Change is a major theme throughout Franz Kafkas novella, The Metamorphosis. There is a
significant relationship between the title, The Metamorphosis, and the theme of change.
Kafkas main character, Gregor Samsa, undergoes many changes and his transformation
evokes change in his family.
Several metamorphosis take place involving Gregor. First, a physical change occurs
“When Gregor Samsa woke up one morning from unsettling dreams, he found himself
changed in his bed into a monstrous vermin.”After that happened, Gregors voice changes
from human into the voice of a bug.”That was the voice of an animal,” Gregors manager
said, but the words seemed perfectly clear to him. Beginning to see things less and less,
Gregor experiences a change in his vision. An example, found on page 29, would be
Gregor seeing the hospital less and less distinctly. A mental change in Gregor occurs when
he starts not caring about or having no consideration for his family. “It hardly surprised
him that he was showing so little consideration for the others; once such consideration had
been his greatest pride.”
Everyone in the Samsa family experiences changes brought on by Gregors metamorphosis.
Since Gregors physical change renders him no longer able to work, the familys financial
situation changes. Gregors mother, father, and sister have to get jobs. Mrs. Samsa, Gregors
mother, sews lingerie for a local clothing store. His sister, who took a job as a salesgirl to
help the family, also learns French in the evening so she might get a better position in the
future. Mr. Samsa, Gregors father, takes a job as a messenger for banking institutions.