Gregor Samsa's Role in the Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
In Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, Gregor Samsa, the main character, undergoes a change from a human being to “gigantic insect” or “vermin.” This transformation of physical form by the main character served two purposes. It was to help Gregor realize the true purposes of his life and also help his family finally disconnect themselves from Gregor.
Gregor’s transformation into a gigantic insect was just the outer representation of Gregor’s true self. Gregor was also a bug, the daily routine of his life, would mimic that of a drone, thus this transformation showed him what he had truly become. But, this transformation gave Gregor time to think and reflect upon his life, and what its true purpose was. Gregor finally realized that all he longed for was love and acceptance by his family. When he was a bug, he was “cut off from his mother, who was perhaps dying,” Gregor longed to be near his mom and care for her, before the transformation, he did not have time to “care.” Gregor did not consider his role in the family as a caretaker anymore, it was no longer his duty to provide for them, all he could give them now was love, and that was all he ever wanted in return.
To his family, Gregor became a source of income and only a source of income. They “never recurred, at least not with the same sense of glory…” when he gave them the money after the first time. Gregor relationship with his family changed at that instance, he was no longer the child, but the parent, and like all parent/child relationships, and sooner or later the child would have to leave. The family no longer needed him once he couldn’t provide, monetarily, for them anymore, thus they cut him off from the family completely, and he was left in his isolation.
Gregor’s death was bound to happen. He realized that all he ever wanted from his family was love and acceptance, but his family could no longer give that to him. He has isolated himself from the family for too long, and then the family no longer needed him. Once they found another source for income, the sister and the boarding people, they no longer cared for him. He was left to die alone and forgotten because he couldn’t offer anything...