Running head: SAMSA’S ALIENATION 1 Samsa’s Alienation in Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis Sample Student English 125: Introduction to Literature Professor Smith Month and date, year SAMSA’S ALIENATION 2 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 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. By analyzing Gregor’s room, his relationships with others, and his own internal dialogue, one can see that Gregor, in fact, did not transform at all. 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 a “proper human room” (Kafka 1915). The addition of the qualifier “human” is an example of verbal irony; Gregor has already morphed into a creature at this point. The room is also “small” and mention is made of the “four walls” (Kafka, 1915). Though many rooms are small and have four walls, the highlighted of this fact by the narrator evokes a sense of enclosure or imprisonment. The furnishings of the room (or lack thereof) support Gregor’s disengagement with human connection. Nothing is related of photos of family or friends, and the room seems empty, save for his bed and a few other items. We read that “textile samples lay spread out on the table” (Kafka, 1915), thus informing us that Gregor, who works as a salesman, takes his work home with him. The only picture Gregor does have in his room is one of a woman that he cut out and framed (Kafka, 1915), thus suggesting he finds more interest in the image of a stranger than with that of any person in his life. Save for some furniture, a table covered with work, and an image of a stranger on the wall, Gregor’s room is empty and resembles a prison cell more than it does that of a human being connected with the world. Author Comment [1]: Include a brief yet meaningful one- to two-sentence lead-in. Author Comment [2]: The thesis presents a claim founded on analysis and directly responds to the prompt. Author Comment [3]: This “essay map” presents the three supporting points in the order in which they will be addressed. Author Comment [4]: Body paragraphs should begin with a topic sentence that also relates to the thesis. Author Comment [5]: The body paragraph should contain specific textual evidence and an explanation of how the evidence illustrates the paragraph’s main point. Author Comment [6]: This topic sentence continues the discussion in the previous paragraph yet still offers the focus of this one. Author Comment [7]: Note that ...

1. Running head: SAMSA’S ALIENATION 1
Samsa’s Alienation in Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis
Sample Student
English 125: Introduction to Literature
Professor Smith
Month and date, year
SAMSA’S ALIENATION 2
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.

2. Instead of receiving love from
his parents and sister, Gregor is outcast. His 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. By
analyzing Gregor’s room, his
relationships with others, and his own internal dialogue, one can
see that Gregor, in fact, did not
transform at all.
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 a
“proper human room” (Kafka 1915).
The addition of the qualifier “human” is an example of verbal
irony; Gregor has already
morphed into a creature at this point. The room is also “small”
and mention is made of the “four
walls” (Kafka, 1915). Though many rooms are small and have
four walls, the highlighted of this
fact by the narrator evokes a sense of enclosure or
imprisonment.
The furnishings of the room (or lack thereof) support Gregor’s
disengagement with

3. human connection. Nothing is related of photos of family or
friends, and the room seems empty,
save for his bed and a few other items. We read that “textile
samples lay spread out on the
table” (Kafka, 1915), thus informing us that Gregor, who works
as a salesman, takes his work
home with him. The only picture Gregor does have in his room
is one of a woman that he cut
out and framed (Kafka, 1915), thus suggesting he finds more
interest in the image of a stranger
than with that of any person in his life. Save for some furniture,
a table covered with work, and
an image of a stranger on the wall, Gregor’s room is empty and
resembles a prison cell more
than it does that of a human being connected with the world.
Author
Comment [1]: Include a brief yet
meaningful one- to two-sentence lead-in.
Author
Comment [2]: The thesis presents a claim
founded on analysis and directly responds
to the prompt.
Author
Comment [3]: This “essay map” presents
the threesupporting points in the order in

4. which they will be addressed.
Author
Comment [4]: Body paragraphs should
begin with a topicsentence that also relates
to the thesis.
Author
Comment [5]: The body paragraph
should contain specific textual evidence and
an explanation of how the evidence
illustrates the paragraph’s main point.
Author
Comment [6]: This topicsentence
continues the discussion in the previous
paragraph yet still offers the focus of this
one.
Author
Comment [7]: Note that quotations are
smoothly integrated into the discussion.
Author
Comment [8]: Proper APA in-text
citations should be included whenever
referring to a text.
SAMSA’S ALIENATION 3
One more item in the room that supports Samsa’s involvement
in his work and alienation
from the world is that of the alarm clock which serves to
symbolize the control that his job has in

