The Metamorphosis - Experiencing Racism

            I think we can all agree that the story of the Metamorphosis has very little chance of happening in real life. Unless quantum mechanics goes berserk, none of us will probably ever have to worry about waking up and realizing that we have metamorphosed into some kind of despicable vermin – insectoid or otherwise. What makes this novella unique, however, is that once we accept the premise that Gregor Samsa has turned into a “monstrous insect,” the rest of the story follows quite logically and realistically. In fact, Gregor’s experiences after his metamorphosis felt oddly familiar to me, as if I had heard such stories before. It took me a while to figure out why, until recently I realized that I had read many stories like this throughout my academic career, each one slightly varied, but always along the same lines. Gregor’s life as an insect is uncannily similar to the lives of people in minority groups in our inherently prejudiced culture.

            The parallels begin on the very morning that he mutates. As he tries to get out of bed, he does not seem to think that being an insect will hinder his ability to be a travelling salesman at all – the fact that his appearance is not like anyone else’s does not mean that his mind and personality are any different. When other people see him, however, even his parents, they are repulsed. All they see is what he looks like on the outside, someone different and untrustworthy – someone who they should leave alone and not mix with. The next incident occurs a few hours or so later. For the first time in five years, he is a little bit late to get to work, and immediately the chief clerk comes knocking at the door, asking what is wrong with him. One would think that out of all the employees at the firm, there would be at least a few who were late, and who would have worse track records than Gregor, and yet it is the chief clerk himself who comes to check on him. Why? Even though he has been one of the most faithful workers at the firm, his employers don’t trust him solely because he works for a purpose different from everyone else’s – to repay his father’s debt. As the story goes on, such incidents continue to occur, with his father throwing apples at him, his sister not caring enough to give him the food he wants, and finally with the three lodgers who refuse to pay the Samsas when they discover that they had been living alongside Gregor.

            By this point, Gregor, being of very practical disposition, had mostly accepted the effect his appearance had on others, but as with everyone who has to endure such callous and unwarranted torment, it took a toll on him, and he became depressed. The sheer savage power of racism had caused him to be so shamed and mistreated that eventually, the man who had once worked incessantly and tirelessly to support his entire family was broken, and he had no energy left to do anything but lay down and die.