The human mind is so active that an individual experiences approximately 70,000 thoughts every day. These thoughts are often conflicting in their nature, as the stream of consciousness does not easily divide thoughts into categories, and thoughts enter and exit the mind freely. France Kafka's novella Metamorphosis powerfully presents a character facing two conflicting desires and character tendencies. Gregor is tormented between his social desire to be human and to belong and a new animalistic side, which oppresses these social constructs. Kafka successfully uses the furniture within Metamorphosis as a portal between these two parts and how they both help but also hinder Gregor in maintaining what remains of his humanity. This work by Franz Kafka can also be read as a criticism of human inclinations and the way individuals place too much value on social constructs, in terms of identity, relationships and values, a topic that will be discussed in the conclusion. plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The conflicting tendencies of Gregor's character begin in the preamble of this tale when Gregor first awakens in his transmogrified state. He is no longer a human being, but a cockroach – an insect exaggeratedly less complex in its thought processes and in the correspondence of thought movements. Yet Gregor doesn't have time to process his new body and mind due to his family's constant questions about his absence from work. Gregor, in this frenzy, tries to reach his parents and the prosecutor to reassure them that he is fine. To do this Gregor, not yet accustomed to his new physique, must use a chair to reach the door leading out of his bedroom. “Gregor slowly pushed himself through the door with the chair, let go of it, and sank against the door… and there he paused for a moment from his labors” (p. 99). It's clear that this task isn't easy for Gregor, but he doesn't mind how excessively tiring it is. Reaching his parents and the prosecutor becomes even more difficult when Gregor tries to open the door; its thin, dangling arms are not strong enough to turn the handle and it has no teeth with which to grip it. “Fortunately his jaws were very powerful… he found the key to move, and he did not stop to consider that he was surely harming himself in some way, because a brown liquid was coming out of his mouth” (p. 99). Although Gregor is apparently hurting himself while trying to open the door, his desire for social interaction overrides the pain he feels. It is very clear here that a conflict is starting to arise between Gregor's social desire and animalistic identity. The main character's remaining human tendency is to cling to whatever social desires remain; that is, the desire to please his family and not bother his boss. “He really had in mind to open the door, show himself and speak to the prosecutor; he was anxious to know what the others would say, that everyone was clamoring for it, when they saw him” (p. 97) Gregor's only human identity is that of a salesman, and in a desperate attempt to hide his newfound animalism, Gregor desperately tries to function as a human would. However, this new animalistic side challenges and opposes his social inclinations, calling into question the direct nature of Gregor's character. The use of furniture in this scene functions as a gateway between what he desires and where the capabilities of his actions lie. Gregor's predominant animalistic identity becomes even more intrusive as the..