What is an alienation-related quote from The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka?
Fairly early in the story, Gregor manages to get himself out of bed after the attorney comes from his office to inquire after him. Up to this point in the story, Gregor has repeatedly railed against the injustice of his work situation and reflected on his distaste for travel, for his boss and for his co-workers.
When the attorney arrives and accuses Gregor of a poor performance at work, Gregor gets out of bed and makes an attempt to open the bedroom door.
"He really wanted to let himself be seen by and to speak with the attorney. He was eager to see what the others, who were making such demands of him, would say once they caught a glimpse of him."
This episode points to Gregor's wish to be seen and to be seen for who he is - in all of his pathos - as a person who is suffering but willing to work through the suffering (according to his own take on his character).
Unseen and under-appreciated, Gregor is alienated from his family and his work associates. Despite his efforts to be seen and to clarify his position, Gregor is unable to open the door. The attorney does not understand Gregor's speech.
"All right, people did not understand his words any more, although they seemed clear enough to him, clearer than before..."
Alone in comprehending himself, Gregor is alienated from those around him even before they see his transformation. In this episode, everyone still believes that Gregor is merely ill (or, equally likely, merely lazy). His physical appearance is not yet responsible for his alienation or his treatment by others.
As the story moves on, Gregor's isolation increases. He is distanced from his sister, the one person who made a real effort to connect with Gregor and to understand him. But we can see from these early passages that Gregor's alienation is present at the story's outset.
Further Reading
What is an alienation-related quote from The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka?
The following quotes speak to the theme of alienation in Kafka's The Metamorphosis:
Constantly sees new faces, no relationships that last or get more intimate.
This quote speaks to the fact that no matter how many people Gregor comes in contact with, he is unable to create any type of relationship at all. He will forever be alienated from all others.
[H]is hand pressed over his open mouth slowly backing away, as if repulsed by an invisible, unrelenting force.
This quote recognizes the fact that people react to Gregor with an almost uncontrolled force to get away from him.
Likewise the ash can and the garbage can from the kitchen. Whatever was not being used at the moment was just flung into Gregor's room by the cleaning woman.
Here, one can see the fact that Gregor has become dehumanized by the fact that his room has become a garbage can. No longer considered human, Gregor is trash like the rubbish thrown into his room.
All of the quotes above point to the fact that Gregor lives, through his hand or not, a life defined through alienation.
Where is alienation depicted in The Metamorphosis?
Alienation is a state of feeling out of sync with one's life, job, or activities—the feeling that one is not doing what would bring satisfaction, growth, and meaning to life.
When Gregor Samsa wakes up as an insect early in the story but hasn't quite fully absorbed what has happened, he dwells with dread on his job. He loathes it and feels alienated from it. First, it makes him feel isolated and alone. He reacts angrily to it, not wanting to get out out of bed. He says to himself,
contact with different people all the time so that you can never get to know anyone or become friendly with them. It can all go to Hell!
He then expresses his sense of dissatisfaction and repressed rage by stating to himself,
If I didn't have my parents to think about I'd have given in my notice a long time ago, I'd have gone up to the boss and told him just what I think, tell him everything I would, let him know just what I feel.
Gregor's work situation aligns almost perfectly with Marx's concept that the worker is alienated from his work in a capitalist system. Gregor derives no satisfaction from what he does: it is merely a way of selling his time to gain money. He is a wage slave who plans to quit the first moment he can. He feels exploited and unappreciated.
Gregor's metamorphosis into an insect is an outward expression of his inner feelings of dehumanization and alienation. He feels that he has no more value than an insect, so he literally becomes one. As he becomes aware that he can no longer earn money and has become nothing but a burden to his resentful family, he becomes alienated from them as well.
What are the effects of alienation from self and society in The Metamorphosis?
In Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis, Gregor Samsa is alienated from himself as well as from society.
Gregor is a traveling salesman who spends almost all of his time working to pay off his parents' debt. He hates his job and wishes he could quit. He is sleep-deprived, overworked, and unhappy with his life.
Due to his all-consuming job, Gregor is alienated from himself and others. He does not have time for personal enjoyment. He is constantly working and therefore does not have time to pursue his own goals or enjoy hobbies. He is isolated from society because he is always traveling and cannot establish meaningful relationships with others. The relationships he does form are fleeting and superficial because he is always on the move and is never in one place long enough to truly connect with others. He cuts out a picture of a random woman from a magazine and puts it in a picture frame because he is not close to anyone in his life. His only consistent human contacts are his parents, sister, and boss—none of whom he is close with.
As a result of being alienated from himself and others, Gregor becomes depressed and lonely. He is bored and frustrated with the monotony of his job and life. He is tired of having no time for himself and barely enough time to sleep. He longs to form meaningful connections with people. He is akin to an automaton, mindlessly, joylessly, and robotically going through the motions of daily life.
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