The meaning of the metamorphosis as expericenced by Gregor Samsa, the main character of Frans Kafka`s The Metamorphosis.

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THE MEANING OF THE METAMORPHOSIS

AS EXPERIENCED BY GREGOR SAMSA, THE MAIN

CHARACTER OF FRANZ KAFKA’S THE METAMORPHOSIS

A SARJANA PENDIDIKAN THESIS

Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements to Obtain the Sarjana Pendidikan Degree

in English Language Education

By

Joachem Renrusun Student number: 091214001

ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ART EDUCATION FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION

SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA


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THE MEANING OF THE METAMORPHOSIS

AS EXPERIENCED BY GREGOR SAMSA, THE MAIN

CHARACTER OF FRANZ KAFKA’S

THE METAMORPHOSIS

A SARJANA PENDIDIKAN THESIS

Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements to Obtain the Sarjana Pendidikan Degree

in English Language Education

By

Joachem Renrusun Student number: 091214001

ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ART EDUCATION FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION

SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA


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“In the struggle between yourself and the world,

second the world”

Franz Kafka

I DEDICATE THIS THESIS TO EVERYONE

WHO HAS TRIED HIS/HER BEST TO BE AN


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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I have to admit that this thesis can be finished because of others’ support and prayer. I also can complete this thesis because a lot of people around me have helped me especially in giving me the support and motivation. Therefore, I present my greatest gratitude to all people who have given their support, prayer, and motivation to me to finish this thesis.

First of all, I would like to give my greatest gratitude to my Savior Jesus Christ, who always guides me. He never feels tired to guide me to pass every single day without any obstacle. I also present my special gratitude to MSC Congregationthat gives me the financial support during the study in this college. I want to thank myparents, myfamilyand my brothers in Palagan MSC study housewhich always supports me with their warmth and prayer.

I would like to thank my advisor, Drs. A. Herujiyanto, M.A.,Ph.D. who has given me his time to go through the completion of this thesis. I thank him for his willingness to check, to read and to give feedback that I can finish this thesis. I also thankall PBI lecturers who have taught me a lot of experiences. I also thank Sr. Margaret O’Donohue FCJ and Drs. Barli Bram, M.Ed., Ph.D. for becoming my proof readers.

I would like to thank my classmates in PBI 2009. I thank them for becoming my classmates and supporting each other. I also thank the others that I cannot mention one by one especially for their support to me.


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viii ABSTRACT

Renrusun, Joachem. 2013. The Meaning of The Metamorphosis as experienced by Gregor, the main character of Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis. Yogyakarta: English Language Education Study Program, Department of Language and Arts Education, Faculty of Teachers Training and Education, Sanata Dharma University.

This thesis discusses The Metamorphosis, a novel written by Franz Kafka. The novel is about the life of Gregor Samsa, an obedient and diligent young travelling salesman. One day, he experiences a physical transformation into a monstrous verminous bug which shocks his family and circumstance. The transformation brings the confusion to them and changes everything. He is isolated and dies after suffering from depression.

The reason for writing this thesis is derived from the writer’s curiosity to understand more about the meaning of The Metamorphosis as experienced by Gregeor himself. Because of the reason the writer formulates two problems that become the bases of this thesis. They are: (1) “How is the main character of the novel, Gregor Samsa depicted in the novel?” and (2) “What is the meaning of The Metamorphosisas experienced by Gregor?”

This study applies library research. The novel itself becomes the primary source for the analysis. The books about literature and psychology become the secondary sources. The other secondary source also comes from the internet which is related to the analysis. In answering the problems, several theories on the literature are applied. The theory of character is applied to analyze Gregor’s character. The theory of psychology assisted by theory of motivation is applied to analyze the true meaning of The Metamorphosis.

The findings in this study reveal that Gregor Samsa is an obedient, lovable, hardworking and isolated person. The other finding is about the literal and the true meaning of The Metamorphosis. There are three literal meanings. Firstly, Metamorphosis is a change of physical form; from ability to inability to live. Second, it is a tragic change of life of Gregor; from a hero to a loser. Third, Metamorphosis is the change of a family when facing a difficult situation. While the true meaning is that, The Metamorphosis 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 judgment and expression as an insect comes from Gregor’s awareness that he is trapped in a difficult condition and fails to be an independent person. He is aware that he has tried to be what his family and society expected him to be and not his own needs. In Gregor’s view, he is the same with a disgusting bug in front of his family and acquaintances. The character of Gregor in the novel is a duplication of what is experienced by Kafka in his real life.

Finally, besides making suggestions for future researchers, this study also provides a suggestion for the implementation on The Metamorphosis in teaching English. The lesson plan and material are designed as the implementation of the novel in teaching reading skill.


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ix ABSTRAK

Renrusun, Joachem. 2013. The Meaning of The Metamorphosis as experienced by Gregor, the main character of Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis. Yogyakarta: Program Studi Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris, Jurusan Pendidikan Bahasa dan Seni, Fakultas Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan, Universitas Sanata Dharma.

Skripsi ini membahas sebuah novel karya Franz Kafka yang berjudul The Metamorphosis. Novel berkisah tentang hidup Gregor Samsa, seorang wiraniaga muda yang berdedikasi serta menjadi tulang punggung keluarga. Suatu ketika, secara tiba-tiba, dia berubah menjadi seekor kutu yang menjijikan serta mengagetkan keluarga dan lingkungannya. Perubahan fisik ini menimbulkan kebingungan diantara mereka dan merubah segalanya. Dia terisolasi hingga akhirnya meninggal karena depresi.

Alasan penulisan Skripsi ini berangkat dari keingintahuan penulis untuk memahami lebih dalam arti dari metamorphosis seperti yang dialami Gregor. Berangkat dari alasan ini, penulis merumuskan dua permasalahan yang menjadi dasar penulisan; 1) Bagaimana Gregor Samasa, tokoh utama novel digambarkan? 2) Apa arti metamorphosisseperti yang dialami oleh Gregor?

Studi ini menggunakan penilitian kepustakaan. Novel itu sendiri menjadi sumber utama, sementara buku-buku tentang literatur dan psikologi menjadi sumber sekunder. Sumber sekunder lain diambil dari internet yang berhubungan dengan topik pembahasan. Dalam menjawab permasalahan-permasalahan, beberapa teori literatur digunakan. Teori karakter digunakan untuk menganalisa karakter Gregor. Sementara teori psikologi yang didukung teori motivasi digunakan untuk menganalisa makna sesungguhnya dariThe Metamorphosis.

Hasil studi mengungkapkan bahwa Gregor Samsa adalah pribadi yang taat, penyayang, pekerja keras dan terisolir. Penemuan lain ialah tentang arti literer dan arti sesungguhnya dari metamorphosis. Terdapat tiga arti literer: pertama, metamorfosis adalah perubahan bentuk fisik; dari kemampuan menuju ketidakmampuan untuk hidup. Kedua, metamorfosis adalah perubahan hidup Gregor yang tragis; dari pahlawan menjadi pecundang. Ketiga, metamorfosis adalah berubahnya sebuah keluarga saat berhadapan dengan situasi sulit. Sementara berdasarkan arti sesungguhnya,The metamorphosismerupakan bahasa symbol yang menggambarkan kegagalan Gregor untuk menjadi dirinya dan merupakan gambaran atas penderitaan fisik-mental selama hidupnya. Pernyataan diri Gregor yang tak ubahnya seperti serangga muncul dari kesadaran bahwa dia telah terjebak dalam kondisi sulit dan gagal menjadi pribadi independen. Dia sadar bahwa dia hanya menjadi apa yang diinginkan keluarga dan bukan karena keinginan dirinya. Dalam pandangannya, dia tidak berbeda dari seekor kutu yang menjijikan di hadapan mereka. Karakter dari Gregor dalam novel sesungguhnya hanyalah duplikat dari apa yang dialami Kafka dalam kehidupan nyata.

