Samsa Suffering from Existential Crisis

This paper investigates the concept of existential crisis in The Metamorphosis (1915) by Franz Kafka (1883Kafka ( -1924) ) through giving the proper attention to the interpretation of the characteristics of Samsa.It is the study of the existential crisis of Samsa, which tends to focus on the relation with the existential philosophy of Sartre, Kierkegaard, Dostoevsky, and Heidegger.This paper finds that an existential crisis occurs if a person does not have proper concentration on his/her existence.This way of looking at one's own identity is problematic as it creates complexity within the existence of the self.Existentialism always emphasizes individual existence, freedom, and choice.It is such a point of view where human beings attain the power to illustrate their meaning of life, and at the same time give efforts to make rational decisions despite existing in an irrational universe.Samsa is a traveling salesman, who has to maintain all responsibilities of his family, and he has understood it in a very short time.Despite being metamorphosed into an insect, he never forgets his family members in such a hard situation.Existentialism always gives priority to one's own choice, and freedom, and at the same time provides the opportunity to give a proper shape of life according to one's own will, but Samsa does not want to leave his family members till the end of his life.This is why, he faces the path of death, and finally dies.He is always ready to take care of his fellows neglecting and denying his own needs.Instead of fighting for his existence, he always gets ready to do whatever he is supposed to do as if he were made to have the belief that he should always do the same as long as he will exist on earth, and this is why , he deserves to face an existential crisis.So, his selfless and dutiful attitude toward others' lives trigger the ultimate result of his loneliness, sorrow, mental trauma, and at last his death.