<center><b>To what extent did Kafka use comedy/irony to develop his tragic, cynical view of society and family?</b></center><br><br>Gregor Samsa, a young traveling salesman who lives with and financially supports his parents and younger sister, Grete, wakes up one morning to find "himself changed in his bed into a monstrous vermin" or insect. At first, to my surprise, he is preoccupied with practical, everyday concerns: How to get out of bed and walk with his numerous legs? Can he still make it to the office on time? <br><br>Most persons would be devastated to find themselves in such a position as Gregor, but he did not seem to care much about himself, but only about his obligations, instead of panicking, he starts cursing his job : "If I …show more content…

Mr. Samsa, an "old man" who stayed at home and relied on his son for financial support, suddenly changes to a bank official who is "holding himself very erect".<br><br>I find it very ironic in this book that you can see the imminent rebellion of the son against the father. Due to the father's failure, Gregor became strong and crippled his father's self-esteem when he took over his position in the family. But after the metamorphosis, the whole thing reverses: the son becomes weak and the father takes over, the father even kills him. <br><br>Even though the family tries to cope with the fact that their benefactor is no longer able to take care of them, and try to contain the damage, in the process, they all begin to change their own lives. Grete also gets a job and seems to be on the verge of a new life.<br><br>It is ironic how Gregor's predicament is much like that of any person suffering from severe illness or disability. In Gregor's new identity, his senses completely change, his eyesight, his hearing, his voice. Some of Gregor's changes are generated from within, others are conditioned by the world's reactions to his metamorphosis. <br><br>This all points to the inevitable, when one changes, the world around him/her changes as well. <br><br>Kafka used an awful lot of irony and also some comedy to point out how society works. How