The Metamorphosis is a novel written by Franz Kafka. The protagonist, Gregor Samsa, wakes one morning to find himself transformed into an insect. The concept of The Metamorphosis deals with the alienation and isolation felt by people who feel outcast from their normal lives. The modern interpretation of The Metamorphosis deals with social alienation, specifically the feeling of being an outsider, a stranger to the world. The Metamorphosis uses comedic elements and irony in order to show how Gregor Samsa is alienated from society.
The Metamorphosis is a very unique piece of literature. The story is very comical but also has its dark moments where irony comes into play. The use of comedy and irony come together to enhance the themes behind The Metamorphosis .
Franz Kafka uses this combination masterfully in order to create a more dynamic story with deeper messages imbedded within it. The following paragraphs will discuss these ideas further, as well as provide specific examples from The Metamorphosis , written by Franz Kafka.
The first example of comedy can be found in Gregor’s transformation into an insect. There are some points that the family members seem to find quite humorous before they actually realize what Gregor has become. For example, when they first see him “curled up under the couch covers” they are initially confused, but then “Mrs. Samsa gingerly lifted one corner of the blanket, looked underneath and screamed out in fright.” The family members’ actions after this point of discovery show that they are continually amused by Gregor’s new state even when he is being verbally and physically abused by his father.
The idea of a grown man turning into an insect is humorous to them. The fact that his sister does not even recognize him for most of his transformation shows how much she has been dehumanized through this event. The humor comes from the irony of what was once a powerful male being transformed into something very small, weak and completely useless. The comedy in The Metamorphosis helps introduce some lighter moments, despite the fact that it doesn’t last for very long. The use of comedy in The Metamorphosis only adds to the overall dynamic nature of this piece of literature.
The next example deals with irony and pertains to Gregor’s role as a financial provider and his family’s expectations for him. The reader does not know that Gregor has been transformed into an insect until almost halfway through the story when Gregor is already struggling to provide financially for his family with the job he has; shortly after they find out he can no longer work they lose their apartment and must move in with relatives. Ironicly, even though Gregor was becoming more like an insect everyday it was still difficult for them to support themselves without him.
The use of comedy and irony helps to give The Metamorphosis a modern day interpretation that can be applied to many people’s lives today. The use of these comedic elements make The Metamorphosis relatable as it shows the reader what life as an outcast is like for somebody else. The use of comedy helps bring Kafka’s story to life by allowing the audience to experience the protagonist’s shock and surprise through humourous situations rather than expressions or words. The protagonist’s shock at his transformation into an insect mirrors that of anybody who has become alienated from their normal lives.
The reader is faced with the same shock as Gregor Samsa’s family who are equally puzzled by his transformation. The comedic elements of The Metamorphosis are shown through the reactions of Gregor Samsa’s family to his new physical appearance. The first comical element that can be seen is used when Grete, Gregor’s sister enters into his room and sees him for the first time: “Grete opened her mouth and eyes wide, but then she saw the next bed and went hastily to her father, almost crying out: ‘Oh, papa! Oh, mama! ‘ [… She embraced her parents and pressed them tightly to herself [… ]”.
The comic situation here comes from how G reacts to seeing her brother as an insect. The situation is comical due to the extreme nature of her response, she reacts in an extremely emotional manner by crying out and hugging her parents. The exaggerated way in which Grete reacts to seeing Gregor as a bug makes the situation comical because it does not seem realistic. The reader can see that Grete’s reaction is overblown and exaggerated as she treats Gregor as if he were a dangerous animal.
The use of comedy here brings The Metamorphosis alive as it uses a comical element from the reactions of each character who sees Gregor for the first time. The second comedic moment comes when people from outside of Gregor’s family enter his room: “Then they took hold of him – six men were required to do it – and carried him out while he twitched and writhed, as if in a fever [… ] The pulling and dragging at his legs awoke an unspeakable fear” The situation here is comical because of the effort that six men have to exert in order to carry Gregor out of the room.
The scene becomes comical due to the man effort required from six men just to get one person’s body out of a room. The reader imagines how difficult it would be to move a human shaped insect across a floor which could make the situation seem comical because insects are small creatures. The comedy within this situation comes from how difficult it is for humans who are trying to help Gregor, they struggle with moving him because he is large and heavy. The emphasis on Gregor’s size as a bug emphasises how difficult it is for the humans to move him because his body is massive compared to others in The Metamorphosis who are human shaped.
The scale of Gregor’s size as a bug shows the reader that he must be a giant insect otherwise it would not have been such a struggle to lift him from his bed. The use of comedy here makes The Metamorphosis more alive as it uses comical elements from the reactions of other characters who see Gregor’s new appearance. The use of irony within The Metamorphosis helps bring Kafka’s story to life by showing what life as an outcast could feel like for else.
The protagonist, Gregor Samsa is an example of irony because he was not always a bug, but then transformed into one which highlights how easy it is for somebody to become alienated from society. The irony in The Metamorphosis comes from the fact that Gregor’s family are also alienated from society even though they are human shaped unlike Gregor who is insect. The family do not understand things like they once did before Gregor transformed into a bug which makes them feel isolated and incapable of living life as they used to.
The reader sees the irony displayed by Grete when she says “So will you be able to manage all right at home by yourself? ” The statement displays irony due to the fact that she cannot manage her own life anymore so how will she expect Gregor to manage by himself. The irony in The Metamorphosis helps bring the story to life as it makes Gregor’s situation seem more real and relatable because of the irony within his own family. The use of irony helps The Metamorphosis come alive as it brings comedy and tragedy together which highlights the difficulties that Kafka must have faced with living life as an outcast.
