In Kafka's The Metamorphosis, the
reactions of the family members is different and
similar.
When it is discovered that Gregor has changed, at
first his sister, Grete, is the only one that comes to his
aid:
Gregor,
aren't you well? Are you needing
anything?
She tries to find
foods that he will like:
readability="7">...old half-decayed vegetables, bones from last
night's supper covered with a white sauce that had thickened; some raisins and some
almonds; a piece of
cheese…Grete talks to him
and she still seems to care for him, however then she becomes controlling, claiming
Gregor's care as her individual right, even though she is not committed to helping him
in doing so. She gets a job and cares for Gregor, resenting her mother's attempts to
help her brother—but then she finally detests Gregor and insists
that they get rid of him.Mrs. Samsa is overwrought by what
has happened to her son.readability="6">Do let me in to Gregor, he is my unfortunate son!
Can't you understand that I must go to
him?She tries to be
supportive, but cannot bear to look at him. Entering his room ends up being too
difficult for her. She tries on several occasions to defend Gregor, in maintaining that
he should have his furniture when Grete wants it removed, and trying also to stand up
for him when Grete suggests they get rid of him, but she is too weak and becomes ill.
Though she cannot look at him, it seems she still has a mother's love for
him.Mr. Samsa is cruel and angry. Of all of them, he is
the one who has most become used to Gregor working so hard and handing them his money so
that they may all live a life of leisure while Gregor continues to support them. It is
when Gregor can no longer do so because of his metamorphosis, that his family begins to
reject him.Gregor's father is the one who becomes violent.
When Gregor first leaves his room, Mr. Samsa's behavior (waving a newspaper and a cane
and making noises) frightens him so that Gregor pushes himself through the narrow door
to his room, scraping himself and harming parts of this "body." When the women try to
move Gregor's furniture out, Samsa believes Gregor has done something terrible and
begins throwing apples at him: one that painfully lodges in Gregor's
back.An apple
thrown without much force grazed Gregor's back and glanced off harmlessly. But another
following immediately landed right on his back and sank in; Gregor wanted to drag
himself forward, as if this startling, incredible pain could be left behind him; but he
felt as if nailed to the
spot…Mr. Samsa and Grete
don't have a problem with Gregor until he is no longer of financial use to them.
Ironically, before Gregor's "illness," Grete is considered something of a waste: she
does nothing. When Gregor is changed, slowly she becomes the favored child. By the end,
she becomes more "valuable," as the family, released from worries about Gregor, goes out
for the day and realizes that Grete is of an age to marry. It is not for her
happiness that the family is pleased, but more because she will be
able to find someone else to support the family while they continue
to live a life of leisure. Though Gregor appears "monstrous," his family members are
truly the parasites. By the end of the story, Grete and Mr. Samsa want Gregor gone. Mrs.
Samsa cares for her son, but cannot stand up to
Grete.Gregor dies alone and detested: had he been able to
go to work as a giant insect, I expect the family would have been able to tolerate
him.
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