The Metamorphosis: Analysis of Major Characters
"The Metamorphosis" is a novella by Franz Kafka that explores the profound and often unsettling changes in the lives of its characters following the transformation of Gregor Samsa, a young traveling salesman, into a grotesque vermin. Central to the narrative is Gregor's tragic struggle with his new identity, marked by a deep sense of alienation and the burden of familial responsibility. His sister, Grete, initially displays compassion but gradually succumbs to the societal pressures and family dynamics that lead her to reject Gregor, reflecting the theme of familial loyalty versus self-preservation. Mr. Samsa, Gregor's father, embodies a stern authority figure whose violent reaction to Gregor's transformation underscores the breakdown of familial bonds and the harsh realities of societal expectations. Meanwhile, Anna Samsa, Gregor's mother, represents a complex mixture of maternal instinct and societal compliance, as she ultimately aligns with her husband’s desire to erase Gregor from their lives. The Chief Clerk serves as a reminder of the unforgiving nature of the workforce and the dehumanizing aspects of capitalism, while the three lodgers illustrate societal disdain towards those who cannot contribute economically. Overall, the novella intricately examines the impact of transformation not just on the individual but also on familial structures and societal perceptions, inviting readers to reflect on themes of identity, isolation, and the human condition.
The Metamorphosis: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Franz Kafka
First published: “Die Verwandlung,” 1915 (English translation, 1936)
Genre: Short story
Locale: Prague
Plot: Allegory
Time: The 1910's
Gregor Samsa, a young traveling salesman who awakes one morning to find himself transformed into a hideous vermin. Self-effacing to the point of suicide, he dutifully leaves the family apartment early every day for a job he hates so that he can pay off his father's debts. Incapacitated by his new physical form and scorned by his mother, father, and sister, he expires of his own volition.
Grete Samsa, Gregor's younger sister, an aspiring violinist whose studies at a musical conservatory Gregor hopes to be able to finance. After the metamorphosis, she shows some compassion for her deformed brother but eventually comes to share her parents' belief that all would be best if Gregor disappeared.
Mr. Samsa, Gregor's father, a stern disciplinarian who violently attacks Gregor when his deformed son dares venture out of his room. Following a business failure, Mr. Samsa sits around the apartment reading the newspaper while Gregor is off at work earning money to pay off his debts. After Gregor's metamorphosis, he gets a job as a bank guard.
Anna Samsa, Gregor's mother. Following Gregor's metamorphosis, she gets a job making underwear. She acquiesces to her husband's insistence that Gregor must disappear.
The Chief Clerk, Gregor's immediate boss at the sales firm. When, after five years of exemplary service, Gregor once fails to catch the five o'clock train to work, the Chief Clerk immediately rushes to Gregor's apartment to demand an explanation.
Three Lodgers, unnamed and indistinguishable men. Each sports an identical full beard. The Samsas provide them room and board when Gregor is no longer able to bring in a salary. They voice their disgust at the sight of Gregor. After his death, they are peremptorily evicted by his newly assertive father.
Charwoman, an old widow who adopts a matter-of-fact attitude toward her responsibility of cleaning up after the verminous Gregor. After discovering and disposing of his dead body, she is dismissed from employment by the Samsas.