The Importance of Unconditional Love in a Family Unit
Isolation and dehumanization are two of the most embedded fears experienced by humans. As members of a society, it is essential for humans to identify themselves as a part of a social group, especially as part of a family unit. Within a family unit, it is essential for each member to care for one another so that each member can properly function in society. "The Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka demonstrates that when family members do not properly care for one another, one member is prone to experience a state of isolation, leading to a condition of dehumanization, resulting in a lack of unconditional love. In Kafka's novella, he uses structure through narrative perspective and syntax to reflect the state of isolation that the protagonist Gregor feels from his family. Kafka also uses symbolism to exhibit Gregor's condition of dehumanization, and through Gregor's death scene, Kafka uses imagery to portray a peaceful and accepting loss. Through Kafka's use of narrative perspective, syntax, symbolism and imagery, "The Metamorphosis" emerges into a tale that uses a person's state of isolation and dehumanization to entail the importance of love within a family structure.
Kafka's use of a third person narrative reflects Gregor's state of isolation. As the story is told in third person, the readers are restricted to experience Gregor's point of view which mirrors Gregor's restriction to society. Gregor has been socially excluded from humanity, remaining in a state of isolation. Since the people involved in his life isolate him, they do not give him a chance to speak for himself. Due to the restrictions of a third person narrative, the reader is unable to fully grasp how Gregor truly feels about his metamorphosis. This parallelism between the third person narrative perspective and Gregor's character reflects his isolation as Gregor is isolated from revealing his innermost thoughts to the reader, just as his...