Analyzing 'The Metamorphosis:' Is Education a Tragedy?

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Analysis of Education for Tragedy “The Metamorphosis…is the story of the traveling salesman Gregor Samsa, who wakes up one morning transformed into a monstrous vermin, retains his ability to think and feel as a human being, is held prisoner and hidden by his family, and slowly goes to his ruin…” (Sokel 164) Gregor lives in an apartment with his mom, dad, and Grete, his sister. Gregor Samsa struggles to resolve his humanity after waking up one morning transformed into a giant bug. Gregor soon realized the reality of being alienated and suffers the consequences. Before Gregor’s metamorphosis, he planned to send his sister Grete to the Conservatory against his parents’ wishes. The metamorphosis is basically a sentence in advance to prevent Gregor from arrogating paternal authority and prevent an impending rebellion of the son. “The father becomes masterful again and reasserts himself as head of the family.” according to Sokel (Sokel 165). The metamorphosis of Gregor is the cause of his aggression by his father and guilt due to his inability to work and support his family. Gregor Samsa is a symbol for the desire for flight and the struggle for power which makes the principal of the story self-division. This self-division occurs when the mindset of a diligent, young traveling salesman is imprisoned in the body of a huge vermin. According to Sokel, “The metamorphosis represents dissatisfaction and, at the same time, it’s opposite, the longing for the restoration in the family of the warm and harmonious relations which have vanished.” (Sokel 165) As time passes his family feels that Gregor is a burden and his sister Grete suggests to get rid of “it”. “Death is he meaning of his existence- this is what the metamorphosis is supposed to teach him…” (Sokel 174) this was Gregor’s tragic sacrifice as the metamorphosis

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