Akhirnya, disamping mengemukakan saran untuk para peneliti lain, studi ini juga menegaskan pentingnya penerapan novel The Metamorphosis dalam pengajaran bahasa Inggris. Rencana pengajaran dan materi disusun sebagai bentuk implementasi terhadap novel untuk pelajaran membaca.


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE………. i

APPROVAL PAGES……… ii

STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY………. iv

DEDICATION PAGE……….. v

PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI……… vi

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS……….. vii

ABSTRACT……….. viii

ABSTRAK……… ix

TABLE OF CONTENTS………... x

LIST OF APPENDICES……… xii

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1. Background of Study………. 1

1.2. Problem Formulation……… 3

1.3. Objective of the Study……….. 3

1.4. Benefits of the Study……….. 4

1.5. Definition of Terms………. 4

1. 5.1. Metamorphosis………..………. 4

1. 5.2. Transformation……… 5

1. 5.3. Literal Meaning……… 5

1. 5.4. True Meaning……… 6

1. 5.5. Character………..………. 7

CHAPTER 2 THEORETICAL REVIEW 2. 1. Review of Related Studies………. 8

2. 2. Review of Related Theories……… 10

2. 2. 1. Theory of Character and Characterization……… 10

2. 2. 1.1. Character.………. 10


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2. 2. 2. Theory of Motivation………….………. 13

2. 2. 3. Theory of Psychology and Psychological Approach……. 14

2. 3. Theoretical Framework……….. 17

2. 4. Context of the Novel……….. 17

CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGY 3. 1. Object of the Study……… 20

3. 2. Approach of the Study……….. 20

3. 3. Method of the Study………. 21

CHAPTER 4 ANALYSIS 4. 1. An Analysis on Gregor Samsa’s Character ….……….. 23

4. 1.1. Obedient………..………. 24

4. 1.2. Hard working……… 25

4. 1.3. Lovable………. 26

4. 1.4. Isolated…………...……….. 27

4. 2. The Meaning of The Metamorphosis……….29

4. 2.1. The Literal Meaning……….. 30

4. 2.1.1. A change of physical; from ability to inability to live …… 30

4. 2.1.2. A tragic change in life of a misfortune person; from a hero to a loser ……… 31

4. 2.1.3. The change of a family when facing a difficult situation….. 33

4. 2.2. The True Meaning……….………. 35

CHAPTER 5 CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTIONS 5. 1. Conclusions ….………. 41

5. 2. Suggestions ….………..……… 43

5. 2.1. Suggestions for Future Researchers……….. 43

5. 2.2. Suggestions for English Teachers………..………….. 44

REFERENCES……… 46


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LIST OF APPENDICES

Appendix 1. Summary of The Metamorphosis ……….. Appendix 2. Biography of Franz Kafka ………. Appendix 3. Lesson Plan for Teaching Reading. ……….. Appendix 4. Materials (students’ handout and worksheet) ……….. Appendix 5. The Metamorphosis, part I, pp. 9-30 ……….

49 51 53 56 58


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1 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION

This chapter consists of five parts. The first part is the background of the study, which explains the reason why the researcher chose The Metamorphosis novel. The second is the problem formulation, which gives the general information about what is discussed in this study. The third part is the objectives of the study, which answers the problems stated in this study. The fourth is the benefit of the study, and the last one is the definition of terms used in this study.

1. 1. Background of Study

Human existence has been considered as one of the important things in human life. The core of human existence is the appreciation of human rights and freedom. There are a lot of writings that have been produced to appreciate such a recognition. One of them is The Metamorphosis, a novel written by Franz Kafka, a German-language writer who lives from 1883 till 1924.

The novel itself describes a man named Gregor Samsa who transforms to a bug. Before the transformation, his family respects him because of his loyalty and obedience. He takes care of his family by working in a travelling company in order to repay his father’s debt. Shortly, he fulfills his family especially his father’s expectation and becomes the important member to his family. But after the transformation everything changes. No people comes and talkes to him anymore. The actions of his father, mother, sister and the manager are so sad. The


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biggest action which hurts him the most is the attack from his father who throws apples at his back and one of the apples caused the illness until his death. He is isolated from all people even his family and finally died after suffering from depression.

In this novel we can find some interesting themes such as alienation, the misfortune workingman, suffering and some other themes that can be found easily by the readers. All of these made this novel recognized as one of the best that has ever been written by a great writer.

The writer is not only interested in the themes conveyed in the novel but also interested in the title of the novel itself. The questions that arise in the writer’s mind are why Kafka used The Metamorphosis as the title of his novel? What is it all about? The metamorphosis itself means a change of the form or nature of a thing or person into a completely different one but this novel must have a deeper meaning and not only about physical changes.

The Metamorphosis of course has been significant not only as the title but also as the keyword to understand the purpose of the story. There are some possibilities to understand the using of The Metamorphosis as the title. The first one is that The Metamorphosis maybe used to describe a change in physical form or structure. The structure of human life has been changed to the materialistic and hedonistic society. The success of life is measured with the position in social structure and the economy position. People who have good works are placed in high position. Second, The Metamorphosis of Gregor to an insect can describe


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Gregor's "innermost self". The last, the metamorphosis can describe the changes in the members of Gregor’s family before and after his transformation.

This study is meant to explain the meaning of The Metamorphosis in Gregor Samsa the main character of the novel. This can be achieved by studying the novel itself in order to find out a complete understanding about the right meaning of The Metamorphosis.

This proposed study will outline the underlying idea that Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis must be read in the context of Kafka’s life background and the society where he lived. In fact, Franz Kafka wrote this novel based on his own experiences and memories of his childhood and his bitter life. By studying this background, the writer of this thesis will understand more deeply about this novel and will know the true meaning of The Metamorphosis.

1. 2. Problem Formulation

The problem of this study can be formulated as follows:

1) “How is the main character of the novel, Gregor Samsa depicted in the novel?”

2) “What is the meaning of The Metamorphosisas experienced by Gregor?”

1. 3. Objective of the Study

The aim of the study is to find out the true meaning of The Metamorphosis as experienced by Gregor, one of the main characters of Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis.


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1. 4. Benefits of the Study

This study is conducted to give a complete understanding about the meaning of The Metamorphosis to the writer himself, the readers, the lecturers and the students of English Language Education Study Program of Sanata Dharma University. The first benefit is intended for the writer and the readers. The writer finds that by conducting this study, the writer sharpens an analytical thinking to reveal literary works. The writer also finds some moral values and tries to live from these moral values. For the readers, this study is conducted to give a complete understanding about the meaning of The Metamorphosis and to help the readers in finding the moral values for their life. The second benefit is for the lecturers and the students. For lecturers, this study can be used as one of their materials in teaching-learning activity. For the students who want to work in literary, this study can be used as one of their references. This study can be their guide to conduct a literature study.

1. 5. Definition of Terms

In order to avoid some misunderstanding about the terms used, in the beginning of this thesis some difficult terms will be defined.

1. 5.1. Metamorphosis

The word “metamorphosis” means “to transform.” It is defined in two ways; firstly, metamorphosis is the change of physical form, structure or


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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


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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.


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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

Character is all qualities and features that make a person or group of people different from others. In A Handbook to Literature, Holman and Harmon (1986) state that the character can be main or minor and it can be static and dynamic (p. 83). Robert Santon in An Introduction to Fiction (1965) says that character can be understood as a person or a mixture of all mental qualities that build each of an individual’s personality (p. 17).

In this study, character deals to a person that appears or mental qualities of a person that build an individual’s personality. Gregor Samsa as the main character in this novel is dominantly known by his speech especially when he speaks to himself, the conversation of the family members and the comment of people around him.


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CHAPTER 2

THEORETICAL REVIEW

This chapter is divided into four parts. The first part is review of related studies which includes criticism of the novel and the author itself. The second is the review of related theory. It discusses about the theories in which the subject of discussion is based. The third part of the theoretical review presents the theoretical framework of this study which becomes a guidance for the writer to focus on analyzing the subject of the study. The last is the context of the novel.

