Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis: Repression, Family, and Biography

Gregor's Metamorphosis: Initial Impact

Turning to the internal structure, the narrative is initiated by an event as alarming as the climax itself: the metamorphosis of Gregor into an insect.

Family Dynamics and Gregor's Isolation

As the story develops, various aspects of Gregor's life are affected, and the events that occurred during his transformed state highlight the complex family dynamics.

The presence of the furniture suggests a human sensibility still alive in Gregor. His sister, acting as an authority figure, attempts to remove the furniture, believing it would be better for him to leave the room without obstacles to free movement.

The Mother's View and Gregor's Dedication

The mother's intervention, stating that Gregor had nothing else on his mind but his work, suggests the great importance the main character places on his job. It is also mentioned that his priority is to support his family and not leave them alone to repay their debt.

Symbolism of Original Sin

The element of the block represents original sin, a sin with which we are all born, and which Gregor suffers from more acutely.

Kafka's Narrative and Personal Influences

Kafka's Unique Narrative Technique

Kafka's narrative technique operates from the character's point of view; the author disappears, and descriptions of the environment surrounding the central character are not imposed, as the author does not even present them directly.

The Authoritarian Father's Shadow

A special influence on the work of Franz Kafka was his father, who exerted a negative, authoritarian influence on the writer's personality. In fact, the father was for Kafka a symbol of repression.

Childhood and Adolescent Struggles

His childhood was marked by tremendous loneliness and a great fear of his father—a fearful, domineering, and harsh figure for Franz who never managed to love his son, seeing him as too weak, marginalized, and rejected.

As an adolescent, he was overwhelmed and at odds with his environment because of his father's figure. He sought reasons, as his experiences seemed based only on abstract models, yet in reality, the more unjust they were, the more they resonated with him.

Personal Paradoxes and Love Life

Kafka was weak, sickly, introverted, and lonely, with an insignificant appearance. His teenage years became lonely and obsessive, marked by the paradoxes present in his own life:

• His life was gray, full of hardships, lonely, and in need of brotherhood and a better world.
• His love life, which tremendously influenced his entire life and work, was very unstable. The desire and need for love he felt conflicted with his rejection and fear of marriage.

"The Metamorphosis" as Personal Metaphor

The Metamorphosis serves as a profound metaphor for the author's life, reflecting his repression against his father. Kafka felt deeply identified with it.