Shiv Gandhi
English 1213
Professor Hammett
Essay 2 Rhetorical Analysis
November 18, 2024
Word Count: 1115
Kafka’s Reflection
In the Metamorphosis, Franz Kafka, a well-known absurdist writer who explores deep themes, shows the story of Gregor Samas, who turns into an insect. Kafka argues that feelings of guilt and being a burden can lead to loneliness and despair, which relate to suicide today (Felisati D & Sperati G, 2005). He develops this idea through Gregor’s growing distance from his family, highlighting how outside pressures can create hopelessness. Kafka wants to reveal the human experiences to show the effects of society’s expectations, targeting readers interested in mental health and absurd fiction.
Franz Kafka examines the effects of isolation and family pressure on individuals in his works. Kafka's The Metamorphosis shows how isolation and family pressure can harm someone. Gregor’s transformation into an insect leads his family to push him away, treating him as a burden instead of offering support (Hao, 2023). This reflects Kafka’s own struggles with feeling like an outsider. He once wrote, “Faced with intolerance and the tyranny of my parents, I live with my family more as a stranger than a foreigner,” (Felisati D & Sperati G, 2005, p. 1). Some may argue that Gregor’s family wasn’t entirely wrong, as they were overwhelmed by the sudden change and had to figure out how to survive. However, Kafka uses Gregor’s suffering to remind readers how rejection and loneliness can make problems worse, especially for those dealing with mental health struggles (Stephens, 2019). His story connects to today’s conservations about supporting people during hard times rather than isolating them.
Kafka uses Gregor’s guilt and feelings of being a burden to show how these emotions can harm mental health and lead to deep emotional struggles (Hao, 2023). Gregor constantly feels ashamed of his transformation, and his family’s reactions only make him feel worse about himself (Iqbal, 2022). This mirrors Kafka’s own experiences, as he “was continuously dissatisfied with himself and his life, due to a constant sense of fault” (Felisati D & Sperati G, 2005, p. 7). Kafka’s intense guilt and self-perception as a burden led him to neglect his health and view his illness as a form of prolonged self-punishment. Gregor’s story demonstrates how guilt and feelings of burdensomeness can weigh heavily on someone, causing them to withdraw and suffer further. Some might say that Gregor’s family’s reactions were driven by their own struggles and not solely a reflection of Gregor's worth, complicating the narrative of guilt. Research shows that individuals who feel they are a burden often struggle more with their mental health (Felisati D & Sperati G, 2005). Kafka’s work highlights the importance of addressing these feelings with understanding and care, offering lessons that remain relevant in today’s efforts to support mental well-being.
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Along with Kafka’s feelings of guilt and being a burden, Franz Kafka’s work also highlights the idea that life is meaningless (Iqbal, 2022). This strange event of the main character, Gregor Samsa, transforming into an insect leads to many different interpretations (Stephens, 2019). Kafka’s message is that “there is no larger or underlying meaning in the Kafka universe to underpin” these theories (Yale University Press, 2015, para. 5). This idea of meaninglessness can reflect the feelings of hopelessness that often lead to suicidal thoughts. However, some might argue that Gregor’s transformation and the family’s eventual adaptation suggest that individuals can find meaning even in chaos, challenging the idea of complete meaninglessness. Kafka’s view of life as pointless shows the struggles people face in understanding their existence (Felisati D & Sperati G, 2005). This understanding can help bring attention to the importance of mental health and how we need to support those who feel lost or overwhelmed.
Kafka’s absurdism points out the problems in society, showing how the world ignores people’s suffering. In The Metamorphosis, Gregor’s transformation into a bug is unexplained, and his family’s cold reaction to his suffering shows a lack of empathy and understanding. According to Farahmandian and Haonong (n.d), Gregor’s family “acts in a way to better their own lots in life,” (para. 7). Showing the family turning against him without guilt, and highlighting society’s indifference to his pain. This societal neglect mirrors the flaws in today’s mental health systems. Kafka’s work reveals how a lack of support can push individuals toward despair. Gregor’s alienation, caused by his family’s rejection, can be seen as symbolic of the way individuals struggling with mental health today are often left isolated (Felisati D & Sperati G, 2005). Kafka would likely argue that society’s failure to provide adequate mental health support contributes to high suicide rates. Gregor’s situation shows how society ignores people who need help, highlighting the importance of treating mental health with more care and compassion.
Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis is not only a reflection of the struggles of modern life but also a direct representation of Kafka’s own personal experiences (Stephens, 2019). Kafka’s relationship with his father, Hermann Kafka, is mirrored in the relationship between Gregor Samsa and his father. As noted by Stephens (2019), “The relationship between Gregor and his father is in many ways similar to Franz and his father Hermann” (para. 1). Kafka’s father was harsh and abusive, imposing the expectation that Franz take over the family business, a role Kafka did not want. The same dynamic is reflected in the novel when Gregor’s father shows aggression and disappointment towards his son, particularly when he turns into a bug. For example, Gregor’s father chases him with a cane, showing his anger and lack of understanding about Gregor’s conditions (Stephens, 2019). In Kafka’s own life, he had constant conflict with his father, who saw him as a disappointment for now following his expectations to pursue a business career. These struggles between father and son are clear in The Metamorphosis and show Kafka’s feelings of rejection and failure (Farahmandian & Haonong, n.d.). Some argue that Gregor’s transformation is more about the isolation people feel in modern life than a reflection of Kafka’s relationship with his father. However, the clear similarities between Gregor’s mistreatment and Kafka’s experiences with his father strongly suggest the story mirrors Kafka’s personal struggles (Iqbal, 2022). Kafka’s writing reflects his own struggles and feelings of being trapped.
Franz Kafka believed in highlighting the struggles of isolation and rejection to emphasize the need for empathy and understanding in society. Kafka’s portrayal of Gregor’s isolation, guilt, and the indifference he faces mirrors the struggles many individuals endure. Gregor’s transformation and alienation shows how rejection can harm mental health, leading to devastating outcomes. This story highlights the slow, unnoticed deterioration of those who feel unsupported, encouraging readers to practice empathy. Kafka himself would likely agree that his work sheds light on the need for understanding and compassion, pushing us to build stronger mental health systems to support those in need.
References
Farahmandian, H., & Haonong, P. (n.d.). Existential Failure in Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis. https://www.fwls.org/uploads/soft/210602/10481-210602145A1.pdf
Felisati D, & Sperati G. (2005). Franz Kafka (1883-1924). Acta Otorhinolaryngologica Italica, 25(5), 328. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2639911/
Hao, Y. (2023, June 2). The Metamorphosis is an exploration of isolation and identity – Hallmanac. Hallmanac. https://hallmanac.danahall.org/the-metamorphosis-is-an-exploration-of-isolation-and-identity/
Iqbal, F. B. (2022, July 3). Absurdism, reality, and Franz Kafka. The Daily Star. https://www.thedailystar.net/daily-star-books/news/absurdism-reality-and-franz-kafka-3062721
Stephens, J. (2019). The Kafka Project | Special issue: The Metamorphosis | (SP:) Franz Kafka’s personal life reflected in the Metamorphosis. Kafka.org. http://www.kafka.org/index.php?aid=218
Yale University Press. (2015, September 16). The Absurdity of Existence: Franz Kafka and Albert Camus. https://yalebooks.yale.edu/2015/09/16/the-absurdity-of-existence-franz-kafka-and-albert-camus/
