Kafka the Metamorphosis

Kafka's 'The Metamorphosis'

Kafka's 'The Metamorphosis' is a parable which examines the sickness and alienation of the human soul in the age of capitalism. Human relationships are difficulty, perhaps even impossible, to sustain in a system where the routines of work and debt are inescapable, and where capitalists (owners and bosses) demand loyalty and obedience without rewarding workers in any meaningful way. When Gregor can no longer participate in the day to day grind of the world, he becomes useless. He becomes a cockroach whose transformation permits Kafka to reveal the truth through the reactions of the characters around Gregor. Since he is no longer a productive being, he no longer has intrinsic value to anyone. Without his ability to earn money, he can offer nothing else, and he becomes nothing but an insect to be locked away and forgotten. Finally, any ties of love are overshadowed by each character's ability to earn money.

Capitalism is a social system in which capital and goods are privately owned and can used as a means for profit. Prices are determined by competition in a free market. Saying this, money rules everything in a capitalistic environment. People who are the backbone workers of the system are generally paid the least, while those with money tend to make more and more. There is good and bad to capitalism, but Kafka's story shows how through capitalism a person can be beaten down and the simply discarded. I will relate 'The Metamorphosis' as best I can with the theory of capitalism and how it affected the family.

Gregor Samsa is a traveling salesman, yet he strongly despises his job. He is unable to quit, however, since he is the main financial backing of his family, as well as responsible for paying the debts his father has made from his old business. He readily accepts this position as caretaker. Gregor, has a complete physical transformation into a bug at the beginning of the story, but develops little as a character throughout. Just...