illustration of a giant insect with the outline of a man in a suit standing within the confines of the insect

The Metamorphosis

by Franz Kafka

Start Free Trial

Student Question

How do existentialist values appear in The Metamorphosis and another piece of your choice, and what messages about existentialism do they convey?

Quick answer:

The existentialist values in Kafka's The Metamorphosis suggest a comparison with The Stranger by Albert Camus. In both works, the protagonist is a single man who is alienated from society and dies at the end. In Kafka’s work, Gregor is dehumanized by turning into a beetle, and his family’s increasing hostility results in his death. In Camus’s novel, Meursault loses his humanity by killing another man, and society punishes him with execution.

Expert Answers

An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

Alienation from society is one of the values most closely associated with existentialism. In many works of existentialist literature, the main character is more of an anti-hero than a traditional hero. Often through no fault of their own, this person becomes increasingly distanced from society. This separation may be physical, emotional, or psychological, or a combination of numerous dimensions. Alienation may divide the person from their family, friends, work, and larger social institutions. The sense of profound separation often includes a feeling of indifference toward others and doubts about their own self-worth.

In Franz Kafka’s Metamorphosis , Gregor Samsa awakens to find himself physically transformed into a giant insect. He is literally dehumanized. As the novella progresses, the reader learns that Gregor had already felt alienated from his family and his work, in part because he frequently traveled away from home, but also through his questioning the value of...

Unlock
This Answer Now

Start your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.

Get 48 Hours Free Access

the products he sold. As his transformation renders him unable to work, he learns that his family cared more for the income he brought in than for him as a person. His physical separation from his family and employers increases as his self-esteem diminishes. Ultimately, his family’s combined disdain and physical attacks cause his death by starvation and neglect.

Meursault, the central character in Albert Camus’s The Stranger, begins the novel by losing his family as he reflects on the death of his mother. His inability to grieve for her is a marker of his emotional alienation. While Meursault continues to work and interact with his peer group, including sexual encounters with a woman, he shows little concern for the job or enjoyment of his relationships. This alienation culminates in his committing a murder.

Meursault’s dehumanization, while not literal like Gregor’s, is profound in that killing the Arab shows his disconnection from other humans. He cannot even get very interested in his own defense. Meursault also dies at the end, punished by society rather than his family, but like Gregor, he does not question the validity of this outcome.

Approved by eNotes Editorial