THE METAMORPHOSIS I believe that the overall theme to the story of the Metamorphosis by Kafka concerns society's injusticies and moralities and how they have reduced to a despicable level. Throughout the story Kafka shows how society can be split into different sections, with Gregor representing the working and useful man at the time and his family representing all the other kinds of people throughout society. When a person is no longer needed as a provider, a son, a brother or any other member of society, should he no longer be considered a human being? I think Kafka cries change in the Metamorphosis. The story begins deceptively simply confirming a horrific event with a detached matter-of -factness. " As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a giant insect." The salesman who subjects himself to the relentless weakness of peddling wares to keep his family in the comfort to which they have grown accustomed suddenly finds himself transformed into an insect. He appears to accept the reality that he is no longer human with an unsettling calm, truly believing that he can still contribute to society, despite his "differentness." However, despite Gregor's willingness to accept his unjust fate, he soon discovers that his family is not quite as open-minded. Because Gregor was the sole source of financial support to his family, so his sudden change has monetary implications. His father must take a job as a doorman and when that doesn't work out, they are forced to take in boarders. These tenants treat the Samsa family as subservient, a fact that distresses Gregor: "My, what a quiet life the family used to lead." Gregor felt pride that he had managed to support his parents and sister Greta with such a life in a beautiful apartment. Instead of lamenting his own fate, he is thinking of how he has let his family down. Yet, they are too self-absorbed to consider Gregor's private torment.
