In Franz Kafka's short story, The Metamorphosis, the main character, Gregor Samsa, is transformed into "monstrous vermin" and isolates himself from his family (Kafka 1). The reason for this transformation is unclear, but his strange predicament can be used as a microcosm of the early 20th century. The gloomy atmosphere and setting, dehumanization, paranoia, and competition for power depicted throughout the novella suggest that the early 20th century was dreary and routine. The novel's unappealing atmosphere and setting contribute to the connection with the dreariness and routine of the 20th century. . The story begins on a foggy and rainy morning, as Kafka writes: "Gregor's eyes then turned towards the window, and the overcast weather... completely depressed him", which contrasts with the ending of the short story. where the family “took the wagon into the open.” countryside on the outskirts of the city. The car… was completely filled with hot sun” (4, 55). This contrast suggests that being in the city is discouraging because once they leave the city, the sun rises and everything is fine. The urgent mood of the city is represented through the visuals of the alarm clock and train timetables. Alarm clocks and schedules are universally known to cause stress. One second a person is sound asleep, then the next they are awakened by a loud, unpleasant beeping sound. The train schedule is a source of stress due to the monumental consequences of its absence. When Gregor realized he had slept late and was planning to catch the next train, he thought "he'd have to hurry like crazy, and the sample line wasn't still full... And even if he arrived quickly, he couldn't avoid getting it from the boss” (5). The use of polysyndeton, the rep...... middle of paper ......red that he wears the uniform all the time, making it dirty. This causes Mr. Samsa to transform into a "disgusting being", which essentially mirrors the state Gregor is in by pointing out that when a person is given power, they will not use it properly, causing them to become nothing. This reflects the modern city, as people create big businesses with a lot of power, but they are doomed to see a downfall. The depressing atmosphere and setting, dehumanization and paranoia, and competition for power emphasized throughout Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis, depict the image of the modern city. The short story can be used as a microcosm to relate to the modern city, which was developing at the time it was written. Kafka uses the setting, mood, and character relationships of this fictional story to demonstrate real-world actions..