Story in the Floor Plan :: The Metamorphosis Architecture Essays

Story in the Floor PlanThe firm hand of the architect draws straight lines on translucent paper. The lines cut across into cornersforming paths. More lines intersectforming more get ons. The rooms line up, one after an some other, leaving lengths for doors, naturally. The house is built. In The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, the narrators voice shadows this architects hand, ingraining the familial relationships and intentions of the Samsa family into the walls. The rooms of the architect are the vessels that the narrator fills with the virtuous and appalling intentions of the members of the Samsa family. In sum, the floor plan of the Samsa apartment and the familys use of space in the apartment parallel their relationships with each other and intentions towards one other. In particular, the narrator reveals the relationship between Gregor and his parents as well as their intentions towards each other through the layout of the apartment.The order of the rooms in the Samsa apartment demonstrates the relationships within the family. The main rooms are laid out linearly. The living room is the first room beyond the foyer (Kafka 16). Because Mr. Samsa and Mrs. Samsa primarily inhabit the living room, this room may represent them. There is a direct line through the foyer to Gregors room, and Gretes room is exactly behind Gregors room (6 11 15). The placement of the living room in front of Gregors room with watch to the foyer sets up the perception that Mr. and Mrs. Samsa are the dominant characters of the household. The living room leads to the outside room via the foyer, and thus, is the first room viewed by outsiders. This placement gives Mr. and Mrs. Samsa superiority everywhere Gregor and Grete. For example, Gregors manager steps into the Samsa living room from the foyer and delivers the first word of greeting (9). This first word of greeting is of course directed at Mr. and Mrs. Samsa because they are the first people that the manager perceives upon enterin g the apartment. The initial perception of Mr. and Mrs. Samsa gives them dominance over the rest of the household. However, the living room is just a faade on the face of the actual nucleus of the apartmentGregors room. His room is the heart of the apartment while the living room is just the skin. Gregors room is physically the centerthe nucleusof the apartment. Gregor himself is also the nucleus of the family because he is the sole provider for his family.