Kafka Metamorphosis

Gregor Samsa: The Voice of the Disabled in Kafka’s The Metamorphosis In Franz Kafka's, The Metamorphosis, Gregor Samsa accurately depicts the challenges, consequences, and ultimately the heroism associated with a severe disability. In fact, Franz Kafka had suffered from Tuberculosis, having to endure the paralyzing limitations of his illness. However, Kafka was then able to transmute his observations and experiences into that of a man imprisoned in a insect’s body. Following Gregor’s metamorphosis into that of an insect, Kafka established a confusing family dynamic in which responsibility was transferred from Gregor and divided throughout the rest of his family. Through this Kafka called into question and was able to utilize the motif of ability …show more content…
At first, there is the stage of initial shock and disbelief when the family enters Gregor’s room to see why he has not come out only to flee at the sight of him as a bug. Following that stage comes the attentive stage in which Gregor is fed and watched carefully to see if his appetite has changed. Also, at this point Gregor is still considered their son and brother. However, this stage declines into the stage of resentment in which Gregor and his room are neglected and his family no longer wants the responsibility of taking care of him. As Gregor’s room became more and more like a “junk heap” that Gregor had to push through, a metaphor for the families rejection, Gregor did not even have “room enough to crawl” (117). This is an especially significant stage due to the fact that the family does not even attempt to take on the “ability” aspect of the family dynamic until it comes to the point that they have to and unjustly reap the benefits of it as well. Gregor’s father, mother, and sister all get new jobs and they all take on a sense of accomplishment, meanwhile, their own personal gain only intensifies Gregor’s “disability” and estrangement. Eventually, the final stage emerges, the stage of grief, and Gregor dies leaving his family with a mournful attitude, yet immediately they …show more content…
Gregor, prior to his metamorphosis, had been the head of the household and had taken on the responsibility of providing for his family, as well as himself. Through this, Gregor exhibited a selfless concern for his family, similar to the selflessness exhibited by those enlisted in the armed forces. Likewise, a soldier or military personnel would take on the responsibility of protecting and serving for their country, which is indeed, a heavy weight to carry. That soldier would also be aware of the risks to which their occupation imposes on them and their family. However, Gregor was not aware of the risks his “responsibility” opposed on him and it is not until Gregor metamorphosizes into a bug that he recognizes and has to seriously face these effects. Prior to his metamorphosis, Gregor continues to deal with the “trouble of constant traveling, of worrying about train connections, the bed and irregular meals, casual acquaintances that are always new and never become intimate friends” (Kafka, 68). He does this for the greater good, for his family. Likewise, a soldier has to deal with many of the same struggles. A soldier does not stay in one place for very long, operates on a different time schedule than the rest of the world, and inevitably loses and is unable to maintain friends due to the