In The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, there are many details and descriptions to interpret the setting of the novel. Certain aspects are included to bring the reader into the story and picture it in their mind. The details are not just small or minute plot points; they are certain descriptions, known as archetypes that stand for special elements in the plot of the story.One of the many archetypes in The Metamorphosis is the bug that Gregor, the main character, wakes up as.
This is an animal archetype that is a negative archetype because, to his surprise, Gregor wakes up as a hideous insect and insects are not looked upon to enjoy or be beneficial. The fact that Gregor was unlucky enough to wake up and have his life so drastically altered without his will is very misfortunate. Another example of an archetype in The Metamorphosis is the weather in the first Act of the novel. [The] raindrops could be heard beating against the metal ledge of the window. The rain is used to show the negative vibe of gloomy weather in the situation where Gregor has now become a hideous insect. Along with his unfortunate new appearance, Gregor points out another archetype in the story: his job. Gregor occupation is grueling professionce that he must deal with.
He has been with the company for years and not missed one day, but when he comes down with his šailment, he was called upon just for missing. One major archetype included in the story is a sound archetype that is produced when Gregor, now an insect, is trying to communicate with his family and the head clerk that comes to check on him when he is missing from work. Gregor starts to make animale noises instead of formulated words and sentences. It actually scares the other humans and it stands for the animal that Gregor now becomes and cannot associate with humans anymore. Once, when Gregor was able to find a way through the locked doors in his room, he saw through the rest of the house. The door to the foyer was open symbolizes how once he could get out, he could have chosen to leave his family and not placed his burden onto them but he is somewhat selfish and decided to stay with his family when the world was wide open. Another situational archetype that was found in the book is when the Father, Mr. Samsa, pushes Gregor back into the room that they lock him in. The door was slammed shut with the stick, then all was still. DD, Noe So once Gregor was forced back into his room, every violent action or any excitement present vanished when the problem disappeared.
Another example of an archetype present on The Metamorphosis is a food archetype that is present when For there stood a bowl filled with fresh milk in which small slices of white bread were floating. This shows how Gregor has changed so much throughout the metamorphosis and changed because he barely eats the good food and now prefers food that is considered old and disgusting before. The major archetype of the book would be the title.The Metamorphosis, itself because there are many different transformations taking place in the novel. For one, the physical, Gregor Samsa wakes up as a hideous insect and eats and acts and talks different, compared to before when he was a messenger and supported his family. But that is the other example of a change or Metamorphosis D, Noe because his family, who once relied on him to make the money and cared for Gregor, grew tired of the insect that was now Gregor and had to fare for themselves. The family had completely changed and there seemed to be no love left for Gregor the insect. So was The Metamorphosis a change in Gregor or his family?Archetypes are needed to convey a hidden side to every story. They take the characters that first meet the eye and change their appearance or complicate their purpose and actions. Without archetypes, stories and novels remain simple-minded and bland, containing no special or unique characters or storylines.