There are many themes in The Metamorphosis. Many to think about and explore.

 

Isolation seems to be the most obvious and pronounced theme in the Metamorphosis. In the beginning of the story Gregor explains how he dislikes his job. In this rant he exclaims he has “contact with different people all the time so that you can never get to know anyone or become friendly with them.“ This shows how he feels alone, with no relations outside his family. Even his family does not show too great of concern for his condition.

 

Another theme present in Kafka's story was family isolation and dysfunction.Throughout the novella, the family mainly only shows distaste for has condition, not pity nor sympathy. In the end of part one, it is shown that Gregor doesn’t get any affection, only distaste and scowls. He was brutalised by his family even before his family knew what was going on.“Then his father gave him a hefty shove from behind which released him from where he was held and sent him flying, and heavily bleeding, deep into his room. The door was slammed shut with the stick, then, finally, all was quiet.” They wouldn’t even give him the time of day after they knew what happened. His family called Gregor an “it” not a “him” whenever he was mentioned in conversation, as shown in part three where Gregor's sister said "We have to try and get rid of it".

Metamorphosis seems to be very relevant and pronounced in the story. Throughout the book he changes, both physically and mentally. In the beginning of the book he has the change of becoming a vermin. This is the first major change of the entire book. It is the change that begins all of the other changes. In the beginning of part two gregor loses his taste for typical food, and instead seems to enjoy the taste of waste.His movements also began to change, as shown in part two where the story says “he got into the habit of crawling up and down the walls and ceiling.” Mentally Gregor also seems to be losing certain human values, shown in the middle of part two where Gregor thinks “That would have let him crawl around unimpeded in any direction, but it would also have let him quickly forget his past when he had still been human.” in response to his room being cleared out.