The Samsa family in The Metamorphosis
by Franza Kafka, seems to respond to Gregor's death as with relief, and …
hope.
The mother and daughter hug one another. The father
demands some attention, which the mother and daughter promptly
give.
They
decided to spend this day in resting, and going for a stroll; they had not only deserved
such a respite from work, but absolutely needed
it.
This is ironic because no
such respite was ever afforded Gregor. In fact, on the day he has transformed, everyone
was at his door telling him to go to work, but now these three who seem to find time
every day to rest, also "deserve" a break, and intend to go for a stroll— unheard of in
this story. However at this point, each writes a note of excuse as to why he or she will
not be attending work that day.
There is an odd behavior on
the part of the women and Mr. Samsa. All of a sudden, they seem very
close. When the charwoman comes in to take her leave, she declares
that the "thing" next door has been disposed of. She stands prepared to offer details,
but Mr. Samsa stops her, and she leaves in a huff.
…neither from his wife nor his daughter did he
get any answer, for the charwoman seemed to have shattered again the composure they had
barely achieved. They rose, went to the window and stayed there, clasping each other
tight.
It is hard to
understand how Grete has had any need to "achieve" composure when so recently she
demanded that they get rid of Gregor. Mrs. Samsa seems a weak woman who has accepted the
loss of her son easier than one might think, unless she has long since stopped thinking
of him as her son…by why, then, the need for barely achieved
composure?
The family finally takes a tram, which is bathed
in sunlight, symbolic of hope. They sit back and speak of their jobs, and realize that
the jobs are good and hold promise for improvement in the future. Of course, if Gregor
had not "changed," none would have left the house to find work—for all the years Gregor
suffered through his job, no one else had lifted a hand. They start to plan: they will
get a smaller and cheaper apartment, something better than what Gregor had chosen. This
will at last remove the final "essence" of Gregor from their lives, as if they never
knew him.
The parents are simultaneously struck by the
thought that Grete has grown to a marriageable age, and they exchange knowing glances.
And in that moment...
...it was like a confirmation of their new dreams
and good intentions when, as they reached their destination of their trip, the daughter
rose up first and stretched her
young body.
Some sources
suggest that the family may have changed for the moment out of necessity, but if "old
habits die hard," it may well be that if Grete marries the "right" young man, he may
take Gregor's place, working and supporting the family, while they remain at home, once
again living a life of leisure. It might be important to remember what is said about
good intentions: that the road to hell is paved with them. It may
be with this hope, that the future looks so good to the Samsa
family.
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