In Franz Kafka's "Metamorphosis" Gregor Samsa lives a bug like existence before he morphs into one. Gregor is overworked, and drained physically and mentally from his high stress, demanding job. To make Gregor's work life even more difficult, his boss is a very demanding man, and Gregor's parents owe him money, which is specifically why he works for him. The morning Gregor awakens and finds he has morphed into a bug, begins to put his life into a new perspective. He becomes aware of how under-appreciated he is by his parents and his sister. His family tries to accept this new form of Gregor but eventually treat him as a nuisance, causing him to isolate himself from the family. Kafka illustrates how before Gregor's transformation, he was already living like a bug. Gregor begins to feel alienated from his family since he hardly spends anytime with them due to his strenuous work weeks. Gregor was the primary source of income, something his family was used to, when the metamorphosis occurred, he was unable to work. Gregor's inability to work caused his family to on him, leaving Gregor feeling hopeless and depressed. The Samsa's allow boarders into their home. The family is diligent in keeping the boarders from seeing Gregor. Eventually Gregor is seen by the boarders, this causes a rift in the situation, and the Samsas are left examining Gregor's existence. Gregor hears his family describing the difficulties in living he has caused them. The next morning Gregor dies.
Gregor's transformation causes him to alienate himself from his family. Not only is he unable to communicate with his family, but he is no longer human. Gregor keeps himself isolated form humanity, and he begins to examine his life, and how the constant traveling for work kept him from forming and strengthening relationships. As Gregor continues to look back on his life, he recalls the feelings of pride he once felt by supporting his family, and remembers those feelings fading once his family expected him to provide for them. Gregor, was in a sense, alienated all along, work kept him physically away from family, and once the transformation occurred he was both physically and psychologically alienated.
