Kafka uses the symbolism of the man’s metamorphosis to perpetuate the theme of isolation among people and their unending enslavement to the work world by forces of materialism. His criticism of the modern capitalist society and the human preoccupation with financial security is quite apparent and “The Metamorphosis” acts as an “axe” to get the reader to see his view. Using his tragic protagonist he creates a certain effect in which the reader has a clearer view of society’s sad plight and the isolation that results. This isolation faced by the protagonist serves as the main conflict of the story.

The story is set in the early 1900’s, in a small working-class neighborhood. Almost the entire narrative takes place in the Samsa home. This is a key element to the story’s theme. This apa

Kafka instantly sets a fantastically absurd and bizarre mood within the first few lines of the story: “When Gregor Samsa woke up one morning from unsettling dreams, he found himself changed in his bed into a monstrous vermin (Kafka 433).” This leaves the reader instantly disturbed. Futhermore, neither the narrator, nor Gregor, seems too concerned with the man-to-bug transformation. The narrator sticks to just telling the facts. This in turn causes even more anxiety within the reader. It is here the reader is introduced to the protagonist and former human, Gregor Samsa. Gregor lies in bed, giving little interest to his new body.

Gregor tells of the outrageous demands his dull job has put on him and the vigor in which he puts into it. While usually waking up at four in the morning, his transformation has made him late: “Heavenly Father! He thought. It was half-past six o’ clock and the hands were quietly moving on…” Gregor contemplates whether to fake sick but “during his five years’ employment he had not been ill once.”

Gregor is characterized as a workaholic and Kafka shows this when the chief clerk visits the Samsa apartment, trying to get answers for Gregor’s tardiness. When he arrives his mother is quick to stick up for her son, whose job is supporting her: “Believe me, sir, there’s something the matter with him. Otherwise how would Gregor have missed a train? That boy has nothing on his mind but the business. It’s almost begun to rile me that he never goes out nights (437).” Though he is expected by society, his family and fellow employees, to think nothing but work, Gregor has a much different attitude. Upon his initial waking up he fantasizes:

Gregor knows now that he will never be accepted by his family. The injured bug hobbles back into his room and dies the following day.

Kafka makes his message perfectly apparent throughout the story. Through Gregor’s metamorphosis into an insect he shows that just like Gregor, mankind seems to live a meaningless and ineffectual existence. He shows the reader that all too often people end up living bug-like lives, crawling like insects at the bottom of the natural order and isolated from each other and themselves. Once a person becomes a slave to work, he literally becomes an insect, the lowest form of life. Regarding today’s

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