It is very peculiar -to say the least- to open a book and the first line describing the main character waking up as a life sized insect. Most authors tends to use symbolism to relate to the theme of their books, but the author of “The Metamorphosis,” Franz Kafka uses a different method. He uses a method that utilize all aspects and elements of the story to be uses of interpretation. In the novella “The Metamorphosis”, it employs symbols, imagery, and settings to emphasize that a family with equally-shared responsibilities is more effective in maintaining a positive home- loving atmosphere. In the usage of symbols, Kafka illustrates that an imbalance in family responsibility results in hatred and resentment in the end. In Part I of the novella, …show more content…
When the financial stability of the family shifts onto Mr. Samsa’s shoulders alone in Part II, a familiar tone of resentment and instability is seen when Mr. Samsa immediately “put the worst interpretation on Grete’s all-too-brief announcement and assumed that Gregor was guilty of some outrage” (page 58). As seen in the beginning, the weight of finance on a single person once again results in bitterness and anger. With Mr. Samsa now being the only person providing income to the family, he experiences the same fatigue and bitterness as Gregor, leading him to act impulsively and abruptly by throwing apples at Gregor and injuring him severely. The image of his outrage clearly exemplifies the hostility that he develops from being the only provider. A change in financial responsibility for all family members in the end leads to a “closer examination that these weren’t bad at all, for all three positions—about which they had never really asked one another in any detail—were exceedingly advantageous and especially promising for the future” (page 79). This quote focuses on the potential improvement of the family when they all contribute to the family’s income. This newfound hope develops a glowing image of the family’s situation as a result of contributions from them all. To convince the readers of the importance of equal responsibility among family members, Kafka …show more content…
When Gregor is the only person who is the only one getting an income for the family, the weather is described when “Gregor’s eyes then turned to the window, and the overcast weather--he could hear raindrops hitting against the metal window ledge--completely depressed him” (page 17). A depressing image of the setting is expressed through the illustration of the rain and overcast through the window. In contrast, after Gregor’s death, when the Samsa family finally unites, the weather changes to: “The car, in which they were the only passengers, was completely filled with warm sunshine” (page 88). This sudden transformation of the weather suggests that a family with the balance of duties and responsibilities is a prerequisite to a happy family environment. Through his portrayal of the weather, Kafka correlates the mood and weather of the story to the current family status of the Samsas to show that stability and equality is critical in a family. The setting has a tremendous affect on what happens in the story. It is a mistake to ignore such a powerful tool (Mark O’ Bannon); Kafka is able to use the setting to create a different mood when a major impact