2. 1. Review of Related Studies

The Metamorphosis (1915), a novel about a young man named Gregor Samsa, is a literary work which is considered as the best writing of Franz Kafka. Since Kafka's death, critical interest in the novel has been considerable. Some critics argue that this novel is difficult to be understood due to the language used. Moreover, the novel is considered a dream only. If the readers read the novel only once or twice, they will find some difficulties in understanding the story, because it uses lots of symbols that are not easy to grasp.

Although it is difficult, some critics realize that the novel is very interesting and challenging. James Byrne, a professor of Religious studies in

Comment Kafka’s Die Verwandlung(2010) writes;

“I had read this story a few times before now, but I had never really needed to think too deeply about it. I read it first when I was maybe thirteen or fourteen. At that age I did not particularly like it and I certainly did not understand it. Perhaps I had been watching too much science


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fiction on TV and thought: “guy turns into insect (or something), what’s the big deal?” I read it again in my mid-20s and I both understood and liked it much more, as I now had some experience of life that gave me more compassion for Gregor Samsa (p. 1).

Byrne then adds that in his view there are two factors which make this story so compelling and of such enduring interest to later generations. First, a person has freedom from family duty. Secondly is to free oneself from bourgeois obligation and convention (p. 1).

From Byrne’s comment, it can be stated that although the story is difficult to read, it endures and compels interest of the young generation for their better life. The great Russian novelist Vladimir Nebokov in his Lecture on The Metamorphosis (2012), also once remarked, "If Kafka's The Metamorphosis

strikes anyone as something more than an entomological fantasy, then I congratulate him on having joined the ranks of good and great readers" (p. 1).

Nicole Smith in Character Analysis of Gregor in “The Metamorphosis” by Franz Kafka(2011) argues that Kafka’s The Metamorphosis is an exaggerated symbolic tale that tackles a number of themes. One of the most important is the collapse of justice and mercy, even among those people who are expected to be most fair and compassionate. The story brings the readers to understand others and to honor the justice. This elusive story, which chronicles the transformation of Gregor Samsa from a human being into an enormous insect, is renowned for its ability to inspire diverse (p. 2). For this reason The Metamorphosis has come to be considered one of the central enigmas of the modern literary imagination.

Harold Bloom in Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis (1988), contended in his broad character analysis and study of “The Metamorphosis” by Kafka, that


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symbolically speaking, Gregor’s metamorphosis from man to an insect represents his “judgment on himself by his defeated humanity” because he cannot find a way to leave his job behind and assert his own needs and identity because of his loyalty and sense of obligation to his family (p. 21).

In correlation with the theme of transformation, Nicholas van Vector in

The Transformation of Kafka (2011) says that in The Metamorphosis, the transformation depicts more powerful than any fiction he has read, a consciousness tortured by the anxiety. The subject of this study is reflexivity or self-consciousness. It is about a character who incapable of action or someone in the last stages of a terminal illness whose only activity is thinking about himself and remembering his former life (p. 2).

Some comments from the experts have been taken previously to understand the topic of the metamorphosis. According to the writer of this thesis the work of Kafka especiallyThe Metamorphosis is a fabulous story which needs a deep understanding. The story is not only a dream but in fact it describes someone’s true life and it is Kafka, the writer’s personal life.

2. 2. Review of Related Theories

2. 2. 1. Theory of Character and Characterization

2. 2. 1.1. Character

There are many discussions on the term characters purposed by many writers. On the literal level, character is described as all qualities and features that make a person or group of people different from others. Robert Santon in An


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Introduction to Fiction (1965) says that the term character in a novel particularly used in two ways; firstly, as person or an individual that appears or is created by an author in a story of a novel, play, drama, etc. Secondly, it refers to a mixture of all the mental or moral qualities such as principles, value, desires, emotions and interests that build each of an individual’s personality. An alternative way to understand a character in a novel is by interpreting the name of the character himself (p.17). From this definition, it can be said that character is not only about a person but also the personal qualities. Likewise Abrams in A Glossary of Literary Terms (1981) says “the characters are persons, in a dramatic or narrative work, endowed with moral and dispositional qualities that are expressed in what they say – dialog – and what they do – action.” (p. 21).

Basically, character can be divided into two categories, the main and the minor characters. A major character usually appears in the whole story and become the focus of the story. On the contrary, a minor character is the character which is functioned to support the major character (Abrams, p. 20).

In A Handbook to Literature, Holman and Harmon (1986) stated that a character can be either static or dynamic. A static character is one who changes little. It does not perform in the whole segment. Dynamic character is modified by actions and experiences and one objective of the work in which the character appears is to reveal the consequences of this action (p. 83).

Shortly, character can be understood as person or mental quality of the person in a literary works. It can be main or minor and it can be static or dynamic too.


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2. 2. 1.2. Characterization

The existence of the character in a work of literature is very important to make the story seem to be the real one. Joseph H. Trimmer in his book Writing with a Purpose (1992) says that the method by which an author creates, reveals and develops changes is called characterization. An author may describe characters by suggesting their appearance, personality and values through their words (p. 335). The same statement about the meaning of characterization is said by Holman & Harmon (1986). They say that in fiction such as novel, drama or short story, the author tries to reveal or create the imaginary person so that they exist for the readers as life is called characterization (A Handbook to the Literature p. 81). This method includes the direct methods like the attribution of the qualities in description or commentary and indirect methods like inventing the readers to infer qualities from characters’ actions, speech, or appearance.

In order to make the characters understandable to the readers, M.J. Murphy (1972) in Understanding Unseens: An Introduction to English Poetry and Novel, proposes some ways. They are personal description, character as seen by another, speech, past life, conversation of others, reaction, direct comment and thought. Personal description means the author can directly describe appearance of the characters. Characters as seen by others mean that the author can describe the character through the eyes of others. Speech means that the author gives the reader clues to his characters through what they say. Past life means that the author lets the readers learn something about the person’s past life by giving them clues through his comment. Reaction means the author lets the readers know a


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person’s character through his reaction to various situations. Conversation of others means the author can give the readers clues to a person’s character through the conversations of other characters and things they say about him. Thought means the author gives the readers direct knowledge of what a person thinking about (pp. 161-172).

2. 2. 2. Theory of Motivation

Based on The Oxford Paperback Dictionary and Thesaurus, Motivation is the reason for the action or behavior. Kendra Cherry in Theories of Motivation

says that motivation is the desire that fuels a person to do certain things based on the wants and needs of a person. If a person wishes to meet these wants and needs, then it necessitates him to motivate himself so that he can make certain moves (p. 1). From this definition, it can be concluded that motivation is the driving force of the heart of a person to do or to achieve the objectives.

Many psychologists have tried to explain the meaning and the essence of motivation, but in this thesis only two of the experts that will be discussed. They are Abraham Maslow (1890-1970) and Frederick Herzberg (1923-2000). Joseph Gawel (1997) in Hezberg’s Theory of Motivation and Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs says that in 1954, Maslow introduced theory of Hierarchy of Needs in his book Motivation and Personality. In the theory of Hierarchy of Needs, Maslow says that people have different motivations at different levels. The needs are biological needs (thirst, sex); safety needs (security, stability, protection); belongingness needs (to escape loneliness and love); esteem needs (self respect


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and respect others); and self actualization needs (to fulfill one’s potentialities). The first level is biological needs. He states that a person could not recognize or pursue the next higher need in the hierarchy until her or his currently recognized need was substantially or completely satisfied. A lower need took priority and it might be fulfilled before the others are activated (pp. 1-2).

While Herzberg who has close links with Maslow believes that there are certain factors that will directly motivate employees to work harder. These factors are called Hygiene (extrinsic factors) and Motivators factor (intrinsic factor). Hygiene factors motivate a person to get out of dissatisfaction, which includes relationships, benefits and environmental conditions while motivator factors motivate a person to strive for satisfaction, which shall include achievement, recognition, advancement of living standards (Jim Riley, Theories of Motivation, pp.2-3).

