The theme of power and subordination in Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis is most notable in the shift that occurs between Gregor and his family after Gregor transforms into a giant insect. Prior to his transformation, Gregor played the role as the sole earner for his family. Money is directly related to power in this story because when Gregor was the one earning, he was the head of the household and made the decisions.
For example, he wanted to send his sister Grete to a conservatory to study violin-an endeavor that would undoubtedly cost a lot of money. When Gregor becomes a bug, overnight his life goes from being meaningful and fulfilling to having no purpose. Despite the fact that Gregor despises his job, it gives him a sense of authority and control in his otherwise dead-end life.
Following Gregor’s metamorphosis and the subsequent loss of his job, the power in the story is shifted to the other members of his family, and Gregor becomes subordinate and inferior to them and has to rely on their care and ability to earn money. In particular, the power is transferred to Gregor’s father, who after getting a job and regaining control as the patriarch in the family becomes “Mr. Samsa” -a slight change in the way Kafka refers to him that speaks volumes about his newfound authority. Additionally, Mr. Samsa’s appearance changes from disheveled and unkempt suddenly being very groomed.
His previously overlooked height is also pointed out, furthering the idea that he now holds the power in the family. This change in Mr. Samsa’s appearance is described right before he begins to attack Gregor with fruit in a display of self-assurance brought on by working again. This act is what ultimately leads to Gregor’s death, and his final act of subordination towards his newly powerful family. Even Grete, who brings her brother food and is the one character who the reader thinks will stand by Gregor ultimately uses her power against him.
Since Gregor can no longer care for himself, he had to rely on Grete to bring him food and other necessities. In this instance, Grete was even displaying power over her parents, who were incapable of dealing with the idea that their only son had become a bug. She is the one who ultimately decides that it is pointless to continue to care for Gregor since his situation is not improving. In a conversation with her parents Grete states, “It has to go, It’s the only way, Father. You must just try to get out of the habit of thinking it’s Gregory.
That’s been our undoing, in he would long ago have seen the impossibility of people living in the same house as such an animal and would have gone away of his own accord. In which case we would have no brother but could as least go on living and could honor his memory.” (1995) Grete is using the power and influence that she has over her parents, and when they all concede that Grete is right she goes and bolts Gregor’s door shut, leaving him to die. In the end, it is not Gregor’s status as a bug that kills him but a series of events brought on by his lack of power.
Although Mr. Samsa’s attack on Gregor and Grete’s eventual neglect play a role, Gregor no longer sees a reason to continue living a monotonous, powerless life. Gregor has become someone he hated, like the “spineless, mindless” office boy. The themes of power and subordination that are represented in The Metamorphosis are reflected in each family member’s physical or emotional transformations.
