Theories on Conformity: Kafka

For my project of conformity, I will focus mainly on the familial pressures and other societal pressures that people face, especially during their youth. These types of pressures can range from standards of behavior to an individual's commitment or duty to his family, like aiding with chores or upholding the family reputation in a community. In Kafka's short story "The Metamorphosis", Gregor gets a job, though voluntarily, to support his family at the time when they faced financial problems. However, over the years of supporting his family, his mind becomes enveloped in the conformist notion of dedicated working, like a drone. Meanwhile, his family becomes habituated with depending solely on Gregor's income. For both Gregor and his family, the sense of habituation they experience is a type of conformity. As they become habituated with their lifestyles, they grasp on to their daily routines and, if the strongly hold on to this conformity, they fear changes to the routine. When Gregor discovers he has transformed into a bug, he refuses to confront and recognize the severity of his problem and instead focuses on his daily routines. In Gregor's society, the conformist notion of working controls Gregor.