The Benefits of Having an Exoskeleton

Franz Kafka’s Metamorphosis is probably the weirdest book I have ever read. The premise is simple enough: a young man turns into a giant bug. But there must be something more to the story, right? Either that or Kafka was completely insane. Perhaps it’s a little of both. One interpretation of the text is that Gregor wants to be an insect to escape his pathetic life. I think that this notion has some merit as both Gregor’s familial relationships and his work life are horrible. At the end of the story, Gregor even wills himself to die, hoping to relieve his family of the burden that he believes he has become (89). Someone who views himself in such a light is clearly capable of rationalizing and instigating his turning into a bug.

Gregor’s relationship with his family, especially his father, is the source of much of the unhappiness in his life. Gregor is the sole breadwinner in his family. While he wakes up at four each morning in order to catch a five a.m. train, Gregor’s father enjoys a leisurely breakfast that lasts several hours (26). Futhermore, the family expects Gregor to continue working to support them for the rest of his life: “over the years they had come to believe that Gregor was set for life with this firm” (29). Gregor’s father’s reaction to Gregor’s transformation is an indication of his true feelings towards Gregor, and result from his discomfort and misplaced anger regarding the role reversal that has occurred in his life. He glowers and clenches his fist, as if intending to drive Gregor back into his room; “then he looked around the living room with uncertainty, covered his eyes with his hands, and wept so hard his great chest shook” (25). Their relationship is clearly one of conflicting emotions as Gregor’s father does not know whether to respond to the transformation with anger or sadness.

Gregor rationalizes his work-centered lifestyle by telling himself that he has “chosen” such a difficult job. He is incapable of viewing his life in any other way, perhaps because it would be too pathetic to face (4). He tells himself that “there’s hope yet,” that he will be able to “pay back what [his] parents owe” after five or six years (5). Gregor clings to these sentiments in order to simply get through the day. It is in the workplace that Gregor truly acts like the insect he becomes. He fantasizes, “I’d have gone up to the director and told him from the bottom of my heart exactly what I though. That would have knocked him from his desk!” (5). He views himself as insignificant and, like when speaking to the office manager, is constantly defending himself. His behavior is pitiful: rather than getting angry at the office manager’s false accusations, Gregor apologizes.

Gregor’s transformation into a giant insect is almost an act of self-defense. His buggy exoskeleton provides protection both literally and figuratively from the burdens of his life. Only through his metamorphosis is Gregor able to escape the unvarying pattern into which is life has fallen. (516)