Symbolism in The metamorphosis by kafka

Symbolism in Metamorphosis

Written in 1912 by Franz Kafka , The Metamorphosis looks like an autobiographical piece of writing because the major parts of the story resemble Kafka 's own life . However , it is not a straight autobiography and Kafka has skillfully written the story , putting together the facts of his life , but using mysterious symbols . These symbols carry different themes , but the major theme is the status of a man in society when he becomes isolated

This is how Kafka begins his story - As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy

dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect ' This is one of the most famous first sentences in modern literature . There is no build-up , no tension , but just a direct boom - our hero is now an insect . From the second sentence , the insect becomes our hero and it remains until the end of the story . Thus , from the very first sentence Kafka uses symbolism , which at first sight sounds very strange and ridiculous . However , as the story moves on , we not only accept the transformation of our hero into an insect , but we also feel sympathy for his state . Kafka has written the story in such a realistic style that we can visualize everything , and can imagine it happening in real life

This transformation of Gregor into an insect is a symbol , which signifies that sometimes a person 's life becomes so frustrating that he starts feeling like a helpless and isolated insect . Gregor 's metamorphosis indicates his multiple alienations from his job , from the society , from his family , from humanity , and even from his body

Gregor does not panic on his transformation . His only concern is how to get back to work . He wants to catch the 5 a .m . train as usual , but since he sleeps until 6 :30 , he decides to catch the 7 a .m . train , but before that , the chief clerk arrives there . Gregor feels very angry that only because he has wasted an hour , the company is casting suspicion upon him . This emphasis on time symbolizes the capitalist world , where time is as valuable as money . Wasting time by sleeping until late , a person misses business , and thus wastes money . Later we find Gregor 's mother saying to the clerk that whole day Gregor thinks of work only and does not go out even in the evening . This indicates the way a modern capitalist society thinks that any activity , no matter how good it is is pointless if it does not earn money , and the time thus consumed is useless time

When Gregor 's mother tells the clerk that Gregor is ill , the chief clerk replies , we men of business - fortunately or unfortunately - very often simply have to ignore any slight indisposition , since business must be attended to " His statement is a symbol for the rule of the modern capitalist society , where illness is a crime , and the ill employee is the culprit of wasting company 's money . That...