Culture in The Metamorphosis Class Notes

Franz Kafka  Explored the human struggle for understanding and security in his novels.  Born on July 3, 1883, in Prague, capital of the Czech Republic  Grew up in a middle-class Jewish family.  After studying law at the University of Prague, he worked in insurance and wrote in the evenings.  Published his novella The Metamorphosis in Kafka's style demonstrated Existentialism (more on this later).

Kafka Continued  His inhibitions and insecurities plagued his relationships. Twice he was engaged to marry his girlfriend, Felice Bauer, before the two finally went their separate ways in Later, Kafka later fell in love with Dora Dymant. Their relationship largely centered on Kafka's illnesses.  Amidst Kafka's increasingly dire health, the two fell in love and lived together in Berlin. For many years, even before he contracted tuberculosis, Kafka had not been well. Constantly strained and stressed, he suffered from migraines, boils, depression, anxiety and insomnia. He died of tuberculosis in 1924.

Similarities between Kafka and Gregor There is a subconscious connection between Franz Kafka and Gregor Samsa- even their names are kind of alike. Gregor's story takes place in an unnamed city (most likely Prague) set in an unknown time (probably during the early 20 th century). Kafka was living at home with his parents, although he was a grown business man, not unlike Gregor. Kafka had failed at love and had health issues

About "the bug" This bug that he metamorphosed into was not just an insect. In German, the word he used was Ungeziefer, which is a word used by the Nazis in reference to Jews. -A better translation in English is "monstrous vermin.” Second, a bug is a spineless creature, which may have some deeper meaning that translates over to Kafka himself.

Gregor's job His occupation was a traveling salesman, but he put himself under so much more stress than the other salesmen- he got up at 4:00 every morning, and often was finalizing deals before the other men even got up for breakfast. He is alone- he's traveling a lot, so he can't have close relationships with other people, and he is the only source of income for the family.

Job Continued He is overly burdened- far too loyal to his company (he hasn't missed a day of work in 5 years). He was spineless- whatever people told him to do, he would do it. And the more dedicated he became to his company, the higher their expectations ran- Gregor brought this on himself.

Kafka's Style Largely objective, albeit more personal and evaluative than Pearl Buck. Kafka's writing is marked by the use of humor and irony. It also demonstrates social criticism of capitalism and government. EX: And he looked over at the alarm clock, ticking on the chest of drawers. "God in Heaven!" he thought. It was half past six and the hands were quietly moving forwards, it was even later than half past, more like quarter to seven. Had the alarm clock not rung? (Kafka 1).

Gregor's Boss The imagery of his boss is that he's sitting up on a throne-esque apparatus He's hard to communicate with because of his lack of hearing, and thus Gregor feels like a small creature who can't talk. Later when the chief clerk comes in, it mentions his patent leather boots- the fear of a bug-because boots squash little bugs like nothing.

Attack on Capitalism Gregor runs for his life, scrounging whatever he can find to eat, like an insect. Exhausted from this rat race, he is transformed, through workaholism, to embody the popular notion that a salesman is a scurrying bug. Exhausting himself as a provider, Gregor becomes a non-entity. He is invalidated by the business that defines him as only a replaceable cog in a machine. While a hard exoskeleton traps insect-Gregor, he was imprisoned already by his job and parents' debts. He ran too hard to meet the demands of business, reducing himself to a serious condition in which he could work no more.

Capitalism Continued Capitalism harbors work-related obsessions and increasing rates of stress-related diseases. Some of these lead from dietary mistakes, such as hurrying to eat whatever is available. Food, eating, and starvation in Metamorphosis represent life, death, guilt, and withheld love. While the Samsas depended on Gregor as sole support, they trapped him into workaholism, through which he succumbed to an irreversible illness (his insect transformation).

Conflict: Daddy Issues Each section of the story ends with Gregor coming out of his room, but being chased back inside by his father. There is a psychological dominance there. In Kafka's life, he most likely did feel this inferiority to his father, because his dad was physically the opposite of him- strong and outgoing. Kafka tended to be more frail and shy. Not only did Kafka renounce his Jewish background, he didn't take his father's business either, so his father gave him good reason to feel inferior.

Symbolism The bug : spineless creature The woman in fur (picture): love or a life of luxury Father’s Uniform: Power The apple: original sin Furniture: Gregor's human memories The boarders: insects Grete’s stretching: emerging from cocoon

Motifs Change – both physical and emotional – exist in Gregor and his family A Recurring Number Weather representing Gregor's emotional state Sleep = Escapism Boots Human vs. Animal

Theme: Isolation In the beginning, the story notes that Gregor locks his doors at night, he sets himself apart from his family and isolates himself in his room. Ironically, this is his fate- for his family at the end locks their doors on him.

Theme: Humanity Only through becoming an animal does Gregor finally realize what it means to be human. Many interpretations suggest that Gregor becomes a martyr and sacrifices his life for his family's happiness.

Theme: Emerging Artist Suggested by Grete’s violin music Gregor desperately wants to send her to Conservatory to study music