4.3 Metamorphosis and Judaism
Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis narrates the bizarre tale of Gregor Samsa’s transformation into a bug and the hopeless isolation and individual quest for a meaningful existence that follows. A masterpiece of modern literature the book offers insight into the lives of assimilated Jews living in Prague. The book mirrors both the anti Semitic and the Jews’ response to …show more content…
Gregor’s isolation and the Jews’ political abandonment and persecution are intimidating. Gregor fully expresses his isolation in his response to Grete’s violin performance for the lodgers. Gregor’s family immediately perceives him as a dangerous threat when Gregor behaves like an insect or leaves his room. No one attempts to decode Gregor’s behavior in a rational manner. No one even attempts to think of Gregor as Gregor. The more the family sees of Gregor in his mutated form the more removed their son’s identity becomes as well. Kafka rather crudely points out to the Jews that no matter how they change, they will continue to be seen as vermin in these anti-Semitic