My Perspective: Outsiders and Outcasts: THE METAMORPHOSIS by Franz Kafka G10

1. Title:
The metamorphosis
Franz Kafka

2. A RECAP: THE
METAMORPHOSIS
Franz Kafka

3. ABOUT THE
AUTHOR
He was one of the greatest German-speaking
writers of the twentieth century, but he received
no support from his family. His mother did not
understand his passion for literature. His father, a
man obsessed with materialism, would not accept
“author” as a legitimate profession. Kafka was
also torn between multiple social worlds. His
German identity clashed constantly with his
Jewish heritage. Themes of domestic pressure
and social anxiety recur often in Kafka’s fiction.

4. Concepts to
understand
bureaucracy
a system of government in which most of the important decisions
are taken by state officials rather than by elected
representatives
bourgeoisie
the middle class, typically with reference to its perceived
materialistic values or conventional attitudes.

5. Vocabulary words
How the words are linked to the text:
To describe the degrees of discomfort/uneasiness Gregor feels because of the alienation from his society.
Distress (N)
Meaning: hurting, either physically or
mentally
Syn: Sorrow, suffering
Ant: Comforting, calm
Sent: The death of his fish caused him so
much distress.
Aversion (N)
Meaning: feeling of intense dislike
Syn: Absorbance, hatred
Ant: Comfort, happiness
Sent: I felt an instant aversion to the outfit.

6. Vocabulary words
Amelioration (N)
Meaning: the act of relieving ills and
changing for the better
Syn: Improvement, enhancement
Ant: Worsen
Sent: Regular exercise can provide
gradual amelioration of anxiety.
Listlessly (N)
Meaning: lacking energy or enthusiasm
Syn: Spiritless, bored
Ant: Energetic, lively
Sent: Sara had no desire to go out
anywhere and wandered from room to
room listlessly.

7. Vocabulary words
Asphyxiation (N)
Meaning: the state or process of being
deprived of oxygen,
Syn: suffocation, chocking
Sent: Vomiting while unconscious can lead
to death by asphyxiation
Travail (N)
Meaning: use of physical or mental
energy; hard work
Syn: Spiritless, bored
Ant: Energetic, lively
Sent: Sara had no desire to go out
anywhere and wandered from room to
room listlessly.

8. ACTIVITY#1:
CREATE YOUR
OWN SENTENCES

9. CHARACTERS:
2.Cook
1.Mr.Samsa
2.Mrs.Samsa
3.Gregor
4.Grete
1.The 3 Lodgers
1.Servant Girl
3.Charwoman
MAJOR CHARACTERS
MINOR CHARACTERS

10. As we read, take notice of the use of the following literary devices
functioned by the author:
Literary Devices
METAPHOR SIMILIE IRONY
a figure of speech in
which a word or phrase
literally denoting one
kind of object or idea is
used in place of
another to suggest a
LIKENESS or analogy
between them
EX: She's got a heart
of gold
a figure of speech
COMPARING two
unlike things that is
often introduced by
like or as
EX: (as in cheeks like
roses)
a situation in which
there is a contrast
between expectation
and reality
RHETORIC
QUESTIONS
a question that is
asked for effect

11. About Mr.Samsa:
Hopeless and unkind man
Concerned primarily with
money and the family’s
finances
Isn’t particularly close to his
son
Has no sympathy for Gregor
Physically attacks Gregor
Characterized with
heartlessness
Mr.Samsa
1.

12. About Mrs.Samsa:
Expresses sympathy and care for
her transformed son
Frequently comes to Gregor’s
defense
Characterized with her maternal
nature and hope in the return of
Gregor’s human form
Despite her maternal instincts, she
reacts hysterically every time she
lays sight on her son’s insectile
form
Maintaining her maternal attitude in
theory and fails to do so in practice
When Gregor dies, his mother feels
a sense of personal relief rather
than grief
Mrs.Samsa
1.

13. About Mr.Samsa:
A travelling salesman
The family’s breadwinner
Changes very little as a character
over the course
Patiently accepts the hardships he
faces without complaint
He quickly accepts that he has
become a bug and tries to go about
his life as best he can in his new
condition, becoming accustomed to
his new body.
Despite his hopeful character, he
wishes to be the money-earner for
his family again, Gregor by the end
decides it would be best for the
family if he were to disappear
entirely
He died accepting his own fate
without complaint by coping and
thinking of his family’s best interests.
GREGOR
1.
Samsa

14. About Mrs.Samsa:
A fundamentally kind person
She had great affection to Gregor before
his transformation
Becomes Gregor’s primary caretaker.
She brings him food, cleans his room,
places his chair by the window
She serves as Gregor’s only real human
contact for most of the story
She acts as Gregor’s only strong emotional
tie to his family
Changes more than any other character in
the story (She undergoes her own
metamorphosis) Her commitment to and
pity for Gregor slowly diminishes
It was her decision to get rid of her brother
GRETE
SAMSA
1.