5. his life. Despite being transformed into a bug, Gregor is more
worried about missing work than
he is about his physical state. Brooding about how he would
like to quit his job after paying
about his parents’ debt while tossing and turning in bed, he says
to himself, “First of all though,
I’ve got to get up, my train leaves at five” (Kafka, 1915). Then,
an entire paragraph is devoted to
Gregor’s worrying about missing his train and wondering if he
had slept through the alarm.
Gregor then wonders how he will deal with the repercussions
with his boss who would certainly
be angry with him for missing work. Gregor’s worries are
supported when the chief clerk does
stop by the apartment wondering why he did not appear at work
(Kafka, 1915). Sokel (1983)
notes that Gregor is further alienated from the products as his
labor, as he does not even enjoy
the money he earns but gives it to his family. He explains,
“Gregor’s sole reason for enduring
the hated position, the need to pay his parents’ ‘debt’ to his
boss, drastically highlights the
doubly extrinsic purpose of Gregor’s work. For not only is his
labor alien to his true desires, but

6. its…salary or commission that it affords him—does not even
belong to him” (p. 487). Gregor’s
room and everything in it tell the story of his life: he sleeps, he
works, and he has no connection
to other humans.
Gregor’s relationships with others also reveal his alienation and
role as a commodity, not
a person. The interaction with the chief clerk at the office
makes it clear the Gregor is valued
simply for his ability to make the company money. As already
mentioned, the clerk at Gregor’s
office soon came by the family apartment to check on Gregor’s
whereabouts. The description of
the visit makes it clear that the clerk was not at the home to
inquire about Gregor’s welfare but to
reprimand him for not being at work. When Gregor did not
respond to the family’s questions
Author
Comment [9]: The discussion
demonstrates an application of the literary
elements discussed in the textbook.
Author
Comment [10]: Note that secondary
material is used sparingly. It is to support
your own original argument.

7. Author
Comment [11]: Transitional language is
included in this topicsentence to signal the
move to the second pointin the essay map.
SAMSA’S ALIENATION 4
(because he was physically unable to do so), “[t]he chief clerk
now raised his voice, ‘Mr.
Samsa,’…You barricade yourself in your room...you are causing
serious and unnecessary
concern to your parents and… you fail to carry out your
business duties in a way that is quite
unheard of” (Kafka, 1915). When Gregor does finally respond
(in a way incomprehensible to
all), they assume he is mocking them instead of trying to
explain his predicament (Kafka, 1915).
The clerk is quick to fire Gregor, thus suggesting that Gregor is
a commodity that can be easily
replaced.
The chief clerk is not the only person who views Gregor as a
commodity; Gregor’s own
family sees him as a means to their own end and as something
that is useless when it is no longer

8. able to make money. Early in the novella, Gregor thinks about
the fact that Gregor was working
to pay off his parents’ debt and would need to work “another
five or six years” to do so (Kafka,
1915). One would think that in such a situation that the rest of
the family was incapable of
working, but this is not true, as the family soon finds other
means of income upon Gregor’s
inability to work.
Perhaps the most telling scene of the family’s view of Gregor
occurs at the very end of
section I when Gregor rushes out of his room in an effort to
reach out to the clerk and save his
job. Though one might understand confusion on their part,
Gregor’s family, in particular his
father, shun him and react violently. Upon seeing Gregor, his
father “seized the chief clerk's
stick in his right hand…, picked up a large newspaper from the
table with his left, and used them
to drive Gregor back into his room, stamping his foot at him as
he went” (Kafka, 1915). The
father then started “making hissing noises at [Gregor] like a
wild man” (Kafka, 1915). Clearly,
Gregor’s father sees Gregor not as a son but as an enemy. This