From the theories of hierarchy needs by Maslow and the factors influence in doing something by Herzberg, it can be concluded that people act based on the specific need and the factors from inside and outside their life.

2. 2. 3. Theory of Psychology and Psychological Approach

Psychology is a branch of science that discusses about the state of the human soul. It tries to understand human behavior, why and how they do and think as the creatures. There are various approaches in the literature, and one of the approaches here is psychological approach to literature. The approach is one of the basic principles that are used as a tool to appreciate literature.


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Approach to psychology literature can be interpreted as a way of analysis based on psychological point of view. It begins from the assumption that literature is always talking about the events of human life which is emitted in the lives. David Daiches in Critical Approaches to Literature says that psychology comes into criticism in two ways, in investigation of the act of creation and in the psychological study of particular authors (p. 329). He then adds that by psychological investigation of individual authors can help us to see why those authors displayed certain characteristic qualities in their work and help us to explain how literature comes into being (p. 330). Here the function of psychology itself is doing the exploration into the inner soul that made the figures contained in the literature and to learn more about their actions to other measures.

There are several prominent figures of psychology who have inspired the mystery of human behavior through psychological theories. But in this thesis Sigmund Freud will be discussed more, because of his contributions to the psychology literature through the psychoanalytic theory. He directly speaks about the process of art creation as a result of pressure in the subconscious which is then poured into the form of the creation of works of art (p. 332).

Jess and Gregory Feist in Theories of Personality(2006) share that in his Psychoanalytic theory, Freud introduces the terms of unconscious and conscious

in the level of mental life. They say:

The unconscious contains all those drives, urges, or instincts that are beyond our awareness but that nevertheless motivate most of our words, feelings and actions. Although we may be conscious of our overt behaviors, we often are not aware of the mental process that lie behind them…the conscious can be defined as those mental elements in awareness at any given point in time (pp. 24-25).


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Sigmund Freud believes that every individual has a conscious and an unconscious mind. Moreover, he believes that it was the unconscious mind that plays the largest role in shaping someone's personality. Freud then thinks that the work of creative literature is the symptoms of the author. Psychological conflict experienced by the characters is a reflection or representation of the author's own psychological conflict, and this goes unnoticed by both the author. In other words, the unconscious author works through the creation of novel activities. So, literature is actually a hidden enjoyment over the author desires in the unconscious (Daices,pp. 332-333).

In his further explanation, Freud states that the human soul has three components; firstly is Id. It is a natural human spirit to think and act in accordance with whatever his own, without control, and without the desire for self-limiting. Secondly is Superego, which represents the moral and ideal aspect of personality guided by the moralistic and idealistic principles. The third one is Ego which contacts to the reality. It is the balance between the demands of self-control and self-limiting property superego, and the encouragement of control and Id's infinity. In his capacity as a counterweight, the ego is an extension of the mind awareness. This awareness controls the words, actions, and thoughts of a person in the face of society (Feist,pp. 27-30).

If all of these compartments work in balance, then people will show reasonable character, but if the elements are not working in balance and one of them is more dominant, there will be a war in the mind or soul of a man. It will create the symptoms of restless, anxious, depressed and neurosis that requires a


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distribution. In his description of the author in creating literary works, Freud says that the author is attacked by neurosis.

2. 3. Theoretical Framework

In this study, the writer aims to analyze Gregor Samsa, the main character of the novel and find out the meaning of Gregor’s transformation. To accomplish the analysis, the writer uses some theories on character, characterization, theory of motivation, theory of psychology and other information related to the novel.

The analysis deals with Gregor Samsa, the main character of the novel. Therefore the writer attempts to analyze the character of Gregor first by using theories of character and characterization before finding the meaning of metamorphosis itself. The theories of motivation are taken to check the motivations of Gregor Samsa in his transformation. The last, theories of psychology and psychological approach are used to understand what has happened in Gregor’s metamorphosis and what is the psychological conflict faced by Gregor and Kafka, the writer of this novel. After knowing the personality of Gregor, by using theories of psychology and psychological approach, the writer will try to find the meaning of the metamorphosis.

2. 4. Context of the Novel

Jonathan Culler in Literary Theory (1997) said, “Context is what determines meaning. To know the particular utterance means, you have to look at the circumstances or the historical context in which it figures.” (p. 62). Based on


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this argument, it can be stated that the meaning of Kafka’s The Metamorphosis

can be understood by looking back to the times and the circumstances it is written.

The Metamorphosis can be seen and understood as an autobiographical writing of Kafka’s own life. The first indication is the place where the story begins. The story takes place in the early years of the twentieth century in an apartment in which a textile salesman lives with his father, mother, and sister. The narrator does not say in what city or country the action takes place. But Kafka probably had in mind the city of his birth, Prague, in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Today, Prague is in the Czech Republic.

Michael Frank in A City Reimagined: The Metamorphosis of Kafka and His Context (2002) wrote that in his writing to Gustav Janouch his friend in life, Kafka commented of the place where he was born and lived most of his 41 years: ''This is not a city. It is a fissure in the ocean bed of time, covered with the stony rubble of burned-out dreams and passions, through which we - as if in a diving bell -take a walk. It's interesting, but after a time one loses one's breath'' (p. 1). The city of Prague in 1883, when Kafka was born, is a city where three cultures -Czech, German and German-speaking Jewish - coexisted in often anxious harmony. At the time Czechs had not yet won their independence, and despite its Czech majority, Prague was dominated by a German-speaking elite. The Jews of Prague tended to identify with the German minority rather than with the Czech majority; the Czechs therefore considered the Jews to be part of the German community, but the Germans themselves did not. As a result, it was easy for the Jews to feel that they did not fit in anywhere.


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The Metamorphosis is an autobiographical piece of writing of Kafka’s own family. In The Metamorphosis Background (1999) written by the Harvard University Students it is said that Kafka felt like an insect in his father's authoritative presence and even developed a stammer while speaking to him. Gregor, likewise, cowers in fear of his father, who finds him repulsive and attacks him at every turn. Kafka had been very close to his sister, Ottla, and she usually understood him. In this dispute, however, even she turned against him in insisting he stay at the office in the afternoons. Kafka felt that she had betrayed him, and that night he actually contemplated suicide. This happened in November 1912. Shortly, there are many accidents in Kafka’s family which depressed him much (p. 3).

Finally, The Metamorphosis must be read as Kafka's own expression of self-alienation. Kafka also felt enormous pressure to become a successful businessman like his father but he failed because of the situation at that time. Gregor’s transformation to an insect is a protest against the dehumanizing and self-alienating effects of working in a capitalistic society.


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20 CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGY

3. 1. Object of the Study

The work that will be analyzed here is Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis. The original title is Die Verwandlung which is written in German. Kafka wrote this story in the fall of 1912, the year he felt his creativity finally taking a definite form. He needed three weeks from November to December to finish this story. The Metamorphosis was first published in 1915 by Kurt Wolf in forty two pages. Kafka’s friend Max Brod undertook the job of editing and distributing Kafka’s work after his death defying Kafka’s wish that all of his writing be burned.

The Metamorphosis is divided into three parts and talks about a man named Gregore Samsa who finds himself turned into a gigantic insect one morning. Since he transforms into the insect, his life has changed. He cannot work anymore and his family does not care for him even though they use him as the breadwinner of the family. He cannot make a harmonious relationship with his family until he dies by suffering. The version used in this study is English version which is translated by Ian Johnston published by Tribeca Books, USA in 1999.

3. 2. Approach of the Study

According to Wilfred Guerin and friends in A Handbook of Critical Approach to Literature (1979), there are five theories of approaches to analyze a literary work. They are historical-biographical, the moral-biographical, the formalistic, the psychological and the mythological approaches (pp. 23-155).


