Bring out the tragic and comic elements in “The Metamorphosis.”

Answer

Bring out the tragic and comic elements in “The Metamorphosis.” [NU: 2019]

Franz Kafka’s (1883–1924) “The Metamorphosis” (1915) is both sad and strange. It mixes tragic pain and comic absurdity. The story is about Gregor Samsa. He is a travelling salesman. He wakes up one morning as a bug. It shows the cruelty of life. It also shows dark humor in daily struggles. The family’s apartment, the office pressure, and Gregor’s suffering give us both laughter and tears.

Tragic Elements

Loss of Identity as a Salesman: Before Gregor turns into an insect, his life is already very sad. Gregor Samsa works hard as a travelling salesman. He says,

“Oh, God … What a strenuous career it is that I’ve chosen!”

His job makes him very tired. He doesn’t have time for friends or fun. Gregor sacrifices everything for his family. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Samsa, depend on him for financial support. His sister, Grete, also benefits from his hard work. However, they don’t appreciate his efforts. When Gregor turns into an insect and can no longer work, his family rejects him. This is a sad part of Gregor’s life.

Transformation into a Vermin: When Gregor turns into an insect, his tragedy becomes even worse. He is no longer part of society or even his family. His family becomes distant and neglectful. At first, his sister Grete helps him, but soon she gets tired. She says,

“We have to try and get rid of it.”

She stops seeing him as her brother and starts calling him “it.” She decides they must get rid of Gregor. This is a heartbreaking moment. The family rejects him. It shows how alone he has become.

Gregor’s Death: The story ends with Gregor’s death. He dies alone in his room. The cleaner shouts, 

“It’s dead, just lying there, stone dead!”

His family doesn’t mourn his death. Instead, they feel relieved. They quickly move on and