There are quite a few fictional characters who are famous for their heroic qualities, intelligence or courage, but this is inversely proportional to this fictional character. This character is remembered for the strange and beyond human logic tragedy that befell the life of the main character in this novel, as well as the suffering that changed his life overnight.. The character that will be discussed this time is Gregor Samsa from the novel The Metamorphosis.
This novel was written by Franz Kafka, a writer born in the Czech Republic who was born in 1883, he successfully published his work in 1915. This novel has been published for 11 decades but its existence does not seem to have faded and is still enjoyed by readers to this day.
Tells the story of Gregor, who is a traveling salesmen who randomly sells cloth to support his family, especially after his father’s business went bankrupt , requiring him to bear the burden of paying off debts.
His family consists of him, his parents, and his 17 year old younger sister. One day Gregor woke up from a nightmare, to find that his hands and feet had shrunk and turned into a series of insect legs .. When Gregor looked at the alarm clock, he immediately realized that he was late for work.
Even though he woke up in a strange and frightening condition , the first thing Gregor remembered was his work. This shows that Gregor’s character has lived under the pressure and expectations of his family, even so, he still lives it even though he never gets warm love from his family for what he has fought for for his family, but Gregor doesn’t complain about it.
Because the work that is never finished has an effect on him, making him feel lonely and isolated, and making him think about his obligations rather than himself, thus arousing the reader’s sympathy.
Worried about Gregor’s condition, the mother checked her son’s condition and found that his figure had now been transformed into an insect. Mrs. Samsa was hysterical when she saw her son who was not in human form. When Gregor appeared, now transformed into an insect, his father immediately became angry. He was thrown with a newspaper and chased away with a stick by his father.
The excerpt from the novel above seems to illustrate to readers how human attitudes can change quickly if they see something different from them. Remembering that before he changed, Gregor was just an ordinary man who they were always proud of and who was the Samsa family ‘s hope in paying off the debts left by Mr. Samsa.
This change sounds strange and impossible, but there is a meaning behind Gregor’s change, which is a metaphorical depiction of the loss of human values due to an exploitative work system.. This symbolizes alienation, the fading of self – identity, and the bitter reality that humans are often only valued for their usefulness or economic function.
The transformation of Gregor’s body from human to insect makes this story interesting and makes this character unique, even though it sounds absurd and beyond logic, this change does not make Gregor act like an insect because he still has emotions and thoughts like a human.
Gregor’s body changes are not just physical changes, but are a symbol of human alienation in modern society and it is clearly depicted how he is isolated just because of physical changes. Not only that , this change is also a symbol that humans have limits, whether because of death or deep pain until they are helpless and only become a burden for the family they leave behind, but people often forget this.
Even though Gregor is now unable to support his family because of his physical limitations, Gregor still thinks and worries about the challenges his family will face because their only hope cannot be relied on. But Gregor’s father’s attitude towards him changes , which is clearly shown when Mr. Samsa tortures and drives Gregor back into his room..
One day Gregor woke up with rotten food lying on the floor of his room, a gift from his younger sister. Shows readers that at first, Grete still wanted to care for Gregor, who was now an insect. Bring food, clean the room and he will hide under the sofa until his little sister is finished.
This fragment of the novel describes Gregor’s attitude, who still cares and loves Grete. It also shows that Gregor still has human consciousness even though his body has been transformed into a gigantic insect .
But not long after the transformation, Gregor began to show his attitude as an insect, he preferred to be alone in dark places or just crawl onto room ceilings and walls. Learning about her brother’s drastic change made Grete invite her mother to move Gregor’s belongings so he could move freely.
But that’s where the misunderstanding started, Gregor was thrown apples by his father when he approached his mother , who fainted when she saw Gregor’s current form.
This scene shows how Gregor slowly loses his position as a human in the eyes of Samsa family. Although Gregor still has feelings and care for his mother, his family only sees his scary exterior. The apples that thrown by the father can also be interpreted as a symbol of the family ‘s rejection and hatred towards Gregor because he’s no longer human. Because of this , Gregor’s story feels tragic and makes him a very memorable character for readers and the story felt so close to the reality.
The apples thrown by Mr. Samsa is not just an object intended to hurt Gregor but a symbol and also symbolizes the family’s rejection of him. The wound continues to remain until the end of the story, as if to show that the emotional pain that Gregor received never truly healed and continues to haunt him and always stuck into his body.
