The Metamorphosis: An Existential Analysis

By: Franz Kafka

Kainat Saleem
Roll no: 334, 029
Submitted to: sir Mubashir
Government post graduate college Jhelum
 Existentialism

Soren Kierkegaard: 19th century philosopher considered to be father of

existentialism. He presents the idea of existence precedes essence (we do not come
into this world with predetermined destiny and our personalities are molded
through our own reality).
Existence precedes essence:
Man exist first and then determine his nature through his choices.
Jean Paul Sartre:
Man is condemned to be free: because once throw into the world, he is responsible
for everything he does.
Basic concept:
1- Man, first exists then create itself.
2- Man is completely responsible for his own action.
3- Every man is free.

Metamorphosis
The Metamorphosis is a novella written by Franz Kafka which was first published
in 1915. One of Kafka's best-known works, The Metamorphosis tells the story of
salesman Gregor Samsa who wakes one morning to find himself inexplicably
transformed into a huge insect (monstrous vermin"), subsequently struggling to
adjust to this new condition. The novella has been widely discussed among literary
critics, with differing interpretations being offered.
Summary
Gregor Samsa wakes up one morning and finds that he has transformed into an
unspeakable insectile horror. Pondering this new existence, he decides to “lay low”
for a while in his room. However, when his family (with whom he lives)
eventually sees him, their reaction is one of shock and dismay. Gregor becomes
dismayed as well at the utter inescapability of his situation.

The only person who can seem to tolerate the new Gregor is his sister, who brings
him (rotting) food. He seems content to hide in his room and wait for his meals, for
a time, until he grows restless and decides to venture into the living room.
Unfortunately, his father becomes enraged by the insect’s presence, and he throws
an apple at Gregor which buries itself into his back.

As the wound festers, Gregor loses his little remaining interest in his own
existence. He ceases eating and interacting, until finally, one night, he opens his
door to hear his sister play the violin. When the family sees him, they shame him,
requesting his departure from their lives. Obeying, Gregor returns to his room and
dies.

Existentialism themes in metamorphosis

Generally, existentialists have a set of rules which they follow. For instance, free
will is a central idea, but there is no belief in a common good within people. As
Max Bense wrote, “In existential analysis man is the subject, the foundation, in
relation to whom everything becomes intelligible and interpretable.” They believe
that there are things that are not rational, yet religion is ridiculous and should not
be taken into account. In, addition, science will not benefit the world and wealth
does not define how successful a person’s life is. Most importantly, though, is the
belief against a governing set of rules or code, as existentialists such as Kafka feel
that these rules and codes restrict individualism, thus transforming a person into an
object. In the Metamorphosis, Kafka exchanges this transformation to an object
for a transformation to an insect.

“When Gregor Samsa woke up one morning from unsettling dreams, he

found himself changed in his bed into monstrous vermin,” (Kafka, 3). Without any
background information, Kafka thrusts his main character, and the reader thusly,
into the precarious situation of becoming a bug. No explanation is suggested as to
why or how, only that it has happened. The author seems to be jesting at situations
that people generally typify as being out of their control. This is because as an
existentialist, he believes that choice defines a person, not external circumstances.
While Gregor cannot control his transformation, he does have the free will to get
out of his bed and pursue his normal activities. However, he struggles to overcome
the challenge that his laziness presents, telling himself that he will get up at a
certain time, but passing each time he sets without so much as a movement. This
lack of motivation seems to stem from Gregor’s obvious lack of an identity. By
this, it is meant that before the metamorphosis, Gregor worked terribly hard for his
family to pay off bills from an unexplained failure of the family business. He
allowed little to no time for his own improvement, and consequently lost his
individuality. The author follows the common existentialist belief supporting the
“self,” and shows the dangers of working for others without taking into account
one’s own needs. Kafka fears above all losing individualism.

Fortunately, Kafka allows Gregor to pursue a goal, which, although not for
Gregor himself, helps lead Gregor to motivate himself to work harder and longer.
“He has had a peculiar love for this violin-playing sister, was fascinated even to the
end by her playing, and had even hoped to provide for her musical education at the
Conservatory,” (Webster). Grete, his sister, provided Gregor with his only
glimmer of hope to gaining an identity before he became the horrible insect. The
change, however, disallows any chance of Grete attending the Conservatory. With
this, Gregor loses his drive to work and live, instead choosing to hide out in his
room and waste away. The fact that he can no longer send his sister to a higher
education only causes Gregor to fall farther and farther away from his human self,
instead gradually choosing to accept his primitive instincts as an insect. By
rejecting his former self, Gregor thereby rejects his individuality. Kafka sets the
standard for future existentialists in this way by showing the trouble that goes with
accepting circumstances and not fighting to overcome adversity.

Gregor also portrays another existentialist idea through Kafka’s writing.

The belief that there are things that are irrational and illogical is a central point in
the novel. The obvious issue that defies the bounds of the real world is that of the
actual transformation of Gregor. Kafka speaks of the change with such ease that
he makes it seem as though such a bizarre event could in fact take place. “The
existential mode of analysis thus remains basically indifferent to the classical
distinction between possible and realized, real and unreal worldism. Where Gregor
used to have to work and care for the family, the metamorphosis forced the father
to go back to work, along with the sister and the mother doing random jobs. Aside
from the sister, the father should be the breadwinner of the family, not the son. For
the two to switch places in fact shows justice for Gregor. He has already worked
many hours to take care of his family at his own individuality’s sake, and now it is
time for his family to return the favor.