Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis is more than a story about a man who wakes up one morning to find himself transformed into a giant insect. At its core, this novella delves into the profound psychological themes of alienation, identity, and the absurdity of human existence. From a psychoanalytical perspective, Gregor Samsa’s transformation can be viewed as a symbolic exploration of the unconscious mind, revealing how the individual is torn between internal desires, societal expectations, and the eventual collapse of the ego.
Alienation and the Unconscious Mind
From the very moment Gregor Samsa becomes an insect, he is confronted with a new reality — one where he is physically estranged from his own body. This alienation is not just superficial; it is deeply psychological. Psychoanalysis, particularly the work of Freud, offers a lens through which we can understand this sense of being “other” in one’s own body. The metamorphosis may represent a repressed desire or a manifestation of Gregor’s unconscious conflict with his societal role. Before his transformation, Gregor’s life was consumed by the demands of work and familial duty. He was a cog in the machine, living a life that was externally defined but internally rejected. His physical transformation into an insect can be seen as a psychological rupture — an external manifestation of an internal struggle where his ego, dominated by societal pressures, collapses under the weight of repressed feelings of worthlessness and despair.
Psychoanalytically, Gregor’s metamorphosis could symbolize the disintegration of the ego, the part of the psyche that mediates between the id (our primal desires) and the superego (the moral and social constraints). His insect form, grotesque and alien to him, signifies the breakdown of his sense of self, a self that was once defined by his role as a provider, but that now finds itself discarded and misunderstood. His alienation is a direct consequence of the disconnection between his unconscious desires and his outward reality. Kafka exposes the fragility of identity, revealing that when the ego is forced to confront the unspeakable or repressed aspects of the self, it may collapse altogether.
The Absurdity of Identity and the Influence of the Other
One of the most compelling aspects of The Metamorphosis is how Kafka examines the theme of identity through the lens of the Other. In psychoanalysis, the concept of the Other is central to the formation of the self. The Other represents those outside of us — society, family, and even the external world itself — and how they influence our perception of who we are. In Gregor’s case, his family and society define his worth through his ability to work and provide. When Gregor’s transformation renders him incapable of fulfilling these expectations, he is cast aside and rejected. His family no longer sees him as a person but as a burden to be dealt with. His physical appearance as an insect — something repulsive and alien — becomes the symbol of his total disconnection from the values and expectations that previously structured his identity.
Psychoanalytically, this rejection by his family can be understood through Jacques Lacan’s concept of the mirror stage. Lacan posited that the formation of the ego is dependent on how we see ourselves reflected in the eyes of others. Gregor’s transformation interrupts this process. He no longer fits the image that his family holds of him as a hardworking provider. Instead, he becomes a grotesque figure, a manifestation of how others perceive him when he fails to meet their expectations. In this moment, Gregor’s identity is shattered, as he can no longer see himself reflected in the way he once did. The image of the “self” no longer aligns with the Other’s expectations, and the result is a profound alienation from his own identity.
The Absurdity of Existence: The Collapse of Meaning
Kafka’s portrayal of Gregor’s transformation also aligns with existentialist thought, particularly the work of Albert Camus. Gregor’s sudden and inexplicable metamorphosis is absurd in the truest sense of the word. There is no reason or explanation for why it happens, and Gregor does not question it. He simply tries to adapt to his new existence, a struggle that is futile in the end. From a psychoanalytical standpoint, this absurdity is a reflection of the human condition — an endless confrontation with the unknowable aspects of existence. Gregor’s acceptance of his new form without seeking answers mirrors the psychoanalytic concept of repression, where the conscious mind avoids confronting the underlying psychological truths that are too painful to face. Just as Gregor avoids questioning the reason for his transformation, the human psyche often represses uncomfortable truths about its own nature, avoiding direct confrontation with the meaninglessness and absurdity of existence.
In this light, Gregor’s insect form can be interpreted as a physical representation of the absurdity that underlies human life. His transformation is an event that defies logic, much like the irrational nature of existence itself. However, rather than succumbing to the chaos of his new reality, Gregor struggles to adapt, a futile attempt to maintain some semblance of normality. This reflects a deeper psychological defense mechanism: the denial of the absurd, an attempt to make sense of the senseless in order to maintain psychic equilibrium.
The Death of the Ego: A Warning on the Fragility of Identity
In the final moments of The Metamorphosis, Gregor’s death serves as a tragic culmination of his alienation and the collapse of his ego. His demise is not only a physical death but a symbolic death of the self, the complete loss of meaning and identity. His family, which once relied on him, now sees him as an inconvenience, a burden to be discarded. In a psychoanalytic sense, this reflects the ultimate psychological abandonment — the rejection of the self by both the individual and the external world.
Kafka’s work is a profound commentary on the fragility of the ego and the extent to which an individual’s identity can be shattered by the pressures of societal expectations. Gregor’s tragic end serves as a stark reminder that identity is not a stable, permanent construct but something that is constantly in flux and subject to external forces. The loss of connection to the self — as symbolized by Gregor’s transformation — can lead to complete psychological disintegration, where one becomes so alienated from both their own identity and the world that they no longer have the will or the ability to exist.
Conclusion: The Psychoanalytic Lesson of The Metamorphosis
Kafka’s The Metamorphosis offers a rich psychoanalytical exploration of alienation, identity, and the absurdity of existence. Through the tragic story of Gregor Samsa, Kafka exposes the psychological fragility of the human condition, illustrating how the external world and the demands of society can fracture the ego and lead to the collapse of the self. In Gregor’s transformation into an insect, Kafka provides a powerful metaphor for the disintegration of identity, driven by repression, societal expectations, and the absurdity of life itself. In the end, the story serves as a warning about the dangers of losing touch with our true selves, of becoming estranged from our own humanity in the face of an indifferent, often hostile world.
As readers, we are left to ask ourselves: How much of our identity is truly our own, and how much of it is defined by the expectations and judgments of others? And in a world that often seems absurd and chaotic, how do we navigate the fragile terrain of our own existence without losing ourselves in the process? These are questions Kafka forces us to confront — questions that continue to resonate long after the story ends.
By Ari Sotiriou M.A. psychodynamic psychotherapist asotiriou@online-therapy-clinic.com