15. Summary:
The Metamorphosis" is a surreal tale of Gregor
Samsa, a young man who inexplicably transforms into
a giant insect overnight. His physical metamorphosis
triggers a series of emotional and psychological
transformations within his family. Struggling to cope
with Gregor's new form, his family distances
themselves, leading to a breakdown in
communication and a sense of alienation for Gregor.
As the story unfolds, themes of isolation, societal
expectations, and the absurdity of human existence
are explored, culminating in Gregor's eventual
demise and the family's newfound freedom. Through
its vivid imagery and symbolism, Franz Kafka's
novella offers a profound commentary on the human
condition and the complexities of familial
relationships.

16. The Absurdity
of Life:
The Metamorphosis" is a surreal tale of Gregor
Samsa, a young man who inexplicably
transforms into a giant insect overnight. His
physical metamorphosis triggers a series of
emotional and psychological transformations
within his family. Struggling to cope with
Gregor's new form, his family distances
themselves, leading to a breakdown in
communication and a sense of alienation for
Gregor. As the story unfolds, themes of
isolation, societal expectations, and the
absurdity of human existence are explored,
culminating in Gregor's eventual demise and
the family's newfound freedom. Through its
vivid imagery and symbolism, Franz Kafka's
novella offers a profound commentary on the
human condition and the complexities of
familial relationships.
Major themes

17. The Disconnect
Between Mind
and Body:
Gregor Samsa's transformation into an insect in "The
Metamorphosis" creates a discord between his unchanged
human mind and his altered body. Initially, he struggles to
reconcile his human thoughts with his insect-like physical
abilities, such as attempting to stand upright and desiring to go
to work despite his incapacity. As Gregor adapts to his new body,
his mind begins to align with his insect-like instincts and desires,
yet he never fully reconciles his human identity with his insect
form.
Gregor's behavior gradually becomes more insect-like, as he
develops preferences for different foods, tight spaces, and
crawling on walls and ceilings. The story implies that our physical
experiences shape our mental lives. However, Gregor's humanity
persists, leading to internal conflict. This conflict intensifies when
his family removes the furniture from his room to accommodate
his new form. Initially approving for physical comfort, Gregor
realizes the emotional significance of his possessions,
representing his former human life. Faced with a choice between
physical and emotional comfort, Gregor struggles to reconcile his
mind and body. Ultimately, he clings desperately to the emotional
comfort of his humanity, symbolized by a picture of a woman in
furs, highlighting the ongoing discord between his mind and
body.
Major themes

18. The Limits of
Sympathy:
After Gregor's metamorphosis in "The Metamorphosis," his
family members experience conflicting emotions of
sympathy and revulsion towards him. Initially, Grete and the
mother show compassion for Gregor, believing that some
aspect of his humanity remains despite his insect-like
appearance. Grete takes on the role of caretaker,
attempting to discover his preferences and caring for his
needs. The mother opposes removing the furniture from
Gregor's room, hoping for his return to human form. Even
the father, while showing less sympathy, allows Gregor to
remain in the house rather than suggesting drastic
measures.
However, as time passes and the stresses of Gregor's
presence accumulate, the family's sympathy diminishes.
Grete and the mother are repulsed by Gregor's
appearance, leading to discomfort and even fainting spells.
Gregor's inability to communicate further alienates him
from his family, who begin to see him as less human and
more insect-like. These factors erode their sympathy until
they can no longer bear Gregor's presence. Ultimately, it is
Grete, previously the most sympathetic, who decides that
they must rid themselves of him.
Major themes

19. Alienation:
Gregor's metamorphosis in "The
Metamorphosis" results in profound
psychological distance between him and
those around him. Physically and
emotionally separated from his family and
humanity, Gregor describes his condition
as an "imprisonment." He confines himself
to his room with minimal contact with
others, often hiding under the couch when
his sister, Grete, enters. His inability to
speak leaves him unable to communicate,
further isolating him. Moreover, his
transformation into an insect symbolically
separates him from humanity, leaving him
entirely alone, even from those he cares
about.
Major themes

20. Major Literary
devices:
Symbolism
Allegory
Imagery