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In this study the writer uses the psychological approach. The psychological approach is used in order to analyze the personalities of Gregor Samsa. Psychological approach used because it needs to find out the psychological conflict in Gregor’s mind, the main character of the Metamorphosis. The theory of psychology assisted by theory of motivation is applied to analyze the true meaning of The Metamorphosis as experienced by Gregor, the main character.

3. 3. Method of the Study

The method used in this study was library research. Before starting analysis, the first step, the writer tried to find as much data and sources as posible. The sources of the data that the writer used in his research were divided into two primary and secondary sources. The primary source was the story itself entitled The Metamorphosis written by Franz Kafka. The secondary data was the supporting data that were gathered from some books and the information from the internet.

In the analysis the writer makes an objective and reasonable analysis on the work. Therefore, the writer should understand the whole context of the work of the novel itself. In order to get the right information of the theory about characters and meaning, the writer used some books entitled A glossary of the Literary Terms, Literature for Composition and Literature: Structure, Sound and Senses. In order to get the information about some theories of psychology and psychological approach, the books needed were Theory of Personality and Critical Approaches to Literature.


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Since the psychological approach was employed in this study, many essays on Kafka’s personal character would be studied. By psychological approach, the writer wanted to discuss the literal and the true meaning of The Metamorphosisfrom the story itself.


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23

CHAPTER 4 ANALYSIS

In this chapter, the writer presents the analysis of the novel in order to look for the answers to the problem formulated in the first chapter. First, the character and the personality of Gregor Samsa, the main character of the novel is analyzed based on the novel. Second, the writer will find out the meaning of The Metamorphosis as experienced by Gregor Samsa. In this part the literal and the true meanings will be revealed based on the story.

4. 1. An Analysis on Gregor Samsa’s Character

Before discussing the detail about the meaning of The Metamorphosis, a brief description of Gregor’s characters is given. In order to get a complete understanding about Gregor’s characters, the theory of the character shown in the first chapter will be mentioned again in this discussion.

Robert Santon in An Introduction to Fiction (1965) says that the term character in a novel particularly is used for a person that is created by an author in the story of a novel, play or drama. The character also refers to a mixture of all the mental qualities such as principles, value, desires, emotions and interests that build each of an individual’s personality (p.17). The same opinion is conveyed by Abrams in A Glosary of Literary Terms (1981). He argues that the characters are persons, in a dramatic or narrative work, endowed with moral and dispositional qualities that are expressed in what they say and what they do (p. 21). While M.J.


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Murphy (1972) in Understanding Unseens: An Introduction to English Poetry and Novel, proposes nine ways to understand the character. They are personal description, character as seen by another, speech, past life, conversation of others, reaction, direct comment and thought (pp. 161-173).

Gregor Samsa in this novel is portrayed as a complex human being. His character is dominantly known by his speech especially when he speaks to himself, the conversation of the family members and the comment of people around him. From all of these, Gregor is known as an obedient, diligent and a lovable person. He is also a lonely and isolated person.

4. 1.1. Obedient

A special character of Gregor is his obedience as a son. Before his metamorphosis to a verminous bug, his family respects him because he takes care of his family by working in a travelling company which his father fails to work in. As a son, he has to find the money to pay off his father’s debt to the boss of the company. “Anyway, I haven’t completely given up that hope yet. Once I’ve got together the money to pay off the parents’ debt to him—that should take another five or six years—I’ll do it for sure.”(Franz Kafka,The Metamorphosis, p. 11).

Though he hates his job, he believes that his family depends entirely on him for a living. For this reason he has to sacrifice all of his time whatever it takes, even his life, helping the family to survive.

‘O God,’ he thought, ‘what a demanding job I’ve chosen! Day in,day out on the road. The stresses of trade are much greater than the work going on at head office, and, in addition to that, I have to cope with the problems of traveling, the worries about train connections, irregular bad food,


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temporary and constantly changing human relationships which never come from the heart. To hell with it all! (p. 10).

The quotation above tells that Gregor has been working under pressure both mental and physical. Being a travelling salesman of course is a difficult work because Gregor has to go around to different palaces to find customers to whom he can sell his product. Travelling around these different places wastes Gregor’s energy but he has never skipped his work. He always goes to his office without being absent even for a day. Although it is difficult and the work does not come from his heart, he has to do the job for the sake of the responsibility to his family.

Gregor knows that a travelling salesman who is outside the office almost the entire year can become so easily a victim of gossip, coincidences and groundless complaints but he cannot live without it. On the other hand his concern is for his parents and their life, so he has to do all of these things as a responsibility to his family as a son.

Travelling is exhausting, but I couldn’t live without it. I am really indebted to Mr. Chief. On the other hand, I am concerned about my parents and my sister. I’m in fix, but I’ll work myself out of it again. Don’t make things more difficult for me then they already are. Speak up on my behalf in the office! People don’t like travelling salesman. I know that (p. 26).

Shortly, he makes this as an obedient son. He does not care whatever it takes only the family is in his mind.

4. 1.2. Hard working

Gregor is truly a hard working son. He is very responsible in his job and for his family. Gregor always spends his time working and his family also admits it. His mother says,


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“The young man has nothing in his head except business. I am almost angry that he never goes out in the evening. Right now he’s been in the city eight days, but he’s been at home every evening. He sits here with us at the table and reads the newspaper quietly or studies his travel schedules.” (p. 18).

He does not go out in the evening in order to study his travel schedule. In his head only business and business. He has tried his best to do his work and as the result he earns a lot of money for his family. “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.” (p. 38).

Gregor’s spirit in work is seen when Mr. Manager accuses him as a lazy, a pig headed and a stubborn person. Gregor says that he is not like what his manager thinks he is. He always does his job with a great responsibility.

Mr. Manager! Take it easy on my parents! There is really no basis for the criticisms which you are making against me. Nobody has said a word to me about that. Perhaps you have not read the latest orders which I sent in. Besides, now I’m setting out on my trip on the eight o’clock train; the few hours rest have made me stronger (p. 21).

He wants the manager to appreciate what he has done because he has worked harder than others in the office. He does not want the manager to say things like that in front of his family who does not know how hard he has worked. When the other workers work with a relaxed manner, Gregor goes to work even harder.

4. 1.3. Lovable

It is stated previously that Gregor works hard not only for paying his father’s debt but also for his family’s income. He does the work because he loves his family very much and he wants his family to live happily. For this reason, he


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is willing to sacrifice his happiness and dream. He loves his family so much even though they do not understand him and treat him badly.

After the transformation to a giant bug and after the attack of his father, he still shows his love to the family. Even though he is in agony he still remembers and loves his family.

The rotten apple in his back and the inflamed surrounding area, entirely covered with white dust, he hardly noticed. He remembered his family with deep feeling and love…He remained in this state of empty and peaceful reflection until the tower clock struck three o’clock in the morning (p. 72).

We can imagine how great the love is for his family. Even though he has a big problem, in fact he always thinks about and loves his family.

4. 1.4. Isolated

From the beginning of the story, we see that Gregor does not like his job. We can see also that Gregor’s whole life is spent in the street and when he comes back home, he does not go out of the house. He stays at home and finishes his work. “The young man has nothing in his head except business…but he has been at home every evening and reads the newspaper quietly or studies his travel schedules.”(p.18). There is nothing he can do except his business. But the question is why he does not go out in the evening? The answer is he does not build a good relationship with his society, even his family. He does not have enough time to build this relationship because every day he just thinks about work. He does not have enough time to find a girl friend although he has a dream for that. The picture of a woman with a fur hat and a fur boa shows this dream.


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Above the table…hung the picture which he had cut out of an illustrated magazine a little while ago and set in a pretty gilt frame. It was a picture of a woman with a fur hat and a fur boa. She sat erect there, lifting up in the direction of the viewer a solid fur muff into which her entire forearm had disappeared (p. 9).

