Essay on Indifference in Franz Kafkas The Metamorphosis

Killing Indifference in The Metamorphosis    Even before the beginning of the story, each member of the Samsa family in Franz Kafka ¹s Metamorphosis serves a specific purpose. Gregor Samsa, the tragic protagonist of the story, performs his job with routine precision. It is this role as a provider that sustains his relationship to his family. But at the onset of the story, Gregor is inexplicably transformed into a  ³gigantic insect. ² (p.67) In addition to jeopardizing his role in both society and work, this transformation severely effects his relationship with his family. The consequent indifference, alienation, and finally hatred that he elicits from his family is the source of his demise. For without the emotional sustenance and the essential role within the family that Gregor had occupied previous to his metamorphosis, he is not able to sustain life.    Even after Gregor has become an insect, his initial reaction is not one of alarm. Surprisingly, his first response is to devise some sort of plan to secure his job and hence his role in the family. The only call to urgency that interrupts his  ³cool reflection ² is the arrival of the chief clerk (p.73). Accordingly, Gregor laments his fate of  ³being condemned to work for a firm where the smallest omission can give rise to the highest suspicion ² (p.74). It is as if he would most likely entirely overlook his more immediate and pressing condition of being an insect if it did not impede his ability to go to work. Gregor, in fact, finally risks bodily harm only due to the  ³agitation ² he feels over the thought of his parents becoming unsettled by their son ¹s tardiness and the pres... ... ² implores Grete to her father while she is persuading him to exterminate the bug(p.125).    But the damage is already done. The Samsa family ¹s exclusion of Gregor is what causes his demise. Even though the description of his death does involve physical characteristics, it is Gregor ¹s memory of his family that effects him the most. During his final moments, he describes the apple which is embedded in his back as  ²...hardly troubl[ing] him ²(p.127). He then proceeds to  ³[think] of his family with tenderness and love ² (p.127). This thought process represents Gregor ¹s need to be at peace with the family of which he was such an integral part prior to his metamorphosis. For without the love and affection and nurture that Gregor both provided and received, he is forced to succumb to his physical demise.