Of the many themes that can be derived from Kafka's short story, "The Metamorphosis," the individual's struggle toward understanding, awareness, and or spirit enlightenment serves as a prevalent idea. In this case our individual is Gregor Samsa. Samsa is a desensitized shadow of a man so to speak. Working to provide for his family as a travelling salesman has made his life miserable and in loathing his situation as an isolated individual, he begins to loathe his family subconsciously. This subconscious seems to be filled with apathy and confusion. Gregor is faced with depression and isolation that eventually makes him lose his identity as a person. This dehumanization can be considered a major theme throughout the story. Human nature is the fundamental dispositions and traits of a human being. Qualities of humans can vary but where does one begin to classify the dehumanized individuals?After Gregor’s transformation, it becomes obvious to him that he cannot properly communicate with his family, much less with people from the outside world such as the chief clerk, the boarders, and the maid. Without Communication, one cannot properly function in our society. Many movies depict individuals stranded on deserted islands going mad due to lack of communication or interaction with humankind. This is how I picture Gregor, slowly dehumanizing himself until nothing is left except a buglike representation of who he has become. Like a roach he lives alone, speechless, and shunned, however, the reader realizes that these characteristics after his metamorphosis seem rather similar to his description as a man. Although the reader understands this, it seems as though our protagonist does not.
Throughout the story, Gregor is in a constant struggle to please his family. Whether it be working to repay their own debt, or dying to free them of a wretched burden, he does his best to understand what he can do to be what they want him to be. In this process, Gregor has lost his inner-most self as a independent individual. The reader watches helplessly as Samsa struggles to understand his own dehumanization and ultimately meets his own demise trying.
Throughout the story, Gregor is in a constant struggle to please his family. Whether it be working to repay their own debt, or dying to free them of a wretched burden, he does his best to understand what he can do to be what they want him to be. In this process, Gregor has lost his inner-most self as a independent individual. The reader watches helplessly as Samsa struggles to understand his own dehumanization and ultimately meets his own demise trying.