Kafka's Relatability

          Franz Kafka was a German-born, absurd fiction novelist, who often incorporated elements regarding his own depression and anxiety into his works (D and G). In his renowned 1915 work, The Metamorphosis, Kafka tells of a man who goes through a bizarre experience tied together with feelings of guilt, and of being a burden to those around you. These are two elements that heavily surround the idea of suicide in current times as well as Kafka’s time. Kafka’s demonstration of clear understanding about feelings regarding suicide, seems to show that he would agree with the need to take action for today’s youth suicide social epidemic.              After a reading of almost any of Kafka’s work, it will be clear that he was a man who dealt with a great amount of mental turmoil. It is said that he believed that the entire human race resulted from “one of God’s bad days” (yalepress). Having such a dark and complex look on life resulted in many works of absurd fiction, in turn many analytical theories regarding the end of these works emerged. Kafka once asked a friend of his to burn his works “preferably unread” after he died (yalepress). This goes to show that Kafka had no concerns about readers accessing his works, and that he was not writing for any kind of motive other than to express his thoughts. The complexity in his stories sometimes causes people to fill in the gaps where some of his intended meanings become unclear. For example, in The Metamorphosis, Gregor Samsa wakes up one day to find himself transformed into a giant insect (Kafka 1). It has been widely discussed as to what this insect represents or symbolizes. But in fact, that is one of Kafka’s most ‘absurd” features – to force the reader to make their own assumptions. Despite not wanting these works published, Kafka’s collection went on to be widely discussed across the world for many years.

          Kafka’s sense of guilt and anxiety is clearly reflected in the main character of The Metamorphosis, Gregor Samsa. After waking to discover himself as a bug, Gregor quickly shuts himself in his room, unable to face his family. After they call out to him, he begins to panic more despite wanting to tell them the truth. Gregor said that he, “had wanted to give a full answer and explain everything, but in the circumstances contented himself with saying: ‘Yes, mother, yes, thank-you, I’m getting up now.’ ” (Kafka 3). This is the opposite reaction to what most people would have, as he chose to hide from his family rather than to get help. Gregor’s fear of his family’s reaction was greater than the fear of what was happening to him. For those like Kafka, who struggle with anxiety, this reaction may be more relatable. As Kafka knows, when feelings such as this kind of intense anxiety mix and build up, suicidal ideations and actions may follow.                   Along with anxiety, feelings and themes of depression can be found incorporated throughout Kafka’s work, such as The Metamorphosis. The first sentence in the novel is, “One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin” (Kafka 1). This “horrible vermin” may be interpreted as a representation for depression. When thinking of what mental illnesses and struggles like depression could be symbolized by, a monster does come to mind. A few minutes after he wakes, Gregor begins to recount the struggles that are paired with his profession. He complains of, “worries about making train connections”; “bad and irregular food”; and “contact with different people all the time so that you can never get to know anyone or become friendly with them” (Kafka 2). These complaints would inevitably lead to a decline in one’s wellbeing, especially their mental health. Gregor’s transformation into a “horrible vermin” can also be seen as his extraneous work conditions finally catching up to him, as he is physically forced to stop. Like Gregor, many individuals who experience severe depression and suicidal ideations are often unexpectedly brought face to face with the severity of their struggles as it catches up to them physically.

        Kafka’s writings are also likely a reflection of his own life, and the tumultuous feelings he experienced. It is known that Kafka came from a difficult childhood, with a very authoritative father (D and G). Like Kafka, and many other individuals with mental health struggles, The Metamorphosis main character, Gregor experienced a common feeling – that everyone would be better off without him. After Gregor finally faces his family, he was confined to his room and thought, “he must show patience and the greatest consideration so that his family could bear the unpleasantness that he, in his present condition, was forced to impose on them” (Kafka 14). Kafka’s relationship with his father had little improvement throughout his lifetime and was especially impacted as Kafka’s physical health began to fail (D and G). Kafka likely felt that he was a burden upon his family, as many individuals across the world do. In a study published in the National Library of Medicine, this exact feeling was identified as a unique risk factor for suicide (Cukrowicz et al.). This study stated, “It was hypothesized that perceived burdensomeness would contribute significantly to the variance in suicide ideation” (Cukrowicz et al.).

        Kafka’s struggles with his mental health contributed to the production of works such as The Metamorphosis, littered with metaphors and aphorisms that can be seen as representations for depression and anxiety. Kafka allowed his audience to make their own inferences about these representations. Anxiety, depression, and feeling like a burden are key risk factors associated with suicidal ideations or actions. Kafka not only experienced all three of these, but he also incorporated them into his works. Because Kafka shows a clear understanding of the three, he would relate to many individuals today who struggle with their mental health. As youth suicide rates increase and spread into a social epidemic, many people call for action. Because of his understanding, and therefore the ability to sympathize, Kafka would agree with the need for change.