The idea
that humanity is exchanged for inhumanity features prominently in both Johann Goethes
Faust and s . The protagonists of these works offer
contrasting examples of human beings who lose significant elements of their humanity. In the
case of Faust, the devils gift to which Walter Sokel referred is a bargain in which Faust
plays an active role. Kafka, however, offers the character of Gregor Samsa as one who received
this gift unbidden while he was sleeping. The characters had very different personalities
which shaped their specific desires and their lives overall.
The large
questions, with which Christianity is deeply concerned, of salvation, damnation, and redemption
feature in both works, but in strongly different ways. Sadly, for Gregor, the gift he receives
is to sacrifice not just his humanity but his life. In this regard, while Faust is identified
with the devil as Satanthe proud, fallen angelGregor is identified with Christ, the sacrificed
son. Gregor also suggests Old Testament allusions to another sacrificed son, Isaac and to Job,
whose faith was tested.
In Faust, theis not satisfied
with his earthly life and longs for more. Although part of him understands that he is
trespassing on Gods territory, he pushes aside his qualms thanks to Mephistopheles tempts him to
enjoy the fruitsthings that he should not have and that will be regenerated rather than die.
Faust demands:
Show me the fruits that, ere they're
gathered, rot,
And trees that daily with new leafage clothe them!
For trading his soul, the supernatural ability he gainsthe gift
that the devil bestowsis the ability to return to his youth and enjoy a moment of terrestrial
bliss. This enjoyment is explored in his seduction of Margarete and her mothers related death,
as well as her ongoing suffering, for which Faust is responsible. While damnation seems a
reasonable price for such sacrilegious behavior, the entire arrangement is at bottom a test that
God arranged, confident that Faust would prove Him right. In that respect, the idea that the
gift was the devils to give has certain flaws.
Gregor is also bored and
dissatisfied with his life, but there is no indication that he actively wished to gain nonhuman
powers or privileges. Rather than see his new state as liberating himself or rendering him
superior to earthly concerns, Gregor worries that he will not be able to help his family as he
had proudly done before:
he must show patience and the
greatest consideration so that his family could bear the unpleasantness that he, in his present
condition, was forced to impose on them.
Although he
shows that he is relieved when his insect status disables him from going to work, he does not
speak about divine or devilish interventions. Gregors body is transformed from human to
nonhuman, but his essential humanity is not destroyed; he places others concerns above his own
and meets his end in peace.
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