The central theme of The Metamorphosis, by Franz Kafka, is modern man's sense of alienation and detachment. Gregor's transformation into an insect greatly resembles a familiar form of detachment of modern man. Unfortunately, Gregor cannot turn the door lock, for he has no hands, and his body is of little use and difficult to control ... his entire family. Gregor's family doesn't think about how Gregor feels about his miserable transformation; instead, they are worried about the affects of the metamorphosis on them personally, leaving Gregor isolated. Gregor is locked away in a cage, in his roo...

• Word Count: 311
• Approx Pages: 1
• Grade Level: Undergraduate