Kafka's most well-known work, The Metamorphosis, delves into the complex emotions of a family in turmoil. While the family's emotions go from shock to fear to mere sympathy and ultimately alienation, Gregor's mind is still intact and he feels the same for his family. One of the main symbolic structures within the story is, obviously, the theme of metamorphosis. This theme doesn't just apply to Gregor's physical transformation into a bug, but to other family members, namely Grete, the sister. At the beginning, she is just a fragile young girl who clings to her family out of necessity. But by the end of the story, thanks to the new pressure of supporting her family and taking care of Gregor, she has matured in both stature and mind. This is shown through the parent's realization that she has grown into a young woman and that it's about time to find her a husband. The entirety of the family goes through a metamorphosis as well, as their monetary problems become smaller through out the story, and after Gregor dies, they become reinvigorated.
Another reoccurring theme is the limits of sympathy. The family battles sympathy and revulsion towards Gregor's new form. The mother and Grete hold onto a shred of hope that Gregor still has a little bit of humanity within his shell. Grete even becomes his caretaker, and the father shows some sort of compassion by just allowing the others to take care of him. Eventually, however, the stresses of Gregor's presence wear their sympathy thin. Grete and the mother are so revolted by Gregor's appearance that they can't stand to be in the room with him. The fact that Gregor cannot convey his human thoughts only strengthen the family's feeling that he is an actual insect. Ultimately the sister, who has shown the most compassion, decides that it is time for Gregor to go.
The theme of alienation is also apparent throughout this work. The distance created by his appearance is both physical and emotional. Not only is he alienated from his family in his new body, he is also alienated within. This is so because while he can think as a normal human would, he cannot express his thoughts and soon becomes disconnected from body and mind. Gregor is also alienated from his family by his physical appearance and doesn't even attempt contact, as he hides everytime someone walksin his room. This alienation was foreshadowed by his growing disconnect from his family through his human work.
Kafka shows the disconnect and maturity of not just the family depicted in this story, in all of his other works as well. This is the tragedy of the modern family, in his eyes.
