The main character of The Metamorphosis is Gregor Samsa, a traveling salesman who exemplifies--to an extent--the alienation of the 20th century man. Gregor isn't much of a character, he is a depressed, unsure man still living at home trying to single handedly provide for a domineering father, a bourgeois mother and a younger sister with no visible job skills. It reaches a point where Gregor finds it impossible to go on, and in that moment he \creates something for himself; a reason not to.
The story opens and the reader finds that Gregor has already turned into a bug. Rather than be concerned, Gregor worries about his job and describes not being able to get out of bed. The 20th century man: concerned about his job even though he hates it and may feel trapped.
Gregor is ruled by a domineering father who pretends to be ill but isn't. In fact, upon discovering Gregor's transformation he shoves Gregor through a door wounding him and later on lames Gregor with an apple. In fact, by the end Gregor's father has picked himself up and gone on to become mildly successful while Gregor sits and dies of misery and loneliness. The 20th century man: feeling unable to live up to expected ideals of a "man," i.e.: someone who can just deal and get on with it.
The 20th century man, by Kafka's hints, has a forceful father, works hard for almost nothing and feels very little love from his family leading to depression, sickness then death. Kafka, often described as cynical, is in actuality, very much so. That the 20th century man has no hope for a brighter future is exemplified in this novella. One can either become the father or the son, perhaps Kafka even viewed this in a religious context? In the end though, The Metamorphosis is nothing but a depressing, lonely novel wherein the reader has the opportunity to watch the main character on his downward spiral into madness then death.
Copyright Ayleeandra Rowan, nothing presented here may be used without the author's express permission.