The book Metamorphosis by Kafka, as the name suggest, revolves around the subject matter change . This theme is set in motion by Gregor, who wakes up from his dream only to find himself transformed into an insect. “When Gregor Samsa woke up one morning from unsettling dreams, he found himself changed in his bed into a monstrous vermin” (Kafka, 1915) Metamorphosis, Part 1a).To many, this change is absurd. However, everyone has to adopt to it in order to survive in this crazy world.
Disconnect Between the Body and Mind
Gregor’s transformation shows us just how much a body can be disconnected with the mind. Even though he has transformed into an insect, Gregor’s mind initially stays unchanged. He continues to think like a human, but is unable to reconcile these thoughts, characteristic of humans, with his new body, such that the first time he wakes up, he tries to stand up even though he can’t. We see in another part that Gregor is surprised he no longer likes milk when Grete leaves him some, even though this was his favorite beverage before his transformation.
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Gregor’s mind-body conflict is portrayed when Grete and his mother are moving the furniture from his room . “Did he really want the warm room, so cozily appointed with heirlooms, transformed into a lair, where he might, of course, be able to creep, unimpeded, in any direction, though forgetting his human past swiftly and totally?” (Kafka, 1915) Metamorphosis, Part 2) On one hand, he is happy that he now has free space to get around without anything being in his way, on the other hand, however, he does not want to let go of whatever acts as a representation of the life he used to live as a human being. He is faced with a terrible choice of emotional comfort or physical comfort, which shows that the mind and the body are disconnected and each wants its own comfort. It’s showed in the text that Gregor later chooses emotional comfort, by clinging to the picture of a woman covered in fur.
The Limits of Sympathy
When Gregor first transforms into a bug, everyone in the family is sympathetic towards him with the hope that he will one day transform back to his human form. We see Gregor’s mother fighting with Grete for having moved furniture out of his room. Grete, on the other hand, tries to spend some time with Gregor in his room to try and understand what he likes now that he has metamorphosed. Grete’s sympathy makes her take up the role of Gregor’s caretaker. Gregor’s father, who has been portrayed as the least emotional person in the story, shows some sympathy towards Gregor, who twice earlier, had attacked him. He allows the family to accept him and to continue taking care of him in his current state.
This sympathy wears off eventually due to the constant stress that he has caused them, which shows their discomfort. They now start to see him as an insect, and less as the human being whom they once used to know. Gregor’s mother is so horrified by his looks that she faints when she sees him while moving furniture into his room. Eventually, even Grete who was the most sympathetic of them all decides that the family gets rid of him. As such, it can be concluded that even sympathy has its limits.
Conclusion
Gregor’s story is about the illusions in our lives. Gregoer seems to have disguised himself in a human body, but finally discovers that he he’d been an insect all along. Humans don’t look at the obvious facts until they are shown in form of a drastic form. Gregor’s bodily and mental struggles show us that our identity as human beings is skin deep. No matter how much we try to change the outside, if the inside does not feel the same, then the two parts will always be in conflict with each other.
Reference
Kafka, F. (1915). The metamorphosis: By Franz Kafka . NY: Bantam Books.
