Compare and contrast Gogol's story with Kafka's The Metamorphosis

Analysis of the Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

The great Russian novelist Vladimir Nabokov once remarked that "if Kafka's The Metamorphosis strikes anyone as something more than an entomological fantasy, then I congratulate him on having joined the ranks of good and great readers" (source). Far be it for us to quibble with Nabokov. But you could say that Franz Kafka's story deserves its status as one of the greatest literary works of all time precisely because it's an awesome work of fantasy. It's a story about a man, Gregor Samsa, who wakes up as a gigantic, gross bug. Gregor's abrupt and unexplained transformation, along with the story's juxtaposition of everyday and fantastic elements, gives the story a dream-like quality that is enigmatically compelling (Kafka: 14).

Though difficult to interpret, an explanation can be found upon close inspection of Kafka's works. As with most of his stories, The Metamorphosis can be elucidated in several different ways. Unusual from the start, The Metamorphosis begins with Gregor Samsa's waking up transformed into a beetle. As the story progresses, Gregor appears to accept this fact fairly readily; he never stops to question how such a transformation could realistically occur.

The first part of the metaphor shows itself in metamorphosis. Out of all the things Gregor could change into, he changes into an insect. One cannot help but draw parallels between the Gregor's life and an insect's life (Kafka: 16). Most insects, especially ants and bees, have some sort of workers that provide for the rest of the group. Gregor provides for his family in much the same way as an insect would provide for its nest or hive. He sacrifices almost all aspects of fun, and does not desire to do anything but work. Eventually, his income becomes less of a generous act, and more of an expectation. His family's existence rests solely on his shoulders, just as a queen bee relies on the worker bees.

As Gregor takes it upon himself to support the household, his family grows increasingly less productive; they often offer feeble excuses why they do so little. The changes in the Samsa family go unnoticed by Gregor because he concerns himself so much with his work, and stops expecting financial help from them. One can imagine that this newfound responsibility could grow to be somewhat irritating; and eventually Gregor cannot handle it any longer. He finally realizes that he serves as an insect that carries out his family's work in order for them to continue living lazily. Thus the metamorphosis occurs (Kafka: 19).

Secondly, the story also appears to be a metaphor that describes communication in the Samsa family. As Gregor's paychecks become increasingly more expected, his family begins to view him as less of a person, except for his sister. When Gregor does not awake in time for work, his mother first informs him that he will be late. She does not become worried about something being wrong until a little later ...