I'm reading The Metamorphosis for a class and I can't help but have my say about this story.
Read the novella first. Spoilers are everywhere beyond this point.
Basically, the novella is about the Samsa family adjusting to the metamorphosis of Gregor Samsa.
It has three chapters which I will briefly narrate.
Chapter 1
Gregor turned into a 'monstrous vermin' one morning. It was revealed in the first part of the story that Gregor is a traveling salesman working to pay off the debt his parents have from the boss he doesn't really like. I will not go into much details. He didn't catch the usual train he rides, his family got worried, the firm's manager went to the Samsa's apartment to check why Gregor didn't ride the six o' clock train because their boss has trust issues. Struggling, Gregor finally went out of his room only to be seen by his mother, father, sister and the manager in the form of an insect-like creature.
Chapter 2
It's basically about the sister, Grete, caring for Gregor despite his monstrous form. The family began to discuss financial matters since Gregor was the one supporting the family before he transformed. The mother helped in caring for Gregor particularly when moving furniture out of Gregor's room. This is when he saw Gregor's form and fainted. The father became angry and threw apples at Gregor, one of which, got stuck in the flesh of his back.
Chapter 3
This is when everyone became tired of caring for Gregor and finding him as a total burden as opposed to Chapter 2 wherein he is cared for because he is a part of the family. The serious wound in Gregor's back caused by the apple worsen. The family allowed boarders. One night, as the boarders (or roomers) ate dinner in the common living room, they heard Grete playing the violin from the kitchen where the family eats. They asked Grete to play to them outside the kitchen. Gregor was drawn to the music and was spotted. The roomers gave the Samsa their notice of leaving. Grete had enough and decided they should get rid of Gregor, the father agreed. Gregor went back to his room and found himself unable to move. He lie awake until he saw the clock strike three in the morning, and look at the window, the light beginning to spread on the sky and he slowly died because of the inflamed wound. The cleaning woman came the morning of his death and told the family. The family is happy, relieved not to carry the burden that is Gregor.
COMMENTS:
I'll start with something shallow. It's just something I asked myself, probably because I didn't read it well enough or because I'm don't understand the situation clearly.
I dislike Gregor Samsa's character in the first part of the story. Half of the first chapter is he complaining a lot about his job. I don't know why don't he just find a job he likes and pay the debt with the earnings he will get from the job he wants. It's quite limiting. I mean he hates his boss and the only reason why he can't quit is because of his parent's debt. So find a new job and pay it with your earnings.
Grete's transformation from being the first one who cared to the first one who declared to get rid of Gregor is something to really look at. From the loving sister to the hating sister. I understand that she is tired of Gregor being a burden but for me, she became a bit ungrateful for Gregor. Okay, she fed him and cleaned his room and stuff, but for the last 5 years, it was Gregor who supported the family.
Speaking of family. It's not just Grete who was a bit ungrateful, all of them were. Gregor worked to pay off the debt his parents have while none of them even worked. Now that it is Gregor who caused the burden, they can't stand him even for a few months? What if the cure for Gregor was to love him despite being a burden like how he loves his family enough to stay in a job he really hated.
I don't know if the readers should pity the family, honestly, I'm annoyed by them. They are worse than the complaining Gregor in the first Chapter. Of the three, I find the mother least annoying. She obviously love Gregor despite the fact that she fainted when she saw him, at least she begged the father to spare Gregor's life in Chapter 2.
UHHHHHGGGG! These characters are so annoying!
I just wish they all could have handled Gregor better. From the beginning, they are repulsed by him which is really sad. That is why I've became really defensive of Gregor.
In enotes.com, I've found the interpretation of the message Kafka is sending that agrees with my own.
It's really sad and the message is really evident in the transformation of Grete.
Overall, great work Kafka!
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