The story takes place entirely in the Samsa family apartment. How does the story’s home setting shape its themes?Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis

In Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis,
the fact that the entire story takes place in the Samsas' apartment has a strong
influence on the themes of the story.

There are several
themes in the story—among them are: father-son antagonism, betrayal, isolation and
self-sacrifice, escaping, and seizing power.

Just as Gregor
becomes a prisoner in his room, the rest of the Samsa family has also become imprisoned
in their apartment. While Gregor is able to provide for them, they have all they need
and are satisfied, rarely going out. They live quietly, entertain each other and need
not worry about anything. When Gregor goes through his transformation, we can be sure
the apartment (and what goes on there) has certainly contributed to this sad change of
events in Gregor's life. Whether he actually turns into a bug, or simply feels like an
outcast whose life is valuable only in terms of the money he earns, is not important.
The change in the characters due to Gregor's transformation drive the major themes in
the story.

For instance, once Gregor changes, there is no
way to escape the apartment. Whereas
we learn early on that Gregor would have greatly appreciated some leisure time for his
physical and mental health, being confined to his room destroys him. Where going out
everyday had taken its toll, his only escape now will come with his
death.

Father-son
antagonism and seizing
power are themes that are blatantly seen in the story: because
Gregor cannot work, his father becomes antagonistic. Though Gregor's "malady" forces Mr.
Samsa to get a job and provides him with a feeling of increased self-worth, Gregor's
situation is an excuse for Mr. Samsa to torment Gregor in any way he chooses. Mr.
Samsa's newfound independence does not lead him to show any appreciation for all of
Gregor's work over the years, but provides the father with a sense of superiority by
which he need not worry about Gregor any longer because Gregor no longer brings them
money. This apartment is now Mr. Samsa's "kingdom," and Gregor's part in providing for
his family all these years does not now guarantee him a safe refuge from the world.
Gregor's father sees himself now as the dominating force within the apartment. He even
drives out the lodgers.

Gregor's situation also allows Mr.
Samsa and Grete to seize power in the
family. Mr. Samsa is violent and abusive toward Gregor. Grete, who starts out being
Gregor's only visible and active supporter in the house, changes her attitude. She does
not want to have to care for Gregor, but enjoys the power she has
over him, and even over her mother. This sense of self will allow Grete to convince her
father that they must get rid of Gregor. The power struggle erupts because Gregor cannot
leave the apartment (connecting this theme to
"escaping").

The theme of isolation
and self-sacrifice pertains primarily to Gregor. In all the
years he has been working, he has be isolated from people at work because he travels,
and self-sacrificing and isolated at home because he works long hours and days, unable
to connect in a meaningful way with his family. The apartment contributes to joining the
other members of the family into a separate unit that Gregor cannot belong
to.