The Metamorphosis(1915) - Franz Kafka

Imagine waking up one morning to find yourself transformed into a monstrous insect. This is the unsettling reality that Gregor Samsa faces in Franz Kafka's "The Metamorphosis". But beyond the bizarre and grotesque exterior lies a profound psychological journey. In this blog, we will dwelve into the psychological underpinnings of Kafka's masterpiece, exploring how it mirrors the complexities.

• Summary •

Gregor Samsa, a traveling salesman, awakens one morning to find himself transformed into a monstrous insect. Surveying his normal-looking room, he decides to sleep again, dismissing the occurrence as a horrific dream. However, waking up once more, he accepts the reality of his metamorphosis. Bound by debt, Gregor is obligated to work for a company to support his family. He contemplates the tedium of his job and his desire to quit, which is only curtailed by his family's reliance on his earnings. Noticing he has overslept and missed his train, he tries to roll over, only to realize his new form prevents him from doing so, leaving him stranded on his rigid, dome-shaped back. An itch on his belly prompts him to scratch with one of his many legs, but the sensation repulses him.

When Gregor's mother knocks, he realizes his voice has altered. His family, thinking he's sick, urges him to unlock his habitually locked door. Struggling with his new form, he can't get up. His office manager arrives, questioning his work absence. Gregor, after a struggle, falls to the floor, promising to open the door soon. The manager, through the door, reprimands him for his absence and poor performance. Misunderstood by all, Gregor opens the door with his mouth, lacking hands, and pleads for leniency. The manager, terrified by Gregor's look, flees. Gregor's attempt to follow is thwarted by his father, who forces him back into his room, causing injury. Gregor, spent, succumbs to sleep.

The next morning brings peculiar routines. His sister Grete, upon noticing untouched milk, swaps it for decaying scraps that Gregor consumes with gusto. Hiding beneath the couch, he overhears his family's financial woes, exacerbated by his inability to contribute. Despite his mother's wishes to see him, his transformation has made her visit forbidden by his father and sister. As Gregor acclimates to his new form, scaling walls becomes his solace. Grete, observing his antics, clears the room to afford him space, causing him distress, particularly when a cherished photograph is nearly removed. His mother's fainting at the sight of him prompts Grete's first direct address since his metamorphosis. A misinterpreted encounter leads to Gregor's father pelting him with apples, one embedding in his back. Injured, Gregor retreats, and the family, adapting to their altered reality, leaves the door ajar in the evenings. The sight of his family's decline and Grete's growing resentment weighs heavily on Gregor. A new, indifferent cleaning lady and the arrival of boarders, who bring further upheaval, mark the Samsa household's continued descent into despair.

One evening, the cleaning lady leaves Gregor’s door open while the boarders lounge about the living room. Grete has been asked to play the violin for them, and Gregor creeps out of his bedroom to listen. The boarders, who initially seemed interested in Grete, grow bored with her performance, but Gregor is transfixed by it. One of the boarders spots Gregor and they become alarmed. Gregor’s father tries to shove the boarders back into their rooms, but the three men protest and announce that they will move out immediately without paying rent because of the disgusting conditions in the apartment. Grete tells her parents that they must get rid of Gregor or they will all be ruined. Her father agrees, wishing Gregor could understand them and would leave of his own accord. Gregor does in fact understand and slowly moves back to the bedroom. There, determined to rid his family of his presence, Gregor dies.

Upon discovering that Gregor is dead, the family feels a great sense of relief. The father kicks out the boarders and decides to fire the cleaning lady, who has disposed of Gregor’s body. The family takes a trolley ride out to the countryside, during which they consider their finances. Months of spare living as a result of Gregor’s condition have left them with substantial savings. They decide to move to a better apartment. Grete appears to have her strength and beauty back, which leads her parents to think about finding her a husband.

•Psychological Decipher

Metamorphosis, that Gregor undergoes represents his psychological journey. When Gregor awakes from his slumber as an insect, this signifies the shift from his conscious state into the subconscious. Having this story written in the subconscious state, the reader can explore Gregor’s repressed feelings about his self-image. Gregor’s father represents the id, restraining Gregor from having a life and a family of his own. In the story, Gregor reflects upon the independent life he could have lived, if he were not tied down by his family. His own thoughts about reaching self-actualization seemed to be a betrayal on his family that would overfill him with guilt. The act of departing from his family’s side to live a life of his own was merely an illusion that only occurred in his thoughts. The superego serves as a censor on the functions of the values of family and society; being the source of the guilty feelings and fear of punishment that Gregor has towards his father. This demonstrates the fears and a sense of guilt that are seen once Gregor turns into the insect and shows an insight into his subconscious psyche.

Another aspect to explore are the human desires of the conscious mind. Gregor yearns to escape his new body and returning to who he was. The longer Gregor remains in this insect body, the more he yearns to stay attached to his human desires. In one of the scenes of the novella, Mrs. Samsa and her daughter go into Gregor’s bedroom to rearrange his belongings. In an effort impede the removal of his belongings, Gregor implores his mother and sister to stop. As Gregor clings to this framed picture, it represents his guarding of his last hopes of remaining human however, his insect state prohibits him to feel so.

Conclusion

Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis tells the story of Gregor’s psychological journey that he undergoes through his metamorphosis. This story describes the significance of Gregor’s metamorphosis as it’s depicted through the subconscious mind. Through the writings of Kafka, we are able to analyze Gregor’s metamorphosis, the humanly desires represented through symbolism, the correlation between literary characters and Kafka’s life, and the significance of Gregor’s death. This piece of literature opens the mind to various perspectives presented throughout the writing concerning self-imagery, the family unit, and the significance of life.