The Metamorphosis takes place in the small apartment where Gregor lives with his family. Though we aren't given a specific time period, carriages and horses are included in the story, so it's safe to assume that the novella is set in a time before automobiles. Gregor's life changes when he becomes an insect.

Why is the setting important in metamorphosis?

In Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis, the setting is an integral part of the novel because it helps strengthen and represent certain ideas, such as isolation, family life, and capitalism. ... Gregor's room represents the theme of isolation in the novel because it is where he spends his life after his transformation.

How was Gregor's room?

The housekeeper throws things into the room without consideration for Gregor. The family moves furniture and other items into Gregor's room to appease their new lodgers, who do not like clutter. Grete no longer cleans the room, so Gregor is covered in dust and dirt. The room reflects the family's neglect of Gregor.