International E-publication: Publish Projects, Dissertation, Theses, Books, Souvenir, Conference Proceeding with ISBN. 

Bound by Blood, Broken by Burden: an Account of Devotion, Duty, and Disintegration in Franz Kafka’s the Metamorphosis

Author Affiliations

  • 1Department of English, Khalsa College for Women, Civil Lines, Ludhiana, Punjab, India

Res. J. Language and Literature Sci., Volume 13, Issue (2), Pages 7-15, May,19 (2026)

Abstract

Franz Kafka’s the Metamorphosis presents a poignant exploration of duty, devotion, and the gradual disintegration of familial bonds through the life of Gregor Samsa. This paper interprets Gregor’s transformation not simply as a physical change but as a symbolic extension of his alienated existence as the self-sacrificing provider of the Samsa family. Prior to his metamorphosis, Gregor dutifully endures an exhausting occupation to repay his father’s debts and secure his family’s comfort, while secretly nurturing aspirations for his sister Grete’s future. Even after his transformation, Gregor’s emotional devotion remains unchanged, and Grete initially responds with remarkable empathy by caring for him, providing food, and protecting him from complete exclusion. Her actions reflect a profound sibling bond that persists despite fear and uncertainty. However, as the family’s financial condition worsens, external pressures increase, and their domestic space is shared with lodgers, Gregor’s presence begins to disrupt everyday life and social order. The terror experienced by the lodgers upon encountering Gregor intensifies the family’s sense of shame and inconvenience. Gradually, Gregor is perceived less as a family member and more as a burden, whose existence threatens stability and survival. This shift culminates in the family’s desire to free themselves from him, underscoring Kafka’s critique of relationships strained by utility, obligation, and social conformity.

References

  1. Kafka, F. (2024)., The metamorphosis (D. Wyllie, Trans.)., Leadstart Publishing Pvt. Ltd. ISBN: 978-93-5883-641-7
  2. Kafka, F. (2003)., The metamorphosis and other stories (S. Corngold, Trans.)., Penguin Classics. ISBN: 978-0-14-018862-0
  3. Bloom, H. (Ed.). (2010)., Franz Kafka’s The metamorphosis., Infobase Publishing. ISBN: 978-1-60413-681-1
  4. Gray, R. (1974)., Kafka’s Castle. Cambridge University Press., ISBN: 978-0-521-09868-6
  5. Corngold, S. (1988)., Kafka’s Die Verwandlung: Metamorphosis of the metaphor., Modern Language Quarterly, 49(1), 23–38.
  6. Sokel, W. H. (1964)., From Marx to myth: The structure and function of self-alienation in Kafka’s Metamorphosis., Literature and Psychology, 14(1), 3–21.
  7. Aizaz, G. (2024)., Existential isolation and identity crisis in The Metamorphosis: An exploration of Gregor Samsa’s transformation and alienation., Indus Journal of Social Sciences, 2(2), 702–712.
  8. Sharif, H., & Parveen, I. (2024)., Exploring alienation and identity crisis: Analysis of Gregor Samsa’s human and verminous existence in Franz Kafka’s Metamorphosis., Panacea Journal of Linguistics and Literature, 2(2), 357–367.
  9. Jannet, F. F. (2023)., A sense of depression of the protagonist in Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis: A study., DS Journal of Language, Linguistics and Literature, 1(3), 1–8.
  10. Mohammed, M. K. (2025)., Human existence in Kafka’s The Metamorphosis., Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 12, Article 101701.
  11. Barfi, Z., Azizmohammadi, F., & Kohzadi, H. (2013)., A study of Kafka’s The Metamorphosis in the light of Freudian psychological theory., Research Journal of Recent Sciences, 2(10), 107–109.
  12. Ali, M., Ali, N., Farid, S., Ahmad, S., & Sheeza, M. S. (2025)., A review on Kafka’s existential vision in Metamorphosis: Trapped between identity and absurdity., The Critical Review of Social Sciences Studies, 3(2), 1581–1593.