The Metamorphosis, by Kafka, explored the need for change in society. Kafka saw a wrong in society as a whole and wanted to make his opinion known. He believed it was wrong to be dedicated to one's job over one's family. The critics and their articles, Honig's "Dark Conceit" and Richter's "Franz Kafka-Werk and Entwurf", delved into that controversial view of Kafka's work. The relationship to his family, his guilt, his job, and society exposes the troubled life of Gregor and the misdirection of the society that Kafka saw in his day.
             Family, now that is hard to say when talking about this book. The "family" was related by blood alone. Richter does not confront this issue in his article though he should have. I agree with Honig's statement: "...he becomes to his family and himself as he lies in bed: simply a huge, detestable insect"(Honig 139). The way I see it, if they were a true "family" they would have stayed with Gregor even in his bad times. They shun him, however, as they see him only as a pest. The last to love him, his sister, said: "It has to go, it's the only answer, father"(Kafka 52). Her statement shows that she no longer sees him as her brother but a thing to be dealt with like the garbage she had been feeding him.
             I believe, as does Richter and Honig, that Gregor's transformation into the vermin was an enlightening experience for Gregor that brought about his final peace, death(Richter 192, Honig 139). Through his self-punishment and enlightenment he saw the true position of his life, nobody and unwanted. This was shown in the story with the neglect that he received, until his starvation(Kafka 52-54). Honig, Richter, and I saw the transformation as a way to allow Gregor to step back from his existence in society and the family and take a spectator's view. That view showed him how his life was ...