Isolation

Many of the protagonists in Franz Kafka's short stories are men who are isolated from others, and the prime example can be found in the short story, "The Metamorphosis." In this story, the protagonist, Gregor Samsa, finds himself transformed into an insect with no explanation. His condition cannot be rectified, and he immediately loses his job. His family members are afraid of him, and he become shut up in his room almost all the time. He spends his days alone, only able to listen to his family and hear news of the outside world through the door. Gregor is not only physically isolated from his family, but emotionally. His family makes no real effort to understand his condition, and eventually come to hope that Gregor will die. Once Gregor hears this, he stops eating and allows himself to waste away. Another example of an isolated man can be...