Grete slowly gets fed up with her brother’s presence, especially because his presence make the apartment tenants complain about how Samsa’s family can’t keep it clean and threatens not to pay the rent as they just saw Gregor insect body.
Even though at first Mr. Samsa rejected the daughter’s suggestion to expel Gregor, in the end Mr. Samsa agreed to this after being convinced by Grete. Here it is clearly seen how Grete’s attitude has changed, initially she was the only one who cared about her brother, fed him, cleaned his room, but all of that slowly faded when Gregor was considered a burden on the family. This social criticism is what makes Gregor’s story still relevant today.
Gregor is known for his life story which is relatable to readers, the pressures of life and feelings of loneliness are the keys to explaining why his figure can make readers feel emotionally connected. Not only that, he is also famous for his emotional conflict with his father, as well as the deep meaning conveyed in the novel that readers can imagine it.
Many readers believe that Franz Kafka’s life influenced the creation of the figure of Gregor Samsa in the novel The Methamorphosis. The point above can be proven by the author’s complicated relationship with his family, especially his father, even Kafka often felt depressed and isolated. Franz Kafka’s father was a successful businessman, he had the desire to see his son follow in his footsteps, but this did not happened, Franz Kafka chose his own path by writing this novel and few others, little bit of a fact, Franz Kafka is forbidden for his novel cover to has cockroach picture on it but his friend didn’t hear what he said and keep using cockroach on cover.
These feelings can be seen in Gregor’s character , especially when his family starts to distance themselves from him after his transformation into a giant insect and becoming a burden on the family .
In conclusion, Gregor Samsa is a very memorable character because his life story depicts suffering, isolation and the fragility of human relationships in depth… His transformation into an insect is not only a physical change, but also a symbol of how a person can lose their identity and self-esteem when they are no longer considered useful by their surroundings . Through the various conflicts that Gregor experiences, readers can see how work pressure, family demands and loneliness that can affect a person’s life.
Beside from that,Gregor’s character feels very human even though his form changes into a terrible creature. He still cares about his family, especially his mother and sister. However, as time went by , his family began to distance and reject him. This makes Gregor’s story feel tragic and emotional for readers. Many scenes in the novel show that the emotional pain is often more painful than the physical injuries Gregor experiences through the stories that make readers feel shympathy .
Through The Metamorphosis, Franz Kafka succeeded in creating characters that were not only unique, but also full of symbolic meaning.. Gregor Samsa is a representation of humans who feel isolated in modern life. For this reason, to this day Gregor is still remembered as one of the most tragic and memorable characters in the world of literature .
Apart from having a deep theme, this novel also makes readers rethink the way humans treat other people. When Gregor was still working and helping the family financially, he was considered important and appreciated. But after he was no longer able to work, his family began to see him as a burden . This situation shows that human relationships are sometimes influenced by benefits and interests. Social criticism like this is what makes the character of Gregor Samsa feel realistic and leaves a deep impression..
Another reason why Gregor Samsa is a very memorable character is because many readers can relate to the emotional suffering he experiences. Although most people will not experience physical changes like Gregor, many people understand the feeling of being isolated, not understood or treated differently by those around them . Gregor’s loneliness becomes increasingly painful when his family slowly begins to lose their sense of concern for him.This makes readers feel pity and at the same time reflect on the importance of empathy and attention in human relationships.
Beside from that, Gregor’s story can also be seen as a criticism of modern society. Before turning into an insect, Gregor worked very hard to provide for his family. But after he was no longer able to work, his family began to see him as a burden that they trying get rid off. This situation shows that humans are often rewarded based on their benefits and productivity, not based on their feelings or humanity . Through Gregor’s suffering, Franz Kafka shows how the pressures of life and social demands can make someone feel like they have lost their own identity.
The atmosphere in the novel is also one of the reasons why Gregor’s character is difficult to forget . The story is filled with discomfort, sadness, and emotional tension that keeps the reader thinking about Gregor’s fate.. Even though Gregor can no longer communicate well , readers can still understand his thoughts and emotions. This makes Gregor still feel human even though his form has changed into a terrible creature .
At the end, Gregor Samsa became a memorable character not only because of his strange transformation, but also because of the deep meaning behind his life story. Gregor’s experiences illustrate loneliness, rejection, sacrifice, and the human desire to be accepted by others.. Because of this, to this day Gregor Samsa is still remembered as one of the most tragic and memorable characters in the world of literatures .
By: Azka Nafsi Zakiya
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