Droning On

Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis showed hidden meanings that were only attainable after deep analysis of the text. It becomes difficult to hold your focus on the novella; something intentionally done by Kafka (the only way to effectively describe the world is to do so from different viewpoints and in symbolic language). Existentialism, by definition, is a philosophical theory that emphasizes an individual's existence. There is no possible way to define it in a simple sentence, however: that was just an absurdly blunt opening introduction to the endless definition that is existentialism. It tends to deny the existence of objective values, but instead stressing about the value and significance of human freedom and experience. Sympathy, empathy, and apathy all link into existentialism as well. Sympathy meaning "I'll comfort you", empathy meaning "I understand you", and apathy meaning "I don't care".
 In The Metamorphosis, Gregor does not get a chance to experience this essential human freedom and experience because he has no connections or voice in his home (and calling it a "home" could be debatable). When he wakes up in his room, which is shaped like a box, he finds himself to be transformed from a human to a bug. Surprisingly enough, he is hardly emotionally affected by the metamorphosis; he is more concerned about how he is going to be able to work instead. His life is very much alike the one of a drone in an ant colony. His family is very lazy and in debt and rely on Gregor to provide for them, and Gregor doesn't seem to mind. He never expects anything in return for his hard work. He sees his family in a sympathetic view, therefore their horribly selfish deeds are fogged by Gregor's point of view (in which the story is read through). He becomes a burden to his family because his lack of ability to support the family anymore; he has devoted the rest of his life to himself. According to Kafka and existentialism, people have a side with commitment to society and an individual side. To maintain balance, our choices need to be in moderation of the two. If somebody chooses himself over society, society will abandon him. If he chooses society over himself, he will no longer have his individuality. Gregor, at the beginning, chose society over himself, and he ended up transforming into a working drone. When his metamorphosis stunts his ability to choose society over himself, he is forced to focus on only himself and his family (society) abandoned him. Gregor never intentionally hurt his family, although they came around and stabbed him in the back; literally and metaphorically. His father threw an apple into his back which eventually killed him. Existentialism in The Metamorphosis shows that the balance between the two depends on the choices of the individual.