The Metamorphosis By Franz Kafka

Written in 1915, Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis has led to a plethora of academic discussion derived from both the metaphorical and literal meanings of the story. One of the most prominent ideas displayed in Kafka’s work is the focus on alienation, societal norms, and how they are skewed, and dehumanization. Kafka takes the last idea to an extreme, paranormal even, as he transforms his main character, Gregor Samsa, into a giant insect. This take on magical realism helps to aid in the idea that the constructs of alienation and dehumanization go hand in hand. However, some works take this idea in a less literal sense. In the 1995 episode of the series Homicide: Life on the Street, “Colors” a young Turkish man, Hikmet Gersel, is shot and killed, …show more content…
Although the strongest feelings of disdain come from his family, Gregor too feels quite a bit of pain and worry because of his condition. What has happened to him is what made him alien. Before his transformation, Gregor was a normal, everyday man, just trying to make a living to support his family. However, rendered almost completely handicapped, in a human sense, by his newfound condition, Gregor cannot help but feel contempt for his ailment, which is now literally all he is, and all he will be defined by. In a paper by Walter Kaufman, the degrees of alienation are thoroughly described, and one of the first discussed in his paper is a dissociation with self. Kaufman states, “Man’s loss of independence, his impoverishment, his estrangement from his fellow man, and his involvement in labour that is devoid of an originality, spontaneity or creativity are so many aspects of man’s estrangement from his true nature” (Kaufman 32). This excerpt is the epitome of what happens to Gregor in his post-transformation life. Not only does Gregor face being outcast from those he loves, claiming they cannot recognize him anymore, but he also loses himself in this battle, being totally devoid of all the things that once mattered anything to him in life. At first, it was just his job, but that he soon lost. After, his mother and sister slowly made his room less and less his. Lastly, and most importantly, he …show more content…
On a larger scale, xenophobia was the reason African Americans had to fight for their basic civil rights throughout American history. However, as seen in the episode “Colors” of the series Homicide: Life on the Street, xenophobia can exist on a much smaller, but still fatal, scale. Young Hikmet Gersel was just seventeen years old when he was shot and killed by James Bayliss. All he was trying to do was find a party, but due to a language barrier between Gersel and Bayliss, intentions were unclear. Gersel approached Bayliss’ doorstep, expecting a good time, but Bayliss took his actions as aggressive. That was when Bayliss retrieved his gun, which he claimed he was using to protect his family, and fatally shot Gersel in the chest. It would later be revealed that Bayliss’ actions were more vindictive than once thought. Throughout the course of the case, it is discovered that not only does Bayliss have past anger issues, but he also has low tolerance for foreigners. Even when his own wife is questioned, she states, “Jim can get very frustrated by people who don’t speak English very well”