Abstract: In his works, Kafka profoundly expresses the theme of alienation in a patriarchal society. However, the characters in Metamorphosis are not simply presented in the form of abstract symbols. We can still see the changes of the personality of characters with the development of the plot. Therefore, a study on the characters depicted in Metamorphosis is of significance. From the perspective of feminist criticism and Foucault's theory of discourse, this paper makes a longitudinal comparison of Gretel's personality changes and a horizontal analysis of the development of her personality in the interpersonal network, which can reveal the multiple aspects of the patriarchal order in Kafka's works—the birth of a more "rational and hidden" power order in the extinction of the "irrational and absurd" traditional patriarchal order.

Key words: Kafka, Foucault, feminism, Metamorphosis