5 substance. Second, metamorphosis is a change of nature, a thing or a person into a
completely different one Merriam-Webster, An Encyclopedia Britanica Company.
In this study, the “metamorphosis” means the change in physical form and the change of a person. It is a symbolic language used to describe Gregor’s failure
to gain his individual needs and to describe his physical and mental sufferings during his life. The story of Gregor’s life honestly is the duplication of Franz
Kafka’s life which is full of physical and mental sufferings. The transformation experienced by Gregor can also be understood as a declaration of Kafka’s needs
that are not fulfilled. These experiences encourage him to use a verminous bug, a disgusting animal as a symbol of his The Metamorphosis novel.
1. 5.2. Transformation
Transformation is a change in form, nature, or appearance. Marcia Daszko and Sheila Sheinberg 2005 in Survival is Optional define transformation as the
change of a whole new form function or structure. Transformation can be understood as a sudden dramatic change of scenery on stage p. 1. In this study,
transformation means the change in appearance and in quality of life. But the main thing that must be understood is the transformation needs process.
1. 5.3. Literal Meaning
Literal means following the original words exactly or lacking imagination. The literal meaning means the meaning that following the original word. In other
6 words the literal meaning is the meaning which appears or can be seen or noticed
and it is not hidden. Jennifer Case Delia Marshall in Deep and Surface Approaches to Learning 2009 adds that a literal approach in learning is the tacit
acceptance of information and memorization and does not promote understanding for long-term retention of knowledge pp. 9-18.
In this study the literal meaning means the meaning which can be seen or noticed in the surface of the novel. After reading the novel, the writer directly
concludes about the meaning of The Metamorphosis based on what is seen and noticed.
1. 5.4. True Meaning
True means being accurate, real or exact which connected with the fact rather than things that have been guessed. Sylvan Barnet and friends in An
Introduction to the Literature 1994 says that true meaning is the meaning which is told for our sake because it is implicit p. 28. John T. Fredrick in Adventures in
Fiction 1964 has the same opinion with Barnet. He says that the deeper meaning of the story is a meaning which has value for every reader p. 75. Jennifer Case
Delia Marshall in Deep and Surface Approaches to Learning 2009 adds that a deep learning involves the critical analysis of new idea and promotes the
application for life pp. 9-18. From the statements above, it can be concluded that the true meaning is the meaning which is implicit and promotes the application for
life.
7 In this study the true meaning means the meaning which can be seen
behind the symbols or utterances that are used in novel. The true meaning usually does not appear or cannot be seen directly because it is hidden. By reading the
novel many times, the writer tries to find the true meaning that is meant by Kafka in his The Metamorphosis.
1. 5.5. Character
