The Metamorphsis

Under-appreciated
It is natural to assume that the title The Metamorphosis refers to Gregory Samsa’s transformations from a human into a bug, but one must wonder if the title refers to Gregory’s family rather than Gregory himself.   Being part of a family is about love, friendship and caring for one another.   As we develop lifelong relationships with our mothers, fathers, and siblings we see how important it is to be there for one another.   Now, imagine being the provider for a family of three; you pay the rent, bills, and all of the family’s debt.   One would assume to gain unconditional love from so many selfless acts, but that is only if you have not been struck with some kind of physical ailment.   This is what happens to Gregory Samsa in Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis.   He assumes all of his family’s responsibilities and takes on the burden of being the one and only provider for his family, only to have his mother, father, and sister slowly begin to develop a deep seated disgust for him as he turns into a giant bug.   As the story continues, Gregory’s family begins to neglect him which leads to his death.   As odd as it may seem, we learn that all of this is for the best as the Samsa’s, who have all been living reclusive lives, begin to appreciate their existence and put themselves on a path of ambition.
The Samsa family consists of Gregory, Meg, Gregory’s Mother, and Gregory’s Father.   Gregory is the first character introduced in the novella and spends the entire story as a man transformed into a giant bug.   He loathes his job as a traveling salesman, but continues his work in order to pay for his family’s living expenses.   Meg, or Grete, is Gregory’s seventeen year old sister whose attitude toward Gregory goes from one of kindness and love to one of disgust and neglect.   Her comments expressing her strong dislike for her brother in his new condition contribute to Gregory’s choice of ending his own life.   Gregory’s Mother, upon seeing Gregory for the first...