Imagine one feels as if they have lost all the sensation in the areas of their hand that would be covered by a glove. The doctors will tell the patient that this is not physically possible. However, many people have had this happen to them before; this is called Glove Anesthesia which is a form of a conversion disorder. This somatoform (body) disorder does not happen all at once, though; it requires different psychological processes in order to take place. In The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, Gregor Samsa goes through a series of psychological disturbances which leads him to his literal transformation into a human-sized vermin. In this novel, Gregor, because of his psychological disturbances, experiences conversion disorder. .
The word 'vermin' in and of itself has a negative meaning; these creatures are viewed as diseased pests. For a human being to alter into this monstrous creature is saying a lot about Gregor's psyche, how he was treated by others, and the relationships he had or did not have with people. In a psychodynamic approach, this horrific change is analyzed at many different angles. However, the most valid way to view this unfortunate occurrence is through a somatoform or body disorder. The best one that fits Gregor's case is a conversion disorder which is when an "anxiety presumably is converted into a physical symptom"(Myers 577). This exact situation happens in The Metamorphosis. Gregor Samsa eventually feels completely immersed in the feelings of worthlessness, and because of his strong beliefs, he makes the physical transformation into one of the most worthless creatures: a cockroach. .
The novel opens to the image of Gregor waking up in bed having already gone through his significant conversion. He, nevertheless, has not made his complete transformation quite yet; there are many more psychological and physical changes to be made in Gregor's pathetic life.
