Essay On Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis

Exclusion – The Universal Experience of the Unexploitable

Most individuals have experienced ostracism – exclusion from a group or community by their peers. Many of these outsiders often wonder if their experience is mutual amongst others in some way. However, literary works such as Franz Kafka’s short story “The Metamorphosis”, Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel “The Scarlet Letter”, and “The Orphan Boy and the Elk Dogs”, a myth from the Blackfoot tribe, demonstrate that not all people experience exclusion, only dysfunctional people who cannot be exploited for the benefit of the community.
In “The Metamorphosis”, traveling salesman Gregor Samsa awakens one morning to discover that his body has been transformed into one of a “monstrous verminous bug (137)”. Gregor and his family soon discover that his new, cumbersome body renders him incapable of working, so the family members decide to find jobs to help alleviate their dire financial situation. Gregor’s family was originally willing to accommodate Gregor, demonstrated by their removal of furniture from their living room in order for Gregor to crawl …show more content…
However, unlike Gregor, Hester acknowledges and ponders over her mistakes during her solitude. She attempts to rectify the mistakes by contributing back to her community, showing compassion and comfort to the poor, the sick, and the downtrodden. Over time, Hester’s philanthropy convinces people that the “A” represents “Angel” and “Able”, not “Adulteress”. Thus, by learning to give back to her community, Hester is reaccepted as a member of the community once her community benefits from her actions. Hester’s narrative counters claims that all flawed individuals are shunned; if they prove themselves useful, their societies will accept

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