Of Men and Insects: Human Avarice

Franz Kafka’s Metamorphosis involves familial strife portrayed in a highly peculiar and eccentric metaphor. Kafka’s intention of transforming Gregor into an insect transcends the metaphor that Gregor becomes a burden to the family. Though it seems that Gregor’s family’s isolation and their disrespectful attitudes towards him may have been the cause of his transmogrification, I think it is also the result of his family’s exploitation of Gregor’s good intentions by disparaging his self-esteem that offers a better view. The Samsa family, acting as a parasite, took advantage of Gregor and did not appreciate his efforts to rescue the family from financial debts. It is sad because the family only cared about Gregor inasmuch as he was bringing money home; however, after Gregor’s transformation, the family finally realizes the important contributions Gregor had made to the family.

Kafka’s implementation of the insect metaphor furthers our understandings of Gregor and his family’s avarice. From the beginning, Gregor’s weak character as demonstrated by his inability to rebel against his manager’s assistant, behaves much like the slaving members of an ant or bee colony. At times Gregor wishes to quit; however, he realizes that he must continue to work under the harsh conditions to relieve his family’s debts, which reveals his goodwill and intentions for his family. Not only does his family depend on his ability to earn money, but also his boss relies on his diligence. The fundamentals of capitalism share similar attributes of an ant or bee colony, in that the success of corporate businesses is largely depended on the effective exploitations of their minions. This reminds me that insects are a necessity to our biological hierarchy. Without insects performing menial tasks, every cellular life is threatened.

The saddest relationship is between Grete and Gregor. At first she is sympathetic and cares for Gregor; however, she grows to become indifferent and ashamed of being related to her brother because of his grotesque appearance and insignificance to the family. She, along with the family, finally realizes what it is like to be a freeloader. The saddest part that sums up her character is when she explains, “we can’t go on like this. Maybe you don’t realize it, but I do. I refuse to utter my brother’s name in the presence of this monster…we’ve got to try to get rid of it.” This incident stirs my emotions, because she was the only one in the family to accept his transformation by bringing him food and caring for him, when their mother cannot bear to look at her son without fainting and their father barely cares about him. Sadly, the selfless Gregor finally does not want to burden his family anymore and thus decides to accept death.

Based on the expressions and reactions of their son Gregor, I believe the family would have the same attitudes towards him had his metamorphosis turned him into something more pleasing to the eyes than an insect. If Gregor awoke as a dog or a typical house pet, the family would still view him as a burden because he still would need more attention and care than before when he was a human. Though the family may not treat him as badly if he was common household pet, they will still feel that he is neither productive nor providing additional benefits towards the family; and therefore, they will continue to reject him and view him as an annoyance. (569)

Be Yourself

The Death of Ivan Ilych effectively exploits the reader’s emotions to achieve its thematic effects. By placing the funeral ceremony in the beginning of the novel, the readers are introduced with an obscure scenario that involves indifferent attendees, which in its intended effects will typically stimulate the readers’ interest. At first, the readers do not know who this dead person really was and could care less of his identity, but as the story progresses and as the readers begin to understand Ivan Ilych’s character do we become more considerate and respectful of his death. As a result of Tolstoy’s additions of these attendees who play cards along with the widow who only wants to speak with Ilych’s best friend about additional pensions, the readers begin to feel sympathetic for Ilych, which also provides a rational transition to the reason of Ilych’s death. As discussed in our class, I too agree that by adding the true motives of the “so-called friends” in the beginning of the novel, it allows us to accurately perceive each character as the story unfolds. Themes involving deception and denial within its depressing plot further enhance our emotional attachment to Ivan Ilych.

Deception and irony are important aspects of this novel because it is the root of Ilych’s death. Ilych must suffer from whether or not he is doing the right thing in order to live a guilt-free life. Simply hoping to mask the family’s faults by masquerading their social life under the aristocratic façade, Ilych attempts to blend in with the people in high society to be recognized as an important person to boost his ego and especially satisfy his indulgences. However, I find it sad how people are judged by their possessions as the narrator explained, “all things people of a certain class have in order to resemble other people of that class.” Although we feel happy that Ilych has finally received his high-paying job, we soon feel sympathetic when the detrimental aspects of wealth consume him. As Ilych is assimilating into the upper class lifestyles, he assumes the notion that wealth is what life is all about and soon becomes consumed by materialism. The root of Ilych’s death is his neglect of his health (not taking medicine, playing bridge late into the night, eating unhealthy foods like sturgeon) because he must please other people in order to fulfill his perception of belonging to the same class. Ilych’s failure to hang the drapes acts as a metaphor in which the falling of the drapes is the final act of exposition of his deception. The drapes are symbolized as a curtain that rendered his perception of life in which money can solve everything.

People like Ivan Ilych tend to deny certain facts because they cannot stand to face their faults and fears. By not facing the problems at hand, it gives Ilych a false sense of feeling eased and contentment as he recklessly indulges in his lavish lifestyle, even though he had been diagnosed with his illness. As exemplified in Love in the Time of Cholera, men fear aging because it signifies their deterioration of health, which eventually leads to death. I feel sorry for Ivan because he is helpless to a point in which he cannot even raise his own legs, yet his family still denies that he is on his deathbed. The sad emotional aspect is further underscored when he no longer refuses to acknowledge his ill health and tries to exclaim to his family, “Stop lying! You know and I know that I am dying. Then at least stop lying about it!” At the end of the novel, we are pleased to see that Ivan finally understands doing the proper thing. (618)