The Main Theme of the Novel “The Metamorphosis” Is Loneliness

Gregor Samsa woke up and had been changed into a bug. He did not know what was happening, but he surely knew it was not a dream. He thought that if he could sleep it off then maybe he can forget about all of this. But that didn’t happen. He is a traveling salesman who catches the five o’clock train. But because of his condition, he could not make it to work so his boss came to his house to inquire about him. His boss asked for Gregor to come out of his room, but he couldn’t, so he was angry.

Gregor’s position is in jeopardy at his job. He tries to defend himself but because of his voice change, no one can understand him. His mother opened the door and everyone saw he was in a bug form. His manager was leaving and Gregor knew if he left then he would not have the job anymore, so he tried to go up to him. Gregor was going through the door and got stuck so his father pushed him from behind with a stick.

Gregor Samsa is in the form of a bug but with the mind of a human. His actions show that he has sacrificed for his family. For example, Gregor would have quit his job as a traveling salesman if he hadn’t been for his family. Once, Gregor gets “the money to pay off the parents’ debt to him” (5) he will quit his job. He accepts all the difficulties without complaining. He helped out his family without complaining or questioning although he hates his job. Similarly, when he was transformed into a bug he did not question, become sad, or think about the condition he is in. Instead, he chose to go on about his day, trying to go to his job.

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For Gregor, he just needs to get used to his new body. Despite his appearance, Gregor still wants to be the provider in the family. In the times of darkness, he had positive thoughts. Due to his current condition, his family had to work for themselves for the family to keep going. This meant the dad, mom, and even the sister had to work which they hadn’t done since it was Gregor’s job. Gregor felt “great pride...he had been able to provide such a life” (28). He wouldn’t let himself think about how all this would come to a horrible end, so he “preferred to set himself moving and crawled up and down in his room” (28).

Gregor’s main concern was to help his family in “the business misfortune” (35) that was brought upon them which made them feel helpless. He was working hard to provide for his family, and he earned a lot of money. Gregor’s parents took the money but not with love. Gregor was still close to his sister. Although Gregor no longer had the appearance of a human, his father was reminded that he was part of the family. He couldn’t bear the fact that his family was overworked and was exhausted. Even during this time “he thought that the next time the door opened he would take over the family arrangements just as he had earlier” (57).

Due to his current state, it was difficult to think he was part of the family. “But at least people now thought that things were not alright...and were prepared to help him” (17). He felt included “in the circle of humanity” (17). Gregor’s sister Grete would take care of him. She would make sure that he had food three times a day. In the beginning, she didn’t know what to give him. The first day he didn’t eat what she had given him and Gregor thought she wouldn’t notice. But she noticed and took it right away.

After, some time Gregor did not get the proper care he needed. His family was “overworked and exhausted” and they no longer worried about him unless it was necessary. He did not want to worry about his family anymore. “He was filled with sheer anger over the wretched care he was getting” (57). The sister was now busy running off to the shop where she would kick the food into his room. Grete was exhausted from her work, and she was tired of taking care of Gregor.

Gregor did not want to be neglected. The sister was tired of all this that she suggested in getting rid of the bug. She told her father to stop thinking that the bug is Gregor because if it was him then he would have long been gone. A bug cannot certainly have a normal life with human beings. Gregor didn’t mean to cause any problems for anyone. His sister at one point says “Gregor, you…”(47) raising her fist and those were her first words since his transformation. Due to the infection, Gregor had passed away but “he remembered his family with deep feeling and love” (71).

The idea that it shares is that even though he is changed physically he still has a heart of a human. This story wants to teach us about what goes on in today’s world. When we are not able to satisfy others we get pushed. Same as the story. Gregor gets pushed from his family because of his family he is no longer a human. The theme of this story is loneliness.

This novel can be related to “Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine” by Gail Honeyman. In this novel, Eleanor hides the fact that she is lonely and isolated. Individuals have to cope with their pain and loneliness with themselves. Eleanor does not say anything about her loneliness, but then she breaks. Similarly, this can be seen with Gregor. He is isolated from his family and he was always calm no matter what. However, at one point he was tired of being neglected that he was planning on using his appearance to fight back and attack.

I think in the novel Gregor won’t be taken as seriously since he is a bug, no one can understand him because of his voice, and most importantly he will be alone. For example, his dad already tried picking him with a stick pushing him into his room causing pain. His parents were never really close to him, unlike his sister. Grete and Gregor are close, so she will probably look after him.

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