Card Report Analysis for Frank Kafka's The Metamorphosis

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Card Report Analysis
Story Title: The Metamorphosis (1915)
Author: Franz Kafka (1883-1924)
Main Character: Gregor Samsa: Gregor Samsa is a hardworking and travelling salesman who wakes up to find he has turned into a giant insect. He is increasingly alienated and isolated by his family till his death.
Other Characters: The other family members (the father; Mr. Samsa, the sister, Grete Samsa, the mother, Mrs. Samsa and the Charwoman) of Gregor who continuously alienate him since he turned into an insect.
Setting: The setting is a small urban apartment in a European city.
Narrator: The story is told from a third person point of view but the identity is not revealed. However , he mostly describes the events in the story from Gregor’s perspective.
Summary: Gregor is a travelling salesman who wakes up one day to find that he has turned into a giant Vermin. He struggles to cope with his situation and hopes that it is temporary. When his workmate and family discover him, they are scared and lock him up in his room. His sister, Grete, is sympathetic and tries to feed him and make his living conditions more comfortable. His father, Mr. Samsa, resents him and his actions towards him often leave him injured. The family tries to find ways to sustain themselves as they look for work. Despite his sister's initial attempts to care for him, the family eventually decides to get rid of Gregor when he is discovered by tenants. Gregor dies miserable out of starvation and the Charwoman disposes of him.
Tone: The narrator adopts a detached and objective tone which is devoid of empathy to the plight of Gregor. The narrator describes the events as they are without passing judgement to the reaction of the family to Gregor’s plight or sympathizing with him.
Style: The style can be considered ‘Kafkaesque’ which was coined from the author’s writing style. It is considered surreal and tends to symbolize and show the absurdity of life. The objective narrative style leaves the reader confused and helpless.
Irony: the greatest irony in the story is the fact that the dutiful, responsible and sole breadwinner of the family is alienated and considered a burden when he needs the help of the family most. He is isolated and abused when he is helpless by the people he worked so hard to provide fo...