Introduction
Kafka’s The Metamorphosis is oftentimes seen as an allegorical, psychological, and quintessential exploration of the author’s inner state. However, despite the core of the story centering on the physical transformation of Gregor Samsa, the real metamorphosis occurs in his family which demonstrate a dramatic shift in attitudes at his altered state and role in the family. This paper will explore the family dynamics before the beginning of the plot, examining the metamorphosis of the family and how it reflects on their past state. The bitterness and disgust displayed by the family is a direct result of their resentment of having to provide for themselves and look after Gregor, demonstrating a social and familial metamorphosis in which attitudes towards an individual shift due to the usefulness and position in life that they provide to others.
Family Dynamics
To better visualize the changes that occur as the story goes on, it is viable to explore the general family dynamics prior to the transformation. Gregor works as a travelling salesman, supporting his older parents and his young sister. The family fully and completely relies on him financially, but also somewhat takes it for granted. Gregor dislikes his job and wants to leave it, but realizes its importance for the family to pay off debts, “Once I’ve got together the money to pay off the parents’ debt to him—that should take another five or six years—I’ll do it for sure. Then I’ll make the big break.” (Kafka 5). The family demonstrate care for him, but more about his job that is critical to supporting their lifestyle, particularly the parents. It seems that Gregor was close with his sister prior to the transformation, who attempted to care for him after the metamorphosis. Overall, the family seemed dysfunctional and the parents highly egotistical prior to the transformation.
The Metamorphosis of Family
Prior to the transformation, the father is shown as weak and even physically debilitated, with Gregor being the obvious head of the family. After receiving the job, he retakes the sense of authority and patriarchy, becoming commanding and asserting of his power. Similarly, Grete changes into a confident, strong, and independent woman, demonstrating wisdom and control. These changes in the key characters within the family raise significant questions, as to why these individuals could not act as such prior to Gregor’s transformation. Initially after the transformation, there are acts of compassion such as Grete’s sweeping sessions and the mother’s concern.
With the progression of the story, the compassion fades and the family switches back and forth between viewing Gregor as a monster and even demonstrating violence when he leaves the room to remembering that he is their son, as they open the door so he could listen to their supper conversations. However, the family begins to resent and dehumanize Gregor, “’It must be gotten rid of,’ cried the sister; ‘That is the only way, father. You must try to get rid of the idea that this is Gregor. The fact that we have believed for so long, that is truly our real misfortune” (Kafka 69). This demonstrates that even the ever-kind and thoughtful Grete was disgusted with what Gregor had become. The metamorphosis created despair in the family, and they sought to shift the blame unto Gregor. However, in the process of doing so and attempting to justify and rationalize their actions, they are the ones that inherently turned into metaphorical monsters.
Reflection on Prior to Transformation
While undoubtedly the transformation pushed the family to the brink both financially and psychologically which kindled their changes, there is some irony in reflecting to their previous states suggesting that they were inherently compliant as well as demonstrating complacency of being fully dependent upon Gregor. He reflects back on his past, “At the time Gregor’s only concern had been to devote everything he had in order to allow his family to forget as quickly as possible the business misfortune which had brought them all into a state of complete hopelessness” (Kafka 35). Their shifts in attitudes toward him show as much, as they were kind, supportive, and obedient when Gregor was the source of money and head of the household. Once he became incapacitated, the resentment started since they were now forced to work for survival despite Gregor doing the same for them for years. This critical transition could have occurred much earlier, and potentially would have helped to save Gregor or the family.
The dynamics of the family from a financial and social perspective shifted as well, more apparent after Gregor’s death. Despite being saddened and pitying Gregor, they are shown to be lighthearted and happy at the end. Each having a role, jobs, and responsibilities which was drastically different from the original state of the family where Gregor was pulling the weight, while the rest of the family generally lacked ambition. It can be potentially argued that the metamorphosis of the family was not as simple as their development of resentment towards Gregor, but an inherently complex process which also resulted in their growth. Gregor himself, lovingly thought that his death was for the best for the family, “He remembered his family with deep feeling and love. In this business, his own thought that he had to disappear was, if possible, even more decisive than his sister’s” (Kafka 71). With Gregor’s demise, the family shifted in their core being and sought to secure their happiness no longer being burdened by the trouble and costs of caring for their debilitated son.
Discussion
The Metamorphosis is undoubtedly a novel with a symbolic nature. There is much literally and philosophical discussion on why exactly Gregor transformed into an insect-like creature. One element is the negative association that bugs are inherently repugnant to most people, as well as parasitic in nature. After all, these are contributing factors that pushed Gregor’s family and other people away, his physical nature after the metamorphosis. However, the irony in this context is that the insect parasitic symbolism is applicable more to the family rather than Gregor himself that has faced the life-changing transformation. In the community and society, Gregor was a worker, only seen for the benefit he provided through it. In the eyes of the family, Gregor was a provider of material things and lifestyle to which the family grew accustomed.
After the transformation, he lost that status, and at the same time his worth – both, to society and his family. Similar to parasites and bugs, once the family exhausted the source, they began to push away from it in search of a new source, let it be jobs or a husband-in-law for Grete who would also provide for them. It is manipulative and toxic behavior, and similar to a parasitic host after being drained, Gregor soon saw his own demise as the family saw nothing else in him but a burden. They tolerated him as someone who was once a member of the family but by all indicators did they see Gregor as son and brother anymore, “Gregor was a member of the family, something one should not treat as an enemy, and that it was, on the contrary, a requirement of family duty to suppress one’s aversion and to endure—nothing else, just endure” (Kafka 53). By no means was Gregor a parasite by his hardworking and caring nature, but the metamorphosis turned him into one for his family that refused to value years of his hard work and support.
Conclusion
Family is a social unit which people are taught to rely on and for most can be considered as a system of support even if all other systems fail. In The Metamorphosis, Kafka examines this familial dynamic, and the criteria that is inherently present for familial support. The transformation of Gregor was a metaphorical exploration regarding the metamorphosis of family in a situation of extreme despair and life-changing circumstances. Gregor’s family was not a bad one, although manipulative and parasitic, but overall exhibiting the same level of love and care that most families. In light of the terrible circumstances, they show glimpses of continuing to care for Gregor but eventually it becomes more and more of a burden to them both financially and psychologically. Potentially, Kafka is showing that there is no reliable system of support, and family, just like any other social unit, will demonstrate resentment to any member that is drawing resources or failing to contribute. The metaphor of metamorphosis is a paradigm shift for both the author and the protagonist in their relationship with family.
Work Cited
Kafka, Franz. The Metamorphosis. Planet Ebook, 1999. Web.