The major objective of this study is to examine all the
features of modern man and Modern human psyche that represents by Franz Kafka
in his novel "The Metamorphosis". It
is the story of a travelling salesman by the name Gregor Samsa who wakes
up one morning transformed into a hideous and monstrous vermin. Despite all the
absurdities in The Metamorphosis, the novel remains one of Kafka’s most
well-known works. The mixture of the absurd and symbolic makes the novella so
complex and an interesting as well. This study find out the fact that, Franz Kafka illuminate all
negative aspects of the modern society like loneliness, isolation, alienation, ignorance, absurdism, existentialism, sleeplessness, dehumanization, escapism,
materialism, pessimism, hypocrisy, chaotic mental situation, fragmentation and
stone-heartedness in his novel " The Metamorphosis". Franz Kafka makes us to realize that we the Modern people are
living an insect like life, an insect, the lowest form in living beings, having no
aim, no goal, and no spiritual evolution.
INTRODUCTION
Kafka's Metamorphosis is one of the great novellas of the
20th century and is widely studied in colleges and universities across the
western world. This story starts with a traveling salesman, Gregor Samsa, one
morning, when he woke up find himself transformed into a monstrous insect-like
creature. The cause of Samsa's metamorphosis is never revealed, and Kafka never give any clarification. The rest of Kafka's novella deals with Gregor's
attempts to adjust to his new condition as he deals with being burdensome to
his parents and sister, who are repulsed by the horrible, monstrous creature
Gregor has become.
"Metamorphosis'' has three parts, in each part Gregor's
emerging from his bedroom into the Samsa's dining room and then retreating. The
first part of the story tells of Gregors' metamorphosis and of his job. In the
second part, Gregors' father goes back to work for the first time since the
failure of his own business five years earlier. In the third part, Gregor's
mother and sister go to work, although Gregor had desired to send his sister to
the conservatory, and the family takes in three
renters, employers, as it were, in the home. After Gregor's death, in
the last part, the lodgers are thrown out, and the Samsas write three letters
of excuse to their three employers, and take the day off.
We realize the true worth of this novel when we read it
after getting the information about the age in which this novel had been
written. Apparently, it is like an absurd play because of the change of the
human being into an insect. But, if we read about Kafka's life and its
background then we come to know that actually Kafka want to depict the life of
his contemporary man i.e. the life of modern man in his novel, and he choose
this absurd issue for this purpose because he lived in an absurd society among
the absurd people so this is not an absurd for him. In a way we can say that he
is a great observer like Chaucer, who depict his age in his poetry. Similarly
he depict his age in his novels. Kafka gives a universal touch to his novel by
using this absurd issue. He was very brilliantly present the life of modern man
in his novel; it is a perfect source to know about the modern man. I think, as
many others, that Modern Literature is incomplete without this novel. It is not
only depicting the life of modern man but also provide a lot of different
issues for interpretation. It shows the difficulties of living in a modern society and the struggle for acceptance of others when in a time of need.
DISCUSSION
LIFE OF MODERN MAN IN METAMORPHOSIS
The title of the novel "Metamorphosis"
suggests that what kind of thoughts Franz Kafka want to convey to his readers.
Metamorphosis means transformation or change in the form and often habits of a
living organism. Obviously, Franz Kafka also represent that there is something
change in the contemporary and the first phase, i.e. modern era is change from
ancient age. The very first line of the novel, which is one of the famous lines
of modern literature, reflects his concept,
"When Gregor Samsa woke up one morning from unsettling
dreams, he found himself changed in his bed into a monstrous vermin.…"
(Corngold, S. 2004, ch: 01, pg: 03)
In the satirical beginning of Metamorphosis, Franz Kafka
presents Gregor Samsa central character in the novel, as turned into a huge
insect. Gregor’s transformation into an insect shows modern man’s abnormality.
How human beings are conditioned to live abnormally other than just human
beings. The modern world does not makes (or allow) one to look at their inner
self. Further reading of the novel make us realize that Gregor Samsa manages to
ignore his own metamorphosis into an insect by trying to get up and live his
life normally. In the forth coming paragraphs Franz kafka elaborate the concept
of "Change", that what kind of change happened. As Franz Kafka
describe Gregor's condition,
‘What’s happened to me,’ he thought. It was no dream. His
room, a proper room for a human being, only somewhat too small, lay quietly
between the four well-known walls.”
(Corngold, S. 2004, ch: 01, pg: 03)
This line confirmed that the change occurred in reality, it
is not Gregor's dream. And one more thing is that the change happened in the
character not in the atmosphere or in the things that are present in the
environment; everything had its place in the Gregor's room except Gregor Samsa.
Ironically, in the modern world actually people are changing than any other affairs. Further, Franz Kafka illustrates that how does people
changed; He explained such characteristics of a person, which causes a person
called Modern man.
