Beneath the Crunchy Exoskeleton Lies the Heart of a Struggling Man: the True Story of a Man Battling his Id

Sigmund Freud the great Viennese psychologist changed modern psychology and thought with his theory of the id, ego, and super ego. First, a quick lesson:

1) Id: inner desire- the id is responsible for basic desires, infantile emotions, amoral and egocentric urges, and it is in constant struggle with the super-ego. The Id is divided into two portions: life and death. The life instincts are essential for a pleasurable life. While the death instincts are our unconscious desire to die, as to relieve us of earthly struggles. The id is expressed through art, anger, fiction, media, and mind-toying substances like alcohol and drugs.

2) ego: the I-the ego’s task is to mediate between the id and the super-ego. It forms a set of morals, a reality, and drives that satisfy the id and super ego. It must balance inner desires and the external world.

3) super-ego: the conscience- the super ego is the internalization of the father-figure and the regulations of society. It is in conflict with the often amoral, unrealistic desires of the id. The super ego maintains our sense of morality and makes sure that our behaviors is in-line with society.

In Franz Kafka’s novella Metamorphosis, the clear struggle between Gregor Samsa’s id, ego, and superego are displayed through the dream-like experience. Freud’s approach to understanding the three layers of the mind was through dream-analysis. Kafka, sets the stage for Freudian examination through his fantastical transformation of Gregor into an insect. Through this metamorphosis the inner layers of Gregor’s mind and the Samsa’s family dynamics are exposed.

Oedipal Complex?
The struggle for authority between Gregor and his father may be an extension of the Oedipal Complex that Freud believed in. Gregor’s father is in great debt and is out of work. Gregor is the bread winner and is forced to work in order to support his family. However with the transformation and deterioration of Gregor, his father reassumes his position as the authority head of the Samsa family. Father Samsa represents the super-ego, the father figure and the regulations of society. Just as Gregor’s office manager, the father embodies the pressure of society on an individual to make money, work, and survive for the sake of others. Gregor slaved away for years like a drone ant in order to help the ‘colony’ of his family. However, he was betrayed by his family (most importantly his father) when he overheard that a portion of Gregor’s earnings were not being used to pay off debt but were being saved for a rainy day! Gregor was filled with shame and grief after hearing this.

The fact that Gregor has a voice and conscience but cannot express himself in understandable terms, is a direct reflection of his id’s inner struggle. His voice is a murmured insect tongue; but his thoughts are clear. Gregor’s id is in constant struggle with his father and his super ego. Gregor must keep supplying the family with money at the expense of his happiness.
When reading this novella I felt strong feelings of compassion and admiration for Gregor. Despite the disgust, disrespect, and harm he received from his family members, Gregor was still considerate towards them. He spent hours trying to cover himself with a sheet in order to sheild his family from the site of him. Although he acted this way out of consideration, he ultimately saw himself in the same light that his parents and sister did. Especially after hearing his sister’s desire to get rid of Gregor, his self-image drastically deteriorated. Kafka said, ''The rotting apple in his back and the inflamed area around it, all covered with soft dust, already hardly troubled him. He thought of his family with tenderness and love. The decision that he must disappear was one that he held to even more strongly than his sister, if that were possible.” Soon, Gregor died. But throughout his struggle, pain, and alienation, Gregor remained loving and understanding of his family.

Finally, Gregor's id's balance between life and death instincts falters. Gregor sees death as his escape from his worldly situation. His unacknowledged desire to die, consumes him in his state of grief and shame. While his family continues living at the expense of their loyal son, brother, and worker.

Interesting observation: There are many aspects of this novella that are coupled in groups of three
There are three:
- family members of Gregor
- layers of the mind: id, ego, super-ego
- metamorphosis typically has three stages (caterpillar)
- story is in three parts
- the three Samsas write three letters
- doors to Gregor’s room
- lodgers

I apologize for the disjointedness of this blog entry. I really loved the story; however, writing about it was hard for me because there was so much to think about. I had trouble organizing my thoughts this time. I’ll make sure the next one is more logical and coherent.
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