The people who always talk to him like Mr. Manager and the employees do not have special relationship with him. What they do just between the boss and the worker and between the employer and employee. There is no close relationship between them. “I still have to cope with the problem of travelling…constantly changing human relationships which never comes from the heart.” (p. 10). Gregor does not have a good relationship with his father and mother. He just has a close relationship with his sister Grete but it comes bad after his metamorphosis.

The fact about his isolation can be seen after his body transforms to a verminous bug. After the transformation, he feels imprisoned (p. 38). He is in despair for everything has happened (p. 51). There is no one talk to him including his family which is moving away slowly from him. They do not want to visit and see him. He is lonely to do all things and feels empty in his loneliness (p. 72).

But now the door was not opened any more, and Gregor waited in vain. Earlier, when the door had been barred, they had all wanted to come in to him; now, when he had opened one door and when the others had obviously been opened during the day, no one came any more, and the keys were stuck in the locks on the outside (p. 32).

They do not come to see him because they are afraid of being attacked by him. They are assuming that Gregor has committed some violent crime or other (p. 51). He then realizes that no one would come in to him anymore. The father and mother frequently waits in front of Gregor’s door while his sister cleans up inside


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and as soon as she comes out, she has to explain in great detail how things looked in the room, what Gregor has eaten and how he has behaved this time. (p. 43). This action tells us slightly how Gregor is imprisoned and separated from his family.

4. 2. The Meaning of The Metamorphosisas Experienced by Gregor

The title of this story arouses a big question in the readers’ mind. What is it all about? The Metamorphosisof course has been significant not only as the title but also as the key word to serve the purpose in clarifying the point of the story.

Before we go further to the discussion, the important question is what is the basic distinction between a literal approach and a deep approach in learning a novel? Case & Marshall in Deep and Surface Approaches to Learning(2009) say 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. In contrast, a deep learning involves the critical analysis of new idea and promotes the application for life (pp. 9-18).

In this study the literal meaning means the meaning which can be seen or noticed by the reader in the surface of the novel. After reading the novel, the writer directly concludes about the meaning of The Metamorphosisbased on what is seen and noticed. While 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. So, the writer has to read more and more to find this hidden meaning.


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4. 2.1. The Literal Meaning

4. 2.1.1. A change of physical form; from ability to inability to live

In the surface, the metamorphosis is a change of physical form of a human being from the ability to the inability to work and live. In this story, metamorphosis describes the physical change of a human being named Gregor Samsa to a verminous bug. This change forces him to adapt to his new body.

Gregor discovers that he has changed into a monstrous verminous bug. His arched abdomen divides into rigid bow like sections. His legs turns to numerous and many small limbs are incessantly moving with very different motions.

He lay on his armour-hard back and saw, as he lifted his heads up a little, his brown, arched abdomen divided up into rigid bow-like sections…His numerous legs, pitifully thin in comparison to the rest of his circumference, flickered helplessly before his eyes (Franz Kafka, The Metamorphosis, p. 9).

The changing of the lower part of his body causes him to suffer when moving. His voice turns to the animal voice and he has no real teeth anymore. “Then he made an effort to turn the key in the lock with his mouth. Unfortunately it seemed that he had no real teeth (p. 23).

The physical change brings him to the awareness that he now has some new habits as the consequences of these natural changes. The first change is that he does not like the fresh food anymore and he feels that he is going to be less sensitive. When his sister brings him the milk which he loved but he does not drink it. Testing his taste, she brought him an entire selection such as old half-rotten vegetables, bones from the evening meal, some raisins and almond, cheese, a slice of dry bread and a slice with butter. These foods especially the cheese has


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strongly attracted to him and with his eyes watering with satisfaction he eats one after the other the cheese, the vegetables and the sauce.

“Am I now going to be less sensitive?” he thought, already sucking greedily on the cheese, which had strongly attracted him right away, more than all the other foods. Quickly and with eyes watering with satisfaction, he ate one after the other the cheese, the vegetables, and the sauce. The fresh food, by contrast, did not taste good to him (p. 35).

The other change is that he becomes usual with creeping on the wall and crawling about all over the place. This action is done to follow the changing of his body and to make him more comfortable with his new appearance.

Even though Gregor has tried his best to adapt his new body, he cannot deny that his ability to live as a human being decreases slowly. He still lives because of the spirit from his soul but it will not stay longer because this physical change causes too much pain for him.

4. 2.1.2. A tragic change in life of a misfortunate person; from a hero to a loser

The second literal meaning that can be seen in the surface of the story is a tragic change of life of a misfortune human being named Gregor Samsa, who is in the beginning called a hero then becomes a loser for others. Gregor who is breadwinner of the family in the beginning then becomes a loser at the end.

Before his transformation, Gregor is a strong and obedient son. He works very hard as a travelling salesman for his family to live. He is outside the office almost the entire year and day in day out on the road to sell the product. He has to


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get a trip that makes him exhausted. In his work he has to cope with all problems but he did it well although all of these have never come from the heart.

But after his transformation, everything changes drastically. With this change emerges the confusion of his family. Their acceptance is hardly compassionate. His mother rarely goes into his room. His father tries to ignore the whole situation, and his sister can barely stand to look at him. For several months, the family lives with this vermin bug that they believed to be Gregor because they feel obligated to take care of him. Their obligation turned into resentment, and their resentment turned into indifference.

The action of his mother and sister moving out the furniture from his room makes him despair.

They were cleaning out his room, taking away from him everything he cherished; they had already dragged out the chest of drawers in which the fretsaw and other tools were kept, and they were now loosening the writing desk which was fixed tight to the floor…At that moment he really did not have anymore time to check the good intentions of the two women, whose existence he had in any case almost forgotten, because in their exhaustion they were working really silently, and the heavy stumbling of their feet was the only sound to be heard (p. 49).

Moreover, the biggest action which hurt him the most is the attack from his father who throws an apple at his back. “The father was throwing apple after apple and one drove into Gregor’s back really hard.” (p. 54). The action to throw apples creates a serious wound in Gregor’s back and makes him suffer for over a month.

Finally, this condition alienates Gregor from his humanity and his circumstances. The situation in the house is quite different from before and the refusal of the family causes his death. He dies tragically because they treat him as an animal not as a family member.


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4. 2.1.3. The change of a family’s respect to its member when facing a difficult situation

The last, The Metamorphosis means a change of Gregor’s family members in facing a difficult situation in their life. Before Gregor’s transformation, the family depends on Gregor’s work. So, when he is sick and cannot work again, the family recognizes him as a useless man.

In his new state, Gregor is particularly vulnerable to his family member’s abuses. The climax of Gregor’s suffering is when his father chases him around the room and then throws apples at him and one of the apples sinks into his back, causing him such paint that he cannot move (p. 72). Gregor remains undeterred. Though wounded, he repeatedly attempts to connect with his family, and he remains capable of being moved by beauty and human expression. He cannot hate them. “He remembered his family with deep feeling of love.”(p. 72).

Their inability to adapt to the changes that have occurred signal a total breakdown in the family structure, and offer a cautionary tale about the fragility of justice and mercy. But life must go on and the family has to keep on living. Before Gregor’s death, the members of the family realize that they have to get rid of the difficult situation and from Gregor who is in agony. They have to build their new life. His sister says,

“My dear parents, things cannot go on any longer in this way. Maybe if you don’t understand that well, I do. I will not utter my brother’s name in front of this monster, and thus I say only that we must try to get rid of it. We have tried what is humanly possible to take care of it and to be patient. I believe that no one can criticize us in the slightest.”(p. 69).


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When Gregor’s sister says this, the father in a semi-questioning tone says that he agrees with her daughter but what if Gregor understood them. While the mother is still incapable of breathing properly, his sister says again, “It has to go. This is the only way father. You must try to get rid of the idea that it is Gregor.” (p. 70).

