Summary:
Analysis of Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis.
When Gregor Samsa woke up one morning, he found himself transformed. There is one major message behind Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis. Kafka shows this message by turning Gregor into a dung beetle and giving him the hardest life as a "vermin." The message is that all humans have a need for acceptance.
One form of acceptance is communication. "Did you understand a word of it"" the chief clerk was asking; "surely [Gregor] can't be trying to make fools of us"" (Part I). When you cannot understand someone, you misinterpret what he or she is trying to say. Gregor was trying to tell his boss he was going to be at work in a few minutes. People also need communication to tell others their needs and when they are appreciated. "If he could have spoken to her and thanked her for all she had to do for him, he could have borne her ministrations better" (Part II). Gregor is suffering from not being able to tell his sister how much she is appreciated for taking care of him. Communication is needed to be able to work with others. It also helps humans to be social and joyful. When there is no communication, rejection is felt.
Another form of acceptance is the fact that all humans need friends and company to feel accepted. "Gregor's desire to see his mother was soon fulfilled" (Part II). Gregor had been feeling lonely. He needs to see his family and needs someone there to comfort him. "[Gregor] was determined to push forward till he reached his sister, to pull at her skirt and so let her know that she was to come into his room with her violin, for no one here appreciated her playing as he would appreciate it" (part III). This shows that Grete's violin playing soothes Gregor. He wants to show his appreciation for his sister and needs her company so he can feel like his sister loves him enough to just sit with him and play her violin like in the old days, before his transformation. Humans need their families and friends to keep by them so they feel like everything will turn out all right in the end.
When you don't show acceptance towards others, it can turn into dislike towards that person and even annoyance. "Gregor came to a stop in alarm; there was no point in running on, for his father was determined to bombard him ... An apple thrown without much force grazed Gregor's back and glanced off harmlessly. But another following immediately landed right on his back and sank in" (Part II). Gregor's father has become so annoyed with him. He does not understand Gregor means no harm to his mother and because of this miscommunication; he is looking to Gregor as the enemy for bringing such a misfortune to the family. Grete, who has been taking care of Gregor throughout the story, is also becoming fed up with Gregor. "My dear parents," said his sister, slapping her hand on the table by way of introduction, "things can't go on like this. Perhaps you don't realize that, but I do. I won't utter my brother's name in the presence of this creature, and so all I say is: we must try to get rid of it" (Part III). Grete has always had high hopes for Gregor to return to normal, but has given up and gave the idea of getting ride of him rather then keeping him and taking care of him. When we don't show acceptance, no acceptance is felt. As obvious as that is, it is the truth. When you show someone no acceptance, they die inside. Resembling how Gregor slowly came upon his death. He was confined when all he needed was one person to understand how hard it was for him to not be human.
Wrapping up, acceptance is the key message behind The Metamorphosis. Humans need to communicate and they need friends and family to support them. If we do not accept others, we will grow feelings of dislike and frustration towards each other and die like Gregor died in the end.
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