Actually in this novel Kafka write about particular
circumstances of his life that are universally compelling, Gregor Samsa
reflects his inner feelings, pain and fears. Franz Kafka believed that these
feelings are presented in each of individuals, who have to live in the society.
Franz Kafka faced isolation within his family, even in the society as well. He
denies the contemporary society where an individual cannot escape from the
condition of alienation. The society is very unforgiving and oppressive to some
people as people have to compete with each other in order to survive. Because
of the immense competition for survival, oftentimes people get lost in the
struggle. In the process they are alienated not only from their family, from
their job, from their friends and even from themselves. One forgets to notice
that he has changed, his family has changed, and his employers have changed. In
Modern times, people live in this secluded condition. Franz Kafka focus on this
issue, he shows the alienation from Gregor's character that he had lived a
secluded life because he was separated by his family members and society. After
his transformation no one come in his room, even his room transformed into
garbage dumb. Everyone busy in his own life. No one has not concerned from
someone else's life. As Gregor Samsa said to himself about his family,
"What a quiet life the family has been leading,"
(Corngold, S. 2004, ch: 02, pg: 21)
Generally, after becoming a modern, it is supposed good for
a man to live a secluded life and not to interfere in other's problem. Actually
in the modern society every individual become a materialistic, they concerned
with material possessions and wealth than the human existence. Therefore, Kafka
does not accept all forms of social practices which are based upon materiality.
Gregor's father is also a victim of materialistic life. For him, materiality
more important than relationships. After Gregor’s transformation he did not
think about his son but he think about the financial issues that he have to
face after Gregor's transformation. Franz Kafka describe this as,
"The very first day his father explained the family's
financial situation and prospects to both the mother and the sister. From time
to time he got up from the table to get some kind of receipt or notebook
...."
(Corngold, S. 2004, ch: 02, pg: 25)
Here, the insensitivity of human being can also be noticed,
which is connected with the characteristic of materiality. A person becomes
respectable just because of his money than his behavior or sincerity. It can be
said that, now in a modern world, all human relationships can be purchased with
money. Gregor Samsa has reputation in the family until he is well and fulfills
the economic needs of family. But, the moment Gregor Samsa fails to earn, he
becomes utility less object as if no human beings. Even Gregor Samsa is treated
as “an invalid or even a stranger”. His father shows indifference to Gregor’s
bitter condition when he expresses “who could find time” to care Gregor Samsa.
There is also a sign of Modern man's selfishness as well; A man's behaved in a
good way if he needs a person otherwise, he has no concern with him.
Moreover, when Gregor Samsa unable to open the door of his room, he hears his
sister crying at his door he thinks,
"Why was she crying? Because he wasn’t getting up and
wasn’t letting the manager in; because he was in danger of losing his position,
and because then his boss would badger his parents once again with the old
demands? "
(Corngold, S. 2004, ch: 01, pg: 10)
Gregor considers himself close to his sister, but feels her
emotion spent on him is related to money. His family members are mostly
concerned with him in regards to money and they are more than willing to take
advantage of his sense of obligation. Gregor Samsa was the only sole provider
of his family, forced to work day in and day out. Instead of immediately waking
up to realize his remarkable metamorphosis from man to vermin, Gregor’s main
concern is his salesman job. He is sincere to his family and wants to continue
his job for his family members, though it is difficult for him. As he said to
the Manager,
"I am really so indebted to Mr. Chief—you know that
perfectly well. On the other hand, I am concerned about my parents and my
sister. I’m in a fix, but I’ll work myself out of it again. Don’t make things
more difficult for me than they already are. "
(Corngold, S. 2004, ch: 01, pg: 15)
Here, Gregor Samsa thinking about his family members. On the
contrary, his family is primarily worried about how Gregor's metamorphosis will
affect them, and their financial security. They have no concerned with what
happened to Gregor Samsa? Or what is Gregor through? This is the modern
concept; which is totally wrong and not suited to a human beings, if the sole
provider gets sick and he is unable to financially support his family then he
is not deserve for their love as well. The family should feel the deepest
gratitude and love towards Gregor, but they never express any grand emotion for
him. They should be deeply concerned and upset for Gregor because they have
lost the son they dearly love; not because they have lost an ATM. The family
should at least feel a sense of duty to provide Gregor with the best care
possible, but they lock him in a small room they begin to fill with garbage.
Conformity is also common in modern society. People adopted
rules and laws, or change in belief and behavior in order to fit in with a society.
