"The Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka

The novel The Metamorphosis by, Franz Kafka, consists of many short stories but the short story "The Metamorphosis" is what I am looking at. The main character, Gregor, in The Metamorphosis obviously experiences an epiphany that is sacrificial. This main character started out as a human being and over one night turned into a beetle. His life was not very interesting or joyous to begin with. He had a stressful job to which he attended everyday and was never late to his job. "The business worries are far worse than they are on the actual premises at home, and on top of that I'm saddled with the strain of all this traveling, the anxiety about train connections, the bad and irregular meals, the constant stream of changing faces with no chance of any warmer, lasting championship" (65). Gregor was not pleased with the way he was living and the way he was working. To top it all of, Gregor turned into a beetle and now his family was trying to deal with all their emotions and feelings towards him. This was very hard for him as well as his family. Coping with his emotions, Gregor tried to be part of his family and just wanted to be accepted- as hard as that was. His family, however, did not want to deal with him anymore. They just liked when he brought money home since he was responsible for doing that and now he was a beetle and locked away in his room. This became very depressing for Gregor and moreover, for his family. His sister, Grete, whom Gregor had an obsession with treated her brother as if he was unwanted. She, who helped out her brother at the beginning and tried to make him feel like part of the family, wanted Gregor to do nothing but leave. At the end of the story Gregor comes to a realization that it would be better for him as well as his whole family if he just did not exist anymore. "It was true that he felt pains all over his body, but it seemed to him that these were growing fainter and fainter and would finally pass away altogether. The rotting apple in his back and the inflamed area round it, all covered with soft dust, hardly troubled him any longer. His thoughts went back to his family with tenderness and love. His own opinion that he must disappear was if anything even firmer than his sister's. In this state of vacant and peaceful reflection he remained until the tower clock struck three in the morning. Then his head sank fill down, of its own accord, and his last faint breath ebbed out from his nostrils"(106-107). Gregor sacrifices him own self which not only satisfies him but also brings happiness to his family. "And it was like a confirmation of their new dreams and good intention when at the end of the journey their daughter was the first to rise to her feet and stretch her young body" (110). Gregor's family has now reached hapiness because they no longer have to deal with Gregor who was a burden to them, but they can focus on their daughter who is growing and blossoming.

Kafka, Franz. The Metamorphosis. New York: Penguin Books, 1992.