015. Smith, Jennifer. "The Metamorphosis." Short Stories for Students. Ed. Vol. 12. Detroit: Gale Group, 2001. 188-212. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 2 Mar. 2015. Trudeau, Lawrence. Short Story Criticism, Volume 186: Criticism of the Works Of Short Fiction Writers. Detroit, MI: Gale, 2014. MLA International Bibliography. Web. 2 Mar. 2015. Yaron, Idan, and Omri Herzog. "Kafkas Ruins in Popular Culture: A Story of Metamorphosis." Journal of Popular Culture 46.5 (2013): 1092-1105. MLA International Bibliography. Web. 2 Mar. 2015. Read More