In Kafka's The Metamorphosis, I have
read that Kafka never wanted the bug to be associated with a cockroach, per se, but
simply a bug. In fact, the cover of the original work did not have a picture of a bug at
all, so as to avoid an association with one kind of insect over another. Over the years,
students (and perhaps teachers) have not been able but to envision a
cockroach.
The bug may symbolize a change in the man that
might or might not be literal. It is suggested that it simply
represents Gregor's feeling of alienation from his family, as they care more about his
paycheck, and little for him.
Because the book begins with
the following phrase, it has also been suggested that Gregor's change into a bug is not
literal, but the element of a dream:
As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy
dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic
insect.
Dreams have, for
thousands of years, been believed to be symbolic in some way. (E.g., Joseph of the Old
Testament translated the dreams of Pharaoh.) In this instance, if Gregor is
having a dream that he has turned into a bug, it may be symbolic of
how he is perceived figuratively by his family or his
employer.
To see a cockroach in your dream,
symbolizes href="http://www.dreammoods.com/dreamthemes/bugs.htm">uncleanness.
However,
a cockroach in one's dreams, might also symbolize things that "plague" one's life, such
as worry; or something about one's personal condition that is unpleasant or negative in
some way. These examples could certainly apply to Gregor's feelings about his job or the
way his employer treats him, or some sense that his family tolerates him simply because
he supports their leisurely lifestyle.
It is also suggested
that Gregor's transformation into an insect may symbolize "the human
condition."
The cockroach could
symbolize "survival." It has long been said that the cockroach would be able to survive
a nuclear disaster that would destroy all other life. The bug would die at "ground
zero," but the truth is that this insect can withstand radiation
that would kill a human—the lethal does for a human is 800 rems, whereas an American
cockroach can withstand 67,500 rems: they are tough "buggers."
(Pardon the pun.)
Finally, the beetle—because Kafka's
insect was not meant to actually be a
cockroach—can be symbolic many things. Scarabs are religious
symbols, not just in Egypt, but in many cultures even older than that of the Egyptians.
Beetles were worshipped for their abilities to fly or dive into the
ground.
Regarding religious symbolism, Gregor is often seen
as a Christ-like figure: "he felt like he was nailed down and stretched out..." when his
father imbeds an apple in his back; he died at 3:00 (a.m., not p.m.); and, he sacrificed
his life—almost every waking hour—for his family's well-being. Beetles were also a
valuable food source. Gregor is definitely the one who provides the funds to pay for
everything the Samsa family needs to survive, including
food.
It is important to remember, regardless of how
we interpret the image of a cockroach or beetle, that the
association that seems to dominate Kafka's story is Gregor's sense of alienation,
followed closely by the family's decision to lock him in his room where they eventually
store unwanted household items, and ultimately, their decision to do away with
Gregor…just as the charwoman disposes of his dead body—as if Gregor were trash and had
never been a son or brother.
Additional
Source:
http://www.insects.org/ced1/beetles_rel_sym.html
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