9. is ultimately illustrated when he
shoves Gregor into his room, injuring him. After the scene
calms, “For two whole days, all the
Author
Comment [12]: Brackets may be used to
make small modifications in a quotation in
order to retain correct grammar.
Author
Comment [13]: The discussion here and
throughout this paper does not simply retell
the story. Rather, the focus is on
presenting
an argument. Specific details are included
to support claims.
Author
Comment [14]: Note the pattern in this
and all body paragraphs: introduce main
idea. Offer textual evidence and
commentary. Offer another pointor two of
textual evidence, including commentary
after each.
SAMSA’S ALIENATION 5
talk at every mealtime was about what they should do now”
(Kafka, 1915), leading one to
believe such talk was about how the family would provide for
themselves, not how they would

10. care for Gregor. There is no care or concern demonstrated to
Gregor by his father or anyone, for
that matter; rather, his father exemplifies the fact that the
family only cared about Gregor when
he was useful to them. Now that he is not of use, he is simply a
burden. Ryan (2007) makes
note of additional significance of Gregor’s role that is lost in
translation. He explains that a term
used to refer to Gregor in the story’s original German was
“Ungeziefer,” a word that has a
history of connotations varying from “unclean animal,” to
“louse,” to “cockroach” and other
such undesirable creatures (p. 11). Regardless of the
translation, it is clear that Gregor is simply
not wanted.
Sadly, Gregor’s own internal dialogue parallels how his family
talks to and about him. In
fact, one might say that he has internalized the voices of his
family and the clerk. One example
of this includes his reaction upon realizing he was an insect. As
mentioned earlier, Gregor was
not concerned about finding a way to get his human body back;
rather, he was concerned about
whether or not he was late to work. Even after the clerk’s visit,

11. Gregor is keen on finding a way
to get to work: “If, however, they took everything calmly he
would still have no reason to be
upset, and if he hurried he really could be at the station for
eight o’clock” (Kafka, 1915). Gregor
plans for the family’s future even though they do not; in fact,
they take for granted that they will
be provided for and “had so much to worry about at present that
they had lost sight of any
thought for the future. Gregor, though, did think about the
future” (Kafka 1915). Though one
might first think it is good of Gregor to work so hard for his
family, Gregor has completely lost
his own identity in doing so. He simply sees himself as a means
to their welfare, just as they do.
Author
Comment [15]: This topicsentence
introduces the third and final point
mentioned in the essay map.
SAMSA’S ALIENATION 6
Ironically, it is after Gregor morphs into an insect (or “un-
thing,” as would be a closer
translation of the novella’s German title), that Gregor begins to

12. demonstrate more human
qualities. One early example of this occurs near the end of the
first section as the chief clerk is
about to leave. After rushing out of his room in an effort to
appease the clerk, Gregor sees his
mother look at him and briefly forgets about the one thing that
had previously consumed his
entire life: “’Mother, Mother,’ said Gregor gently, looking up at
her. He had completely
forgotten the chief clerk for the moment…” (Kafka, 1915). As
the story progresses, we read less
and less of Gregor worrying about his job and more about him
thinking of his own emotions.
Reflecting upon his sister’s efforts to leave him food, Gregor
wishes he were able to share his
gratitude with her. The narrator laments, “If Gregor had only
been able to speak to his sister and
thank her for all that she had to do for him it would have been
easier for him to bear it; but as it
was it caused him pain” (Kafka, 1915). This Gregor is quite
different from the work-obsessed
Gregor at the beginning of the story. Gregor shows
thoughtfulness for his parents even though
they do not demonstrate care for him as his sister does: “Out of

13. consideration for his parents,
Gregor wanted to avoid being seen at the window during the
day” (Kafka, 1915). These are not
the thoughts of an unfeeling, monstrous vermin but those of a
caring, considerate brother and
son.
Gregor’s change from a travelling salesman to an insect in
Kafka’s The Metamorphosis
was not truly a transformation; in fact, by studying his room,
his relationships and this thinking,
it becomes clear that Gregor did not change at all. The true
metamorphosis happens after
Gregor’s physical transformation. Turning into a bug made
Gregor realize what was most
important in his life: not his job, but his human relationships.
Sadly, his family is not able to
reciprocate his feelings of love and concern. At the close of
The Metamorphosis, it is not
Author
Comment [16]: Here and throughout the
essay you’ll notice that a variety of
sentence
structures are used. This helps to retain
reader interest and more effectively
communicate ideas.

