Metamorphosis and the Human Experience. 5 Powerful Themes That Still Resonate Today

Franz Kafka’s Metamorphosis is one of the most haunting and thought-provoking novellas ever written. It tells the bizarre yet deeply relatable story of Gregor Samsa, a hardworking salesman who wakes up one morning to find himself transformed into a giant insect. As he struggles to adjust to his new existence, he is gradually rejected by his family, abandoned to isolation, and left to a tragic fate.

Born in 1883 in Prague, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Kafka was a German-speaking Jewish writer whose works often delve into themes of alienation, guilt, and the absurdity of modern life. His strained relationship with his authoritarian father, Hermann Kafka, profoundly influenced his writing. In Metamorphosis, Gregor's oppressive sense of duty and subsequent rejection by his family mirror Kafka's own feelings of inadequacy and paternal disappointment. Kafka once wrote a letter to his father, which he never sent, detailing the profound impact of their relationship on his psyche.

Despite being written in 1915, Metamorphosis continues to strike a chord with modern readers as its topics feel as relevant today as they did over a century ago.

Let’s dive into five powerful themes from Metamorphosis, arranged in the order in which they unfold in the story.

1. Work, Burnout, and Losing Your Identity

The story begins with Gregor waking up to discover he has turned into an insect. His first thought? He’s late for work.

Even in his monstrous new form, Gregor worries about his job, his boss, and the money he must provide for his family. This immediate focus on work, rather than his shocking transformation, highlights how deeply Gregor has lost his sense of self to his job. His exhausting routine as a traveling salesman has consumed his entire identity.

This theme is painfully relevant today. Many people feel trapped in jobs they hate, forced to put work above their personal well-being. Gregor’s insect form becomes a symbol of his dehumanization—a worker reduced to a mindless, expendable creature.

Quote to reflect on:

If I didn’t hold back for my parents’ sake, I’d have quit ages ago. I would’ve gone to the boss and told him just what I think from the bottom of my heart. He would’ve fallen right off his desk!

The Metamorphosis, Franz KafkaOpen book

Ironically, even after Gregor can no longer work, his family’s concern is not for his well-being but for the loss of income he provided.

2. The Struggle of Feeling Like an Outsider

As Gregor attempts to communicate with his family, he quickly realizes they can no longer understand him. His voice is no longer human, his movements are alien, and his presence disturbs those around him. Although he desperately tries to make himself heard, his words come out as unintelligible noises. The moment Gregor loses the ability to communicate in a way his family understands, he is treated as something “other”—an outsider in his own home.

This mirrors a very real experience for many people. The feeling of being an outsider is not always about physical differences—it can also be about communication barriers. People who speak different languages, come from different cultural backgrounds, or have neurodivergent traits often struggle to be fully understood by those around them. Those with language disabilities, such as speech disorders or aphasia, may find themselves in frustrating situations where they are perceived as less intelligent or less capable simply because they cannot express themselves in a way that fits societal norms.

Gregor’s growing isolation reflects this struggle. His family does not attempt to truly understand him, nor do they adapt to his new way of communicating. Instead of being patient or finding alternative ways to connect, they give up on him. This reflects how, in real life, people who struggle to communicate in expected ways are often pushed aside or ignored rather than supported.

Quote to reflect on:

Was he an animal that music so captivated him? For him it was as if the way to the unknown nourishment he craved was revealing itself. He was determined to press forward right to his sister, to tug at her dress, and to indicate to her in this way that she might still come with her violin into his room, because here no one valued the recital as he wanted to value it.

The Metamorphosis, Franz KafkaOpen book

Even when Gregor longs for connection—drawn to his sister’s violin playing—his family no longer sees him as one of their own.

3. Family Expectations and Conditional Love

Gregor’s transformation reveals an ugly truth: his family only valued him for his ability to work and provide for them. While they initially show some concern, this quickly fades as they realize he can no longer support them financially.

This reflects a painful reality—how love can sometimes be conditional, based on the roles people play within a family. When Gregor was the breadwinner, he was essential. Once he becomes dependent on them, he is treated as an inconvenience.

His sister, Grete, initially cares for him, bringing him food and cleaning his room. But as time passes, even she grows resentful.

Quote to reflect on:

Gregor later earned so much money that he was in a position to bear the expenses of the entire family, costs which he, in fact, did bear. They had become quite accustomed to it, both the family and Gregor as well. They took the money with thanks, and he happily surrendered it, but the special warmth was no longer present.

The Metamorphosis, Franz KafkaOpen book

Gregor spends his days confused and heartbroken, realizing the love he thought existed was never unconditional.

4. The Fear of Change and Losing Control Over Life

Gregor never chooses his transformation. It happens suddenly, without warning, and he is powerless to stop it.

This terrifying loss of control over his own body reflects a universal fear—whether it’s a sudden illness, job loss, or personal crisis, life has a way of shifting in ways we cannot anticipate or prevent. Gregor's desperate attempts to maintain normalcy, even as everything crumbles around him, mirror the way people struggle to hold onto a sense of stability in uncertain times.

Quote to reflect on:

he couldn’t crawl around very much on the few square metres of the floor. He found it difficult to bear lying quietly during the night, and soon eating no longer gave him the slightest pleasure. So for diversion he acquired the habit of crawling back and forth across the walls and ceiling.

The Metamorphosis, Franz KafkaOpen book

The more Gregor loses control, the more he retreats inward, trapped in a situation he can’t escape.

5. Isolation and Mental Health: A Tale of Depression

By the final section of the novella, Gregor has completely withdrawn. His room is dirty, he barely eats, and he spends his time lying motionless. His family avoids him entirely.

His condition closely resembles depression—where exhaustion, isolation, and neglect lead to complete mental and physical decline. Kafka himself struggled with anxiety and depression, and Gregor’s slow deterioration can be seen as a reflection of his own internal battles.

Quote to reflect on:

He remembered his family with deep feelings of love. In this business, his own thought that he had to disappear was, if possible, even more decisive than his sister’s. He remained in this state of empty and peaceful reflection until the tower clock struck three o’clock in the morning.

The Metamorphosis, Franz KafkaOpen book

The chilling reality of Metamorphosis is that Gregor didn’t just lose his human form—he lost everything that made life worth living.

Conclusion: Why Metamorphosis Still Resonates

Despite being over a century old, Metamorphosis remains a deeply relatable and emotionally powerful story. Whether it’s the crushing weight of work, the pain of feeling like an outsider, the burden of family expectations, the fear of losing control, or the dark reality of isolation and depression, Gregor’s journey reflects universal human experiences. Kafka’s genius lies in how he takes a bizarre, fantastical premise and fills it with real, raw emotions that still speak to us today.

In recent years, the internet has popularized the phrase, “Would you still love me if I were a worm?”—a playful way to ask if love is truly unconditional. But in Metamorphosis, Gregor lives out this question in its most devastating form. His transformation is a test of his family's love, and the answer is heartbreaking.

If you’ve never read Metamorphosis, now is the perfect time to experience this masterpiece. And if you have, perhaps it’s time to revisit it with fresh eyes and new perspectives. The more you read it, the more you realize—Kafka wasn’t just telling Gregor’s story. He was telling our story.