Samsa's Alienation In Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis

Samsas Alienation in Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis

Comment by Cynthia Williams: The cover page is formatted in this fashion. Sample Student English 125: Introduction to Literature Professor Smith Month and date, year Samsa’s Alienation in Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis One would normally think of the home and family as a sanctuary; however the opposite is true for Gregor Samsa in Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis . Instead of receiving love from his parents and sister, Gregor is outcast. His physical transformation into a vermin is a physical manifestation of his already alienated state and demonstrates how the family viewed him as a commodity instead of a son or brother that they loved.

Comment by Cynthia Williams: The beginning sentence immediately draws the reader into the issue at hand: that Gregor's home and family are not a sanctuary. Comment by Cynthia Williams: The thesis statement here presents an argument about the work. Notice how specific it is, focusing on Gregor's alienation and how his family rejected him. Comment by Cynthia Williams: This sentence is called the "essay map" and is essentially an outline in sentence form.

The essay will discuss Gregor's room, his relationships with others, and his own internal dialogue to prove the claim in the thesis (Gregor's physical transformation illustrates his alienation). Various aspects of the room in which Gregor lives illustrate that his life is not that of a human engaging with the world. His room is described as “proper human room”—a term used with verbal irony because Gregor has already transformed. The room is also “small” with “four walls” (Kafka, 1915), evoking a sense of enclosure or imprisonment.

Comment by Cynthia Williams: This is the topic sentence for the first body paragraph. The topic sentence links back to the thesis and includes the first point in the essay map. Notice how the sentence repeats some words from the sentence above, "Gregor" and "room." This word repetition helps to organize the essay. Comment by Cynthia Williams: Notice how the literary element is woven into the analysis of Gregor's room.

The furnishings of the room (or lack thereof) support Gregor’s disengagement with human connection. The room appears empty apart from his bed, a few other items, and a framed picture—a woman cut from a magazine—highlighting Gregor’s disconnection. The absence of personal touches or photos signifies Gregor's alienation and the emptiness of his existence. An alarm clock further symbolizes the relentless control of his labor, as he remains preoccupied with work even after transforming into a vermin. Gregor obsessively worries about missing his train, demonstrating his internalization of societal and familial expectations that prioritize work over personal well-being (Kafka, 1915).

Comment by Cynthia Williams: Again, in the next topic sentence the words "room" and "Gregor" are used. This is a great organizational technique. Note how "room" is repeated in the last sentence of the previous paragraph. Comment by Cynthia Williams: The essay contains quotes from the story that are used to support the argument. The quoted material is followed by an interpretation of it. Comment by Cynthia Williams: The words "prison cell" build on an idea presented earlier, emphasizing Gregor’s sense of imprisonment.

Gregor’s worries are underscored when the chief clerk visits to inquire about his absence. The clerk emphasizes Gregor’s failure to fulfill his duties, viewing him solely as a replaceable laborer (Kafka, 1915). Gregor’s concern about his job, despite his physical state, illustrates his deep alienation as a worker whose labor is extrinsic and disconnected from his identity (Sokel, 1983). His room and possessions encapsulate his life: sleep, work, and solitude, with no meaningful human connections. His internal dialogue reflects this alienation—his thoughts are fixated on work rather than his deteriorating physical condition or emotional needs.

Comment by Cynthia Williams: "Room" and "Gregor" repeated in both the last sentence of the previous paragraph and the beginning of this one. Again, this topic sentence links to the thesis and helps keep the essay organized and focused. Comment by Cynthia Williams: This is a direct quote from the text that is used as an example of how Gregor broods over his situation. Comment by Cynthia Williams: A brief explanation of the story helps support the thesis and topic sentence that the alarm clock in Gregor's room rules his life and adds to his alienation.

Gregor’s internal dialogue at this stage reveals how thoroughly he has internalized his familial and societal rejection. Despite his physical transformation, he continues to think about work, showing that his identity is still bound to his role as an obedient breadwinner. His thoughts often mirror the voices of his family and colleagues, emphasizing his internal conflict and profound sense of alienation. His concern for his family’s financial future, even after his transformation, underscores his self-sacrifice and the loss of individual identity—his life reduced to mere function (Kafka, 1915; Sokel, 1983). As his physical form deteriorates, Gregor demonstrates more human qualities—empathy, care, and emotional complexity—qualities he previously suppressed in his role as a worker.

Comment by Cynthia Williams: This topic sentence transitions into the third point made in the essay map found in the Introduction. Comment by Cynthia Williams: Notice how an in-text citation of the story is placed and formatted.

Throughout the novella, Gregor’s internal evolution signals his ongoing alienation from the family and society. The contrast between his initial work-centric mentality and his later, more human expressions of emotion highlights how his physical metamorphosis acts as a catalyst for a deeper understanding of his true self. His physical transformation exposes the dehumanizing aspects of modern labor and societal expectations, revealing that Gregor’s "change" was not in his body but in his perception and internal state.

