Through novels, one can grasp various social issues embedded within written works. This is highly beneficial as it not only enhances the emancipation of reading but also provides intellectual references from what has already been written. In the realm of literature, novel studies can be valuable in research concerning the development of language, culture, and the historical record of human society.

According to Sumerdjo and Saini (1997: 3-4), literature is the expression of human experience, thoughts, ideas, spirit, and beliefs, articulated in a work that evokes emotional responses through the medium of language.

Through literary studies, one can also open a window to social criticism in a particular era, addressing various issues either satirically or in allegorical form. At Dian Nusantara University, the English Literature Program provides students with the knowledge of linguistics. Through the study of English literature, one can examine literary records and learn how a culture reflected in works of literature can shape social thought over time.

One of the world's most renowned literary records is The Metamorphosis, written by Franz Kafka in 1915. This novel delves into social problems and how the concept of social strata can shape individual perspectives. In his writing style, Franz Kafka often employs absurd and illogical depictions, reflecting feelings of alienation and helplessness within the social sphere. These reflect his concepts of alienation and the pressure imposed by social norms.

The Metamorphosis is a novel that tells the story of Gregor Samsa, the protagonist, who wakes up one morning transformed into an insect. Gregor, in his human form, is the eldest son with a younger sister named Grete and serves as the family’s breadwinner. He works as a traveling salesman for a company and has an abusive father who is dissatisfied with his own life and sees Gregor as a failure due to his job. This burden weighs heavily on Gregor, causing him to withdraw into isolation for long periods, with his room becoming increasingly filthy due to the lack of proper sanitation.

Over time, Grete and Gregor’s mother, who initially cared for him, gradually distance themselves from him and eventually refer to Gregor as "that creature," as if he is no longer considered human by his own family. In the end, when the family rents out their apartment, Gregor, still living there, dies alone in the midst of his depression.

As is widely known in social life, particularly since the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century, the implementation of social strata classes has resulted in increased fragmentation and class inequality. With heightened social pressures driven by the ideology of Liberalism, which promotes competition to improve life through economic achievements, there is an inherent risk of fostering pressures that make individuals feel their lives are never comfortable due to constant economic struggles. This is especially evident in the class and social norms in European societies during Kafka's time, which reinforced the culture of social fragmentation based on status and wealth.

Such pressures can lead to an identity crisis as individuals try to fulfill economic demands through their jobs, making them question their own existence. Through The Metamorphosis, Franz Kafka illustrates how the segmentation of society through economic means creates a system that is detrimental to the mental well-being of some individuals, leading to alienation. This is due to the pressure of societal standards that burden the working class, exemplified by Gregor Samsa, a traveling cloth salesman who suffers abuse in both his work environment and from his own family.

Through literary studies offered to English Literature students at Dian Nusantara University, it is hoped that they will be equipped with critical and analytical thinking skills to study and review literary works while connecting them to contemporary life. In addition to fostering cognitive skills for career readiness, learning from social criticism in literature will help develop wisdom in students.