After Gregor's metamorphosis, his family members also changed their behavior
just to adjust in a society. While Gregor works to support his family, his
father, who is perfectly healthy, spend his time by sitting around the table
eating breakfast and reading newspapers. But after Gregor's transformation, he
totally becomes changed. He supports his family and start working as a
messenger in bank. Franz Kafka writes about him,
"He was standing up really straight, dressed in a tight
fitting blue uniform with gold buttons, like the ones servants wear in a
banking company. Above the high stiff collar of his jacket his firm double chin
stuck out prominently, beneath his bushy eyebrows the glance of his black eyes
was freshly penetrating and alert, his otherwise disheveled white hair was
combed down into a carefully exact shining part. "
(Corngold, S. 2004, ch: 02, pg: 36)
Moreover, Gregor's mother and sister also start working like
other modern people. His mother starts sewing while his sister starts working as a sales
girl. Everyone spend an independent life like a man who lived in a modern
society. This is the reason that there is lack of communication in modern man's
life. If a man becomes independent then he does not bear the interference of
any other person in his matters. He thinks that he is enough for himself. Franz
Kafka also observed lack of communication in modern people, this is the reason
that he focused on this issue as well. Gregor's detachment from humanity occurs
not only through the initial physical metamorphosis, but also through the loss
of communication that follows. When Gregor first tries to respond to his
mother's calls, his voice breaks into warbles and chirps; when the Office
Manager cruelly provokes him with threats and accusations, Gregor tries to
defend himself in a long speech that provokes only this response from the
Manager:
"That was the voice of an animal." (Corngold, S. 2004, ch: 01, pg: 12)
From this moment on, Gregor Samsa ceases even to try to
speak. Though he is changed physically and cannot communicate with other human beings,
but internally, he had human feelings and emotions. For example, when his
mother addresses loving words directly to him his response is that of a human
being craving affection. Moreover nobody give attention to Gregor after his
transformation. No one cared that how does he lived, whether he is eating or
not. One day three lodgers and Gregor's family member gathered in Gregor's
apartment. Gregor felt loneliness and he was also hungry. And his family itself
ate in the kitchen. At this moment he said to himself;
"I'm hungry enough...but not for these things. Look how
these rumors are gorging themselves, and I'm dying."
(Corngold, S. 2004, ch: 03, pg: 45)
Here "hungry" is used symbolically. Gregor was not
hungry for food. He is hunger for love; he wish to be loved by his family
members and other people because he feels isolated in his life. In the above
line Gregor used the word "rumors" for lodger. Usually in a modern
age, People wasting their time in rumoring or gossiping. They spread an
unverified piece of information without thinking about its consequences. Those
people who engage themselves in rumors, their only concerned is gossiping.
Franz Kafka is a keen observer. He also observed this as flaw of a modern
society and depicted in his novel as well. Half of chapter three in
Metamorphosis covers the gossiping of three rumors. They were there to enjoying
Grete's violin. But
"Gregor seemed to be entertaining them more than the
violin-playing...They demanded explanations from his father."
(Corngold, S.
2004, ch: 03, pg: 47)
The modern modes of production needs human machine, which is
impossible to fulfill by a man, like Gregor Samsa. Gregor’s inability to join
in the job due to humane conditions, he fails to meet the criteria of machine
man. So, Gregor cannot regularly perform the job in his office and nobody, and
the manager of the office does not want to listen his pathetic situation.
Instead the Manager demands "immediate and precise
explanation"(Corngold, S. 2004, ch: 01, pg: 11). This is the
problem of a modern man that he does not want to listen another person. No one
wants to face the reality. Franz Kafka symbolically depicts all the features of
modern man; how he has lived in a modern society. And he wants that modern
people also become aware with the fact that they lived a life which is full of
absurdity. But "people did not understand his words anymore” (Corngold,
S. 2004, ch: 01, pg: 13).
CONCLUSION
Finally, the point is established that because of the
efforts of Franz Kafka, countless others have seen the reality of modern man.
His example was a torch that lit the way for others. Whether you like it or
not, it is true that Kafka has become an unforgettable part of our culture
because of his ability; using universal metaphors in his works that have grown
ever more powerful with time. Apparently Metamorphosis seems very simple novel
but metaphorically, Franz Kafka represents such problems in his novel which we
are facing in today's life like communication gap, conformity, human's
in-sensitiveness, materialistic world and alienation of a human being i.e.
isolationism. Franz Kafka conveys new ideologies and beliefs of an individual,
not fitting with the standards of the society. Franz Kafka often felt excluded
from society. The problem he faced in his life and illustrated in his work are the
same that of the life of today's man. For each of us, there is a great message
in Metamorphosis that can be brought to our life. It makes us realize with the
absurdity of life and leads us to think how we take life and our relationships
with others. Kafka draw our attention towards the darker side of modern man;
the man of today’s world. He conveys his intention very well, now it is our
responsibility that we took inspiration by this novel and make a conscious
effort to change our attitudes and change our basic approach towards life, it
will be better for us! Human lives can become more meaningful and worth living
thereby!