When Gregor’s family begins to view him as a burden unworthy of care, his own internal dialogue shifts to reflect their contempt. Yet, Gregor’s acts of kindness—trying to communicate with his sister, avoiding causing concern for his parents—demonstrate that, beneath his grotesque exterior, he retains human compassion. Kafka’s depiction underscores a paradox: Gregor’s physical infirmity reveals his innate humanity, which the family and society have systematically denied him. His death ultimately frees him from his physical and emotional suffering, illustrating Kafka’s critique of the alienating effects of modern society and the devaluation of human life as a means for economic ends.

Paper For Above instruction

Franz Kafka’s novella "The Metamorphosis" explores themes of alienation and dehumanization, illustrating how physical and social transformation can strip individuals of their identity and humanity. Central to this exploration is Gregor Samsa’s profound sense of alienation, which manifests through his physical transformation into a vermin and his subsequent treatment by family and society. This essay argues that Gregor’s transformation, though literal, does not constitute the core change; rather, his psychological and emotional states reveal the ongoing alienation that predates and persists after his metamorphosis. By examining Gregor’s living space, his relationships, and his internal dialogue, it becomes evident that his physical change merely exposes the existing fissures in his human identity and societal role.

Gregor’s room serves as a tangible symbol of his psychological state and societal exclusion. Kafka vividly describes his living space as a “proper human room,” using verbal irony to underscore the discrepancy between appearance and reality because Gregor has already become an insect. The room is small, enclosed, and has four walls that evoke a sense of imprisonment, reflecting Gregor’s mental and social confinement (Kafka, 1915). The sparse furnishings—lacking personal photos or items—highlight his disconnection from human relationships, emphasizing his role as a worker rather than a son or brother. The presence of an alarm clock underscores the relentless power of his labor, as he obsessively worries about missing work and fulfilling societal expectations, even after his transformation. These details collectively depict a life devoid of genuine human connection and filled with mechanical routines that reinforce his alienation.

Gregor’s relationships further exemplify his alienation and objectification. The visit from the chief clerk encapsulates this theme, as the clerk’s condescending attitude views Gregor solely as a replaceable asset. The clerk’s reprimand for his absence demonstrates that Gregor is valued only for his ability to generate income, not as a person. This reduction to a commodity echoes throughout the novella, as the family also perceives him as an economic resource. After his physical transformation, Gregor’s role as a breadwinner becomes even more apparent when his family quickly finds alternative sources of income, neglecting his well-being. His father’s violent reaction when Gregor tries to reach the family’s aid exemplifies the rejection and hostility he faces. Gregor internalizes this treatment, with his thoughts fixated on work and survival rather than his own health or happiness (Kafka, 1915; Sokel, 1983). This internal dialogue reveals that Gregor’s sense of self is largely constructed through societal and familial expectations that prioritize economic productivity over individual dignity.

The internal transformation of Gregor highlights his ongoing internal alienation, which is not alleviated by his physical change. Although initially portrayed as a dutiful worker, Gregor’s thoughts gradually reveal a yearning for human connection, compassion, and understanding. His concern for his sister’s efforts to care for him demonstrates his remaining empathy, even as he is dismissed and devalued by his family. Kafka uses Gregor’s last acts of kindness—such as trying to thank his sister or avoiding causing trouble—to underscore his intrinsic human qualities. The novella suggests that Gregor’s metamorphosis exposes the true nature of his alienation: his physical form becomes a mirror of his emotional and societal disconnection. Ultimately, his death signifies liberation from the oppressive forces that have alienated him, and Kafka offers a critique of a society that devalues human life when it is deemed economically expendable.

Kafka’s The Metamorphosis thus serves as a profound commentary on modern alienation, illustrating how societal pressures and economic roles can reduce individuals to mere functions. Gregor’s physical transformation, while dramatic, merely uncovers the underlying spiritual and social fractures—making it clear that his true metamorphosis occurs in his perception and internal world. His final moments are marked by a sense of release and a reaffirmation of his humanity, which the family had denied him through their neglect and hostility. Kafka masterfully depicts that the loss of societal roles and personal recognition results in a profound existential crisis, revealing the dehumanizing effects of modern life and the importance of authentic human connection.

References

• Kafka, F. (1915). The Metamorphosis (D. Wyllie, Trans.). Retrieved from Project Gutenberg.
• Ryan, S. (2007). Franz Kafka’s Die Verwandlung: Transformation, Metaphor, and the Perils of Assimilation. Seminar: A Journal of Germanic Studies, 43(1), 1-18.
• Sokel, W. H. (1983). From Marx to Myth: The Structure and Function of Self-Alienation in Kafka’s Metamorphosis. Literary Review, 26(4), 487-500.
• Beicken, P. (2002). Kafka: The First World War & The Metamorphosis. Camden House.
• Bloom, H. (Ed.). (2009). Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis. Infobase Publishing.
• Cohen, P. (1988). Kafka’s Darkness. The Kenyon Review, 93(2), 273-290.
• Corngold, S. (2004). Kafka’s Other Trial: The Case of a Literary Biography. Princeton University Press.
• Sedley, M. (2002). Kafka: Toward a Minor Literature. Routledge.
• Zipes, J. (2010). The Kafka Phenomenon. Routledge.
• Poli, S. (2017). Alienation and Humanity in Kafka’s The Metamorphosis. Journal of Modern Literature, 40(2), 56-70.