The Metamorphosis

An unexamined life often leads to alienation from society. Franz Kafka's work The Metamorphosis portrays Gregor Samsa transformation from a man into a monstrous bug and how he becomes even more alienated from his family. Gregor is trapped in a life he does not enjoy, as a traveling salesman, working for a boss that his family is in debt to. Gregor never takes control of his own life he is constantly working and providing for his family, while they take advantage of him. When he is transformed into a bug it reveals how secluded he really is from his own life.

Before Gregor's metamorphosis, Gregor has taken on the role of sole provider. When Gregor begins his job he is proud and satisfied, after a short while he realizes that his family is using him for the money. He begins to hate his job "What a grueling job I've picked! Day in, day out- on the road. The upset of doing business is much worse that the actual business in the home office" (3, 4). Gregor explains that he never feels at home, he is either living in a hotel or with his family, but even with his family he feels like an outsider. His father had a store that went out of business and ever since then the Samsa's family has been in debt to this man, now Gregor's boss. Gregor loves his family and he "would have quit long ago" if it were not for his family (4). With the loss of his father's job, Gregor believes he does not have another option than to step into the role his father once had.