Kafka's "The Metamorphosis" and the Trans Experience

If I had a nickel for every time I've had to read "The Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka in an English class, I'd have two nickles. This double read has given me much time to consider this short story and what it is trying to communicate. But for a story about a salesman turning into a bug, who would have noticed its effectiveness as a trans allegory?

What is "The Metamorphosis”?

On the first page of “The Metamorphosis”, you are introduced to the narrator, Gregor Samsa, a salesman who acts as the breadwinner for his whole family despite how tired he is of it. He wakes up one morning to discover something horrifying, he has turned into a bug. This causes him great concern as he fears he will not be able to earn a living for his family, who have also discovered his sad state and are, reasonably, horrified.

In his efforts to get out of bed and go to work, he is met with disgust and fear from his family and boss, who came over upon learning about his lateness for work. His boss quickly panics and runs out, firing Gregor in the process. His family then condemns Gregor to his room, ashamed of him, and fret over their newfound conflict.

Now, while the story as a whole has more obvious themes of how the ability to achieve impacts self-worth, this trans interpretation still stands. Think, a person transforms (transitions) into who they truly are and, as consequence, are shunned from their family and lose their job.

While it is not the happiest story for a trans person, many details from this text relate to trans experiences.

From Human to Insect, Human to Human

The insect transformation of Gregor Samsa in the text, reveals Gregor’s want for an out. Being the sole provider for his family and gaining no satisfaction from it, is thought to be a cause for his transformation. While Gregor is notably worried about its consequences, he also realizes how freeing it is. The stress and responsibility he had to deal with were removed due to this transformation. The transformation allowed Gregor to live how he wants, free from the cage built around him.

For a trans person, this transformation allows them to break out of their assigned gender and finally feel as though they are really themselves. They lived through life dealing with the constant strife of misgendering and transphobia, only to wake up one day and be who they want to. Their inside becomes their outside, they are finally free.

In both the text and in this allegory, transformation is an escape from one's current unpleasant circumstances. For Gregor, it’s an escape from an overload of responsibility, for a trans person, it’s an escape from an identity that isn’t theirs.

A World That Wasn't Made for You

While Gregor becomes more accustomed to his bug form, his family begins to harbor intense shame and disgust towards him. The rest of the Samsa family, the father, mother, and sister, Grete, are all financially reliant on Gregor. Gregor’s transformation brings new change and conflict, one they all unfairly blame on Gregor. They are disgusted by his new appearance and behaviors. They lock him in his room and barely provide him with the basic essentials to live. The father is hostile and violent, the mother feels pity for his condition, and Grete tries to feed him but is so grossed out that she can’t even look at him. They all understand that Gregor is different now, but it is a different none of them want to accept. The Gregor they knew is gone.

While reading the story you can only feel a little sorry for bug Gregor, he is a bug and a fictional character after all. But in the trans interpretation, this is a person. After finally becoming who one wants to be, they are met with hostility and disgust from the people they care about most. Family members may react with hostility, pity, or forced kindness. Upon coming out, a trans person may lose their job, creating consequences for them and those who rely on them.

In "The Metamorphosis" the message is clear: You cannot be who you want to be because it inconveniences others. Gregor cannot get a break from work and a trans person cannot be who they are.

A Bitter Conclusion

"The Metamorphosis" ends with Gregor dying and the rest of the Samsa family living better lives. It makes it seem as though Gregor was a problem they needed to get rid of or a wake-up call to be more self-sufficient. In the trans allegory, the ending is even more unfortunate for the narrator.

Overall, this ending can have two interpretations: the death of the main character was necessary for the growth of the other characters, or the death of the main character allowed them to escape a world that would not account for them. “The Metamorphosis” is a tragedy either way. A sad reflection of a world that wants compliance without complaint, leaving no room for compromise.

So what's the point then, why interpret this story in a way that was never intended? Well, as a questioning kid in high school, this interpretation fascinated me (even the original message fascinates me). All I could wonder is if other people saw this too.

Thus I learned a very important lesson in English classes, if you can back up your interpretation, it is a valid interpretation.