14. Author
Comment [17]: This is another way to
include quotations: add an introductory
phrase. A quotation should never stand on
its own as a sentence. Using a variety of
methods to integrate quotations will
demonstrate your own control of the
material.
Author
Comment [18]: Conclusion restates the
thesis. It also reminds us of a significant
and
ironic quality of Gregor’s transformation.
SAMSA’S ALIENATION 7
Gregor, but his family who have morphed into unfeeling
creatures, while Gregor is the most
human of them all.
SAMSA’S ALIENATION 8
References

15. Kafka, F. (1915). The Metamorphosis (D. Wyllie, Trans.).
Retrieved from Project Gutenberg:
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/5200/5200-h/5200-h.htm
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), 485-496.
WRITING PROMPTS
1
Ricardo Alvarado
ENG 125: Introduction to Literature
Magdalena Sokolowski
June 19, 2017

16. 1. What is your chosen prompt for the literary analysis
assignment?
I chose prompt 1. Write an analysis of a principal character in a
literary work. Focus on two or three key actions of that
character. Comment by Grammarly: Deleted:key
2. What interests you most about this prompt and why?
For one to critically understand any literature, it is important to
comprehend the primary characters in the literature and know
their roles according to the genre of the literature. This prompt
is of interest since I will be able to assess the characters actions
and decisions in writing. So as to achieve this, I will be forced
to read the literature critically. Therefore, it will enhance my
reading skills. This will also help me when am coming up with
my writing work as I will be able to bring up appropriate
characters that go hand in hand with the theme of the literature.
Comment by Grammarly: Deleted:und Comment by
Grammarly: Deleted:rsta Comment by Grammarly: Deleted:he l
Comment by Grammarly: Deleted:terature Comment by
Grammarly: Deleted:critically Comment by Grammarly:
Deleted:o Comment by Grammarly: Deleted:n l Comment by
Grammarly: Deleted:erature
3. What text(s) will you write about? Why?
I chose to write about Jhumpa Lahiri, ‘Interpreter of Maladies.'
From my perspective, I think that the story brings the role of
the characters. Mrs. Das a new community member is capable
of influencing Mr. Kapasi who seems not to be interested in his
life. Assessing the characters in the story will require me to use
my critical reading skills. From the story, I will be able to find
evidence to support my illustration of the character's
motivations and decision. I will be able to describe the role of
various characters in the story and how they are linked to the

17. main character.Comment by Grammarly: Deleted:own
Comment by Grammarly: Deleted:clearly Comment by
Grammarly: Deleted:w Comment by Grammarly: Deleted:th
4. What is your working thesis? Keep in mind that "working
hypothesis" means you can slightly
modify your thesis for the draft and final essay. Comment by
Grammarly: Deleted:/or
Mr. Kapasi, a middle-aged man, works as a tour guide who
encounters a significant transformation in his life after having a
conversation with Mrs. Das. Mrs. Das aptly convinces him the
importance of his job although he previously discounts it.
Comment by Grammarly: Deleted:re
5. What are three key ideas that you will discuss in support of
your thesis?
1. Mrs. Das significantly influences Mr. Kapasi to love his
career. Comment by Grammarly: Deleted:re
2. The Das family’s actions surrounding their children show
that their desires or interests do not accord with their
obligations.
3. Mr. Kapasi desires Mrs. Das to make him understand the
importance of his career to the society.
6. What questions/concerns do you have at this point about your
project?
One of my greatest concern in this project is whether I will have
the capability of bringing out the concept of the project in the
most appropriate way. The research materials to be used in the
project are also a primary concern, whereby I don’t plan on
relying on the internet only. I hope I will be able to find print
media or e-books to support my project.
Running head: ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY 1
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY 2

