Jose's Post

In the New Testament, we are introduced to various stories of “unclean” and “unholy” people. For example in the book of John 8:1-11 we are introduced to Mary Magdalene, a woman who is consider unclean because she is a prostitute. In the book of Mark 1:40-45, a man with leprosy is also presented as unholy because of his incurable skin disease. The commonalities between these two stories is that both present individuals that are rejected by friends, family and community. Similar to Mary Magdalene’s and the leper’s exile, Gregor’s life in Kafka’s “Metamorphosis” parallels their struggle and alienation. The significance of these struggles is that they serve as a sacrifice to the redemption of people in this world. For instance, Gregor’s transformation serves as the pathway to the unification of his family and friends. As Gregor tries to cope with his transformation, he feels reconnected with his family and community. Since he was unable to attend work, his family, as well as his manager, become extremely concern with what they refer to as his “illness”. Through the conversational interactions that Gregor has from within the room, he is able to feel appreciated and loved. Gregor states that “at least now that people knew that things were not completely all right with him…[they] were prepared to help him.” The significance of this is that his struggle has opened the doors for others to acknowledge his presence in the world. The notion that people were prepared to help him symbolizes the hope that Gregor had in feeling reconnected with his family and the community that surrounds him. Moreover, Gregor goes on to say that “the confidence and assurance with which his [parents sought help]… made him feel good. He felt himself included once again in the circle of humanity…”.Hence, even though the metamorphosis that Gregor underwent incapacitated many freedoms, it allowed him to recover his family, as well as the satisfaction of feeling loved.

              Throughout the story, Gregor, is confined to the similar acts of rejection that Mary Magdalene and the leper confronted including being “stoned” with apples, being exiled from the rest of the world due to his “deformation” and etc.