When the cleaning woman tells that Gregor has died, the family spontaneously gives thank to God. It is of course a disgusting act but they feel free. Free from Gregor who is recognized as a loser and free from their real misfortune. “In fact that we have believed this for so long, that is truly our misfortune.” (p. 70). Finally, after Gregor’s death, Mr. Samsa calls them out and says, “All right, come here then. Let’s finally get rid of old things. And have a little consideration for me.” (p.77). They finish their letter and leave the apartment together. On their way, they talk about their future prospects and how they have to work. They are free now.

We can see that a house must be a safe place for every member of the family. But in this story, the parents and sister who should accept him unconditionally and protect him according to the traditional code of family relationships, are those who abuse him the most. They cannot show their love because of the difficult situation.

From this literal meaning, we can see that The Metamorphosisis a change of physical form, a tragic change in life of a misfortunate man and the change of a family when facing a difficult situation in their life. If we dive into the soul of this novel, we can find that this novel is not only about physical change or about a misfortunate man. It is also not only about the change of a family but it is about a


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judgment on someone who fails to gain his individual needs and a expression of his mental suffering.

4. 2.2. The True Meaning

The true meaning is that, The Metamorphosis is a symbolic language used to describe Gregor Samsa’s failure to gain his individual needs. Metamorphosis is also a symbolical language used to describe Gregor’s physical and mental sufferings after experiencing much pain from his family and acquaintances. The judgment and expression of Gregor comes from his awareness that he has failed to be an independent person. As a normal person he has to think about his personal life, dream and willingness. But in fact he has found that he is a weak person who just considers what the family and his boss have told him to do. He is aware that he has just tried to be what his family and society expect him to be and not his own needs. Along his life he has just let them to make the decisions for him and followed their order.

Gregor’s judgment on his failure and the expression of suffering can be seen by the using of a disgusting animal in his transformation. “One morning, as Gregor Samsa was waking up from anxious dreams, he discovered in his bed he had been changed into a monstrous verminous bug.” (p. 9). A bug is a disgusting insect. No one wants to contact with this repulsive insect because it is recognized as one of a dirtiest animals. Gregor has clearly been transformed into something that his family and acquaintances perceive as dirty and contaminating. He feels that his failure to be an independent person is the same with this repulsive insect.


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He is nothing in front of his family and acquaintances. He is not different from a disgusting bug in front of them. A moment after he died, the cleaning woman smiled and said to the family, “You must not worry about throwing out that rubbish from the next room. It’s all taken cake of”. (p. 76).

In the background of the study and the context of the novel, it has been stated that the novel of The Metamorphosisbecomes very interesting because it is truly an autobiography of Franz Kafka, the writer himself. The story of Gregor’s life honestly is the duplication or a shadow of Kafka’s life which is full of physical and mental sufferings. In The Metamorphosis Backgroundwritten by the Harvard University Students, it is stated that Kafka feels like an insect in his father's authoritative presence. Kafka is afraid of his father who always attacks him at every turn. He feels enormous pressure to become a successful businessman like his father but he fails because of the situation at that time (The Metamorphosis Background, p. 3).

If we look back to the theory of motivation by Maslow and Herzberg that is stated in the second chapter, we understand why Gregor is not happy along his life and fails to be an independent person. What is done by Gregor is only based on the safety needs and hygiene factors. In the theory of hierarchy of needs, Maslow says that people have different motivations at different levels. The needs are biological needs, safety needs, belongingness needs, esteem needs and self actualization needs. Herzberg who has close links with Maslow believes that there are certain factors that will directly motivate someone to work harder. These factors are called hygiene and motivator factor (Joseph Gawel, Hezberg’s Theory


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of Motivation and Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, pp. 1-3). The character of Gregor in the story and Kafka the writer are the same. They work hard for their family safety and not for their self actualization. They do not make the decision for their life but for their family. They are also motivated by the hygiene factor (extrinsic factor) that motivating them to get out of dissatisfaction which includes relationship, benefits and environmental conditions. Gregor and Kafka have done what their family and society expects from them. They do the work only for saving their family from poverty.

The theory of psychology especially the psychoanalytic theory of Sigmund Freud gives the same tone with the theory motivation about the feeling of unsuccessful in Gregor and Kafka’s life. What is done by Gregor and Kafka not come from their needs and genuine soul. Moreover, the psychoanalysis theory goes further in finding out the psychological conflict which is experienced by Kafka, the author of this novel. In his theory, Freud introduces the terms of

unconscious and conscious in the level of mental life. He states that it is the unconscious mind that plays the largest role in shaping someone's personality. He believes that the process of art creation is a result of pressure and a heap of trouble in which is then poured into a creative work. Psychological conflict experienced by the character is a reflection or a representation of the author’s own psychological conflict and it is unnoticed by the author (Daices, Critical Approach to Literature, pp. 332-333). In his further explanation, Freud states that the human soul has three components; firstly is Id, a natural human spirit to think and act in accordance with his own without control. Secondly is Superego, which


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represents the moral and ideal aspect of personality guided by the moralistic and idealistic principles. The last is Ego. It is the balance between the demands of self-control and self-limiting property superego, and the encouragement of self-control and

id's infinity. If all of these compartments work in balance, then people will show reasonable character, but if the elements are not working in balance and one of them is more dominant, there will be a war in the mind or soul of a man (J. Feist,

Theories of Personality, pp. 27-30).

Based on the psychoanalytic theory, what is experienced by Gregor in his life describes the psychological conflict of Kafka. Psychological conflict experienced by Gregor in the novel is a reflection or a representation of Kafka’s own psychological conflict and this goes unnoticed by Kafka himself and it is like a dream which is written down in a form of a novel. Secondly, the psychological conflict faced by Kafka and Gregor is which one they have to follow; their own needs or their families needs. In fact they work hard for their family safety and not for their self actualization. Kafka and Gregor have done what their family and society expects from them. The theory of psychoanalysis helps us to analyze that the Ego cannot make a balance between Id and Superego. Most of Gregor’s actions follow the law of family and circumstance (Superego) without giving the right portion to his genuine needs (Id). There is no chance to make a balance between his desires and his family wants. Because these three elements are not working in balance and the Superegois more dominant, there is a war in Gregor’s mind and soul.


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The war experienced by Gregor in the novel is also faced by Kafka in his life. In this situation, Gregor and Kafka do not run out. They cannot leave their families in the difficult situation while at the same time they want to live on what they want. They are trapped in the difficult conditions where there is no where to run. They have tried their best to run out from the problem they faced but they cannot do this.

From the analysis above, we can see that Gregor cannot express his own need and identity because of the situation and it creates so much pain in his life. Harold Bloom in Frans Kafka’s The Metamorphosis (1988) says that Gregor’s metamorphosis from a man to a bug symbolically represents Kafka’s judgment on himself by his defeated humanity because he cannot find a way to leave his job behind and assert his own needs and identity because of his loyalty and sense of obligation to his family (p. 21). The same argument is conveyed by J. Stephens. He conveys that the transformation of Gregor to a bug is a way of exaggerating of himself, trying to express his feeling about his physical and mental suffering (Stephens, Frans Kafka’s Personal Life reflected in The Metamorphosis, p. 4). The statements of Bloom and Stephens bring us to understand clearly that Gregor’s mental suffering and failure to meet his individual needs is a representation of Kafka’s suffering in the real life.

The question is what can be done if a man that in his psychological conflict traps in a difficult condition; whether he has to follow his dream or he has to follow the family needs? There are some possibilities. Firstly, he can choose his own needs. Second, he can choose to follow his family needs. Ideally, he has to


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look for his own needs first. He has to be an independent person. After being an independent person, he can make a balance by following some of the family needs. But he has to filter which one of the duties that he can follow.

In this novel Gregor does not choose both possibilities, because he does not want to sacrifice his needs and his duty to his family. He lets himself die. Maybe the solution chosen by Gregor is a sad solution for some people because there are still other solutions out there. But sometimes the solution to die is chosen by people in their real life when facing a difficult situation especially when there is nowhere to run. We have to appreciate what has been done by Gregor. He has solved the problem of his life through his metamorphosis.