18. Ricardo Alvarado
ENG 125: Introduction to Literature
Magdalena Sokolowski
June 26, 2017
Annotated Bibliography
This paper provides an annotated bibliography of one
primary source and two other secondary sources, which I intend
to utilize in my project. It is based on the prompt “Write an
analysis of a principal character in a literary work. Focus on
two or three key actions of that character.” And will be guided
by the working thesis, “Mr. Kapasi, a middle-aged man, works
as a tour guide who encounters a significant transformation in
his life after having a conversation with Mrs. Das. Mrs. Das
aptly convinces him the importance of his job although he
previously discounts it.”
Lahiri, J. (1999). Interpreter of maladies : stories. Boston:

19. Houghton Mifflin.
This source provides the short story, titled Interpreter of
Maladies, which is authored by Jhumpa Lahiri. This short story
provides an explanation of the Das family, which seems to be
extremely unhappy with the marriage. Mr Das takes his family
to a tour, where they meet Mr Kapasi as their tour guide. Mr
Kapasi is an individual that is unhappy with his work. He
expresses that he views the work as a failure, mostly because it
reminds him and his wife of their dead son. As they progress,
Mr Kapasi begins admiring Mrs Das, who is clearly not happy
in her marriage. She expresses to him that she and Mr Das have
nothing in common and that their marriage was arranged. She
then reveals to him that their last born child is a product of an
affair, and aspect that leaves Mr Kapasi insulted. Later in the
proceedings, Mr Das manage to convince Mr Kapasi the
importance of his work and the reason why he should appreciate
having it, by helping him realize how important it is. This
source is therefore appropriate for analysis and utilization in the
study.
Zahra, F. & Keshmiri, F. (2015). F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Unique
Literary and Writing Style: Canadian Center of Science and
Education. Retrieved from http://bit.ly/2t90TgR
This source provides information regarding the writing
style that is demonstrated by Scott Fitzgerald, one of the
greatest writers of literal work. The source explain the different
writing styles that this author utilized in his work and the
different way through which these styles helped in
communicating the intended message. The styles are completely
analysed and interpreted in this source, an aspect that makes
them extremely easy to understand. Some of the styles that are
utilized are similar to the styles of writing that are utilized in
the short stories of “Interpreter of Maladies.” With this
understanding, therefore, the major aspect of concern is the
different ways through which information that is contained in
this source can be utilized to inform the work authored and the
different ways through which it can be of significant benefit.

20. This source will therefore provide significant information in the
study and thus it is appropriate to include it in the number of
sources that will be utilized for the analysis.
Griffiles, S. & Perrie, W. & Hull, G. (2013). Elements of Style
for Writing Scientific Journal Articles: Gaëlle Hull Elsevier,
Oxford, UK. Retrieved from
https://www.publishingcampus.elsevier.com/websites/elsevier_p
ublishingcampus/files/Skills%20training/Elements_of_Style.pdf
This source provides information regarding the different
ways through which authors manage to write credible articles
and literal works like those included in journals. An example of
such a source is the short story, “Interpreter of Maladies,”
which provides a series of short stories that are good and
interesting to read. This source therefore provides the readers
with an opportunity to understand the different aspects through
which authors utilize to establish different sources. With this
information, the readers attain the ability of understanding all
the styles and methods of communication that the author utilizes
for communication. With this understanding, it is easy to
determine the means through which the authors can
communicate effectively. This source is therefore beneficial to
the final paper since it will help in evaluating the authors and
the styles that they utilize to communicate in these stories.
These aspects are therefore important for consideration and
utilization in the paper as a source.

21. References
Griffiles, S. & Perrie, W. & Hull, G. (2013). Elements of Style
for Writing Scientific Journal
Articles: Gaëlle Hull Elsevier, Oxford, UK. Retrieved from
https://www.publishingcampus.elsevier.com/websites/elsevier_p
ublishingcampus/files/Skills%20training/Elements_of_Style.pdf
Zahra, F. & Keshmiri, F. (2015). F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Unique
Literary and Writing Style:
Canadian Center of Science and Education. Retrieved from
http://bit.ly/2t90TgR
Lahiri, J. (1999). Interpreter of maladies : stories. Boston:
Houghton Mifflin.