A Comparative Study of Marxist Alienation in Willy Loman and Gregor Samsa.

Abstract

This thesis compares Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis to Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman in order to examine the theme of alienation. Willy Loman’s relentless pursuit of the American Dream reflects the commodification of identity, while Gregor Samsa’s transformation into an insect symbolizes the alienation caused by industrial bureaucracy. Through a comparative lens, the study examines cultural and historical influences, literary techniques, and universal themes, revealing how both texts critique capitalism's psychological and relational tolls. Despite differing contexts—post-war America and early 20th-century Europe—both works converge in their powerful depiction of alienation and human worth in modern society.