Now we understand the true meaning of The Metamorphosis as experienced by Gregor. It is a symbolic language to describe Gregor’s failure to gain his individual needs and to describe his physical and mental sufferings during his life. The judgment and expression as an insect comes from Gregor’s awareness that he is trapped in a difficult condition and failed to be an independent person. Honestly, the character of Gregor in this novel represents Kafka himself. This symbolic language is created by Kafka to judge himself who fails to gain his individual needs because he is trapped in a difficult situation. His sufferings are not only caused by the treatment from the family and acquaintance but also caused by his personal conflict that he has experienced along his life. These experiences encourage him to use a bug, a disgusting animal as a symbol of his The Metamorphosis novel.


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CHAPTER 5

CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS

This chapter consists of two parts. The first part is the conclusion, which focus on the analysis of Gregor Sama’s character and the meaning of the metamorphosis in Kafka’s The Metamorphosis. The second part relates to the suggestions for the future researchers and the implementation of the use of The Metamorphosisin teaching learning activities.

5. 1. Conclusions

Based on the analysis which is presented in the previous chapter, there are two points to draw as conclusion of this study. The first is about Gregor Samsa’s character in Kafka’s The Metamorphosis. The second conclusion deals with the meaning of The Metamorphosis.

The study has found some characters on Gregor Samsa, the main character of the novel. The first one, Gregor is an obedient son. Before his metamorphosis to a verminous bug, Gregor’s family respects him because he takes care of his family by working in the travelling company which his father fails to work with. As a son, he has to earn the money to pay off his father’s debt to the boss of the company. Though he hates his job, he believes that his family depends entirely on him for living and for this reason he has to sacrifice all of his time whatever it takes, even his life, keeping up the family to survive. Second, Gregor is a hard working son. He is very responsible for his job. He always spends his time for working and studying his travel schedule. In his head, there is only business and


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ABSTRACT

Renrusun, Joachem. 2013. The Meaning of The Metamorphosis as experienced by Gregor, the main character of Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis. Yogyakarta: English Language Education Study Program, Department of Language and Arts Education, Faculty of Teachers Training and Education, Sanata Dharma University.

This thesis discusses The Metamorphosis, a novel written by Franz Kafka. The novel is about the life of Gregor Samsa, an obedient and diligent young travelling salesman. One day, he experiences a physical transformation into a monstrous verminous bug which shocks his family and circumstance. The transformation brings the confusion to them and changes everything. He is isolated and dies after suffering from depression.

The reason for writing this thesis is derived from the writer’s curiosity to understand more about the meaning of The Metamorphosis as experienced by Gregeor himself. Because of the reason the writer formulates two problems that become the bases of this thesis. They are: (1) “How is the main character of the novel, Gregor Samsa depicted in the novel?” and (2) “What is the meaning of The Metamorphosisas experienced by Gregor?”

This study applies library research. The novel itself becomes the primary source for the analysis. The books about literature and psychology become the secondary sources. The other secondary source also comes from the internet which is related to the analysis. In answering the problems, several theories on the literature are applied. The theory of character is applied to analyze Gregor’s character. The theory of psychology assisted by theory of motivation is applied to analyze the true meaning of The Metamorphosis.

The findings in this study reveal that Gregor Samsa is an obedient, lovable, hardworking and isolated person. The other finding is about the literal and the true meaning of The Metamorphosis. There are three literal meanings. Firstly, Metamorphosis is a change of physical form; from ability to inability to live. Second, it is a tragic change of life of Gregor; from a hero to a loser. Third, Metamorphosis is the change of a family when facing a difficult situation. While the true meaning is that, The Metamorphosis 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 judgment and expression as an insect comes from Gregor’s awareness that he is trapped in a difficult condition and fails to be an independent person. He is aware that he has tried to be what his family and society expected him to be and not his own needs. In Gregor’s view, he is the same with a disgusting bug in front of his family and acquaintances. The character of Gregor in the novel is a duplication of what is experienced by Kafka in his real life.

Finally, besides making suggestions for future researchers, this study also provides a suggestion for the implementation on The Metamorphosis in teaching English. The lesson plan and material are designed as the implementation of the novel in teaching reading skill.

Keywords: metamorphosis, transformation, character, literal and true meaning.

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ABSTRAK

Renrusun, Joachem. 2013. The Meaning of The Metamorphosis as experienced by Gregor, the main character of Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis. Yogyakarta: Program Studi Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris, Jurusan Pendidikan Bahasa dan Seni, Fakultas Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan, Universitas Sanata Dharma.

Skripsi ini membahas sebuah novel karya Franz Kafka yang berjudul The Metamorphosis. Novel berkisah tentang hidup Gregor Samsa, seorang wiraniaga muda yang berdedikasi serta menjadi tulang punggung keluarga. Suatu ketika, secara tiba-tiba, dia berubah menjadi seekor kutu yang menjijikan serta mengagetkan keluarga dan lingkungannya. Perubahan fisik ini menimbulkan kebingungan diantara mereka dan merubah segalanya. Dia terisolasi hingga akhirnya meninggal karena depresi.

Alasan penulisan Skripsi ini berangkat dari keingintahuan penulis untuk memahami lebih dalam arti dari metamorphosis seperti yang dialami Gregor. Berangkat dari alasan ini, penulis merumuskan dua permasalahan yang menjadi dasar penulisan; 1) Bagaimana Gregor Samasa, tokoh utama novel digambarkan? 2) Apa arti metamorphosisseperti yang dialami oleh Gregor?

Studi ini menggunakan penilitian kepustakaan. Novel itu sendiri menjadi sumber utama, sementara buku-buku tentang literatur dan psikologi menjadi sumber sekunder. Sumber sekunder lain diambil dari internet yang berhubungan dengan topik pembahasan. Dalam menjawab permasalahan-permasalahan, beberapa teori literatur digunakan. Teori karakter digunakan untuk menganalisa karakter Gregor. Sementara teori psikologi yang didukung teori motivasi digunakan untuk menganalisa makna sesungguhnya dariThe Metamorphosis.

Hasil studi mengungkapkan bahwa Gregor Samsa adalah pribadi yang taat, penyayang, pekerja keras dan terisolir. Penemuan lain ialah tentang arti literer dan arti sesungguhnya dari metamorphosis. Terdapat tiga arti literer: pertama, metamorfosis adalah perubahan bentuk fisik; dari kemampuan menuju ketidakmampuan untuk hidup. Kedua, metamorfosis adalah perubahan hidup Gregor yang tragis; dari pahlawan menjadi pecundang. Ketiga, metamorfosis adalah berubahnya sebuah keluarga saat berhadapan dengan situasi sulit. Sementara berdasarkan arti sesungguhnya,The metamorphosismerupakan bahasa symbol yang menggambarkan kegagalan Gregor untuk menjadi dirinya dan merupakan gambaran atas penderitaan fisik-mental selama hidupnya. Pernyataan diri Gregor yang tak ubahnya seperti serangga muncul dari kesadaran bahwa dia telah terjebak dalam kondisi sulit dan gagal menjadi pribadi independen. Dia sadar bahwa dia hanya menjadi apa yang diinginkan keluarga dan bukan karena keinginan dirinya. Dalam pandangannya, dia tidak berbeda dari seekor kutu yang menjijikan di hadapan mereka. Karakter dari Gregor dalam novel sesungguhnya hanyalah duplikat dari apa yang dialami Kafka dalam kehidupan nyata.

Akhirnya, disamping mengemukakan saran untuk para peneliti lain, studi ini juga menegaskan pentingnya penerapan novel The Metamorphosis dalam pengajaran bahasa Inggris. Rencana pengajaran dan materi disusun sebagai bentuk implementasi terhadap novel untuk pelajaran membaca.