Author: Frank Kafka
A Tamil saying goes like this - செய்யும் தொழிலே தெய்வம் - your job is your divinity. Therefore, one is expected to perform his work to perfection as it is as if he is serving God, as it is divinity to serve. It may be his reason for existence.
This is probably what Appa held close to his heart. Without taking a single leave from his bank job, which he worked for 40 years over, the same place of work after leaving school, he must have been an exemplary worker. But, with the ease of mobility and money jingling in his pockets, it must have been the freedom he missed so much in the latter part of his life when his eyesight failed, and body broke down after repeated strokes.
After reading Kafka's 'Metamorphosis, I realise that narrating a story is not just telling an event and shocking the readers with bizarre storylines and twisted endings. Instead, it matters that many untold nuances and symbolisms lie buried somewhere for readers to unravel.
A short and straightforward story told in 50 pages but packed with moral and philosophical queries about life. In a gist, it is a tale of a travelling salesman, Gregor Samsa, who finds himself transformed into an insect when he gets up for work one morning. He just could not get up because of his altered morphology. He had been a diligent worker and perhaps also bullied by his employer for his hardworking attitude. Gregor has to work hard to pay the loan that he took from his boss when his father went bankrupt. He also wants to send his beloved sister to a music school to perfect her violin skills.
On the morning of his metamorphoses, everybody in the house is getting anxious. Gregor had obviously missed his train for an outstation assignment. Even Gregor's chief clerk is pounding on his door to hurry up.
Gregor is still immobile, not used to using his newfound torso and limbs. Finally, after finally opening the door, everybody goes scurrying. His mother faints.
As time flies by, everybody realises that Gregor's condition is permanent. The only person who seems to empathise with his situation is his sister, Grete. The mother still faints at the sight of him. The father is furious. He hits Gregor with an apple which hits him at a tender area and causes a festering wound. The father, who appeared weak and old before, has to get back to the workforce as the financial coffers dwindle. Suddenly, he becomes springy and is proud of his newfound post as a bank security personnel. However, he resents his situation as he has to work hard to support his family at an advanced age. Secretly he is angry with Gregor for his condition. Mrs Samsa supplements the family income by sewing. Grete starts working as a salesgirl, and the family rents part of their house.
On one evening, Grete was entertaining the tenants with her violin rendition. Mesmerised with her playing, Gregor sneaks out to listen. The tenants, who made it clear earlier that they are fastidious about cleanliness, are livid upon catching a glimpse of a vermin wandering about in the house. They refuse to pay the outstanding bills. Mr Samsa, angry with Gregor for the hardship he had brought upon the family, locks him up in his room. It was Grete who suggested that perhaps 'something should be done about her brother'.
Gregor, who was already very ill from his earlier injury, dies due to malnutrition.
It seems that the ability to work and bring home the bacon gives one the shield of confidence. But, at the same time, when there is no reason for a person to work, when everything is provided for, or perhaps with affirmative policies, the person will generally degenerate to a lazy slob and quite lethargic about everything. But, conversely, when the tide changed, when things are so rosy anymore, the will for survival will push him to work even when it used to be undoable before.
No one is indispensable. When one person is taken away from the job market, somebody else will quickly move in to take over. We all like to think the tears, blood and sweat we toil for the family will be eternally appreciated. Perhaps not. When our existence is troublesome, to maintain sanity, we may just be discarded. Life has to go on for the living. The old and the infirm have to make way for the others to act out on the stage.
[P.S. Thanks to MEV for the suggestion]