Symbolism analysis in Franz Kafka's metamorphosis

This study is considered as a qualitative and literary analysis study. Thus, it uses the intrinsic part of the literary works. It analyzes a novella called Metamorphosis due to its intriguing nature. This story is also often assumed to be a symbolic and nihilistic story. Related to that, this study tries to find the symbolism in the novella, the true meaning of the novella, and how nihilism is represented in the novella. Certainly, in its finding of them, the study includes some theories related to the novella, approaches to understand a literature, theories about symbolism, and theories about existential nihilism. This study finds that there are five important symbolisms found in the novella; vermin, apple, food, furniture and a picture of a woman in fur, and Gregor’s metamorphosis. The true meaning of the novella is about a severely ill man who is ‘murdered’ by his own purpose of life. Existential nihilism is represented in the story in how Gregor’s purpose of life is meaningless, how Gregor is insignificant to his family once he can no longer pay for his family’s bill, and how Gregor is isolated from his family since none of his family members understands him. Eventually, besides suggestion for the future researchers, the writer also suggests people in general not to judge confusing story in one look and also form them to be more open about one’s view and do not get offended by merely a belief—as long as it does not harm anyone—because each person leads his/her own life, has his/her own lesson, and thus his/her own belief