Gregor Bug

The ironic lesson that is learned from reading The Metamorphosis is that Gregor Samsa experiences a metamorphosis in the bodily sense only; theoretically Gregor had always been a bug and becoming one bodily has no consequence on his pleasure of life. After understanding that he is no longer human, Gregor's thought developments experience no alteration. Out of all the things Gregor could revolution into, he alterations into a creature. One cannot help but draw counterparts between the Gregor's life and an insect's life. Most bugs, especially ants and bees, have some sort of labor force that deliver for the rest of the group. Gregor delivers for his family in much the same way as a creature would offer for its nest or store. He expenses almost all aspects of fun, and does not

Gregor’s major transformation occurred not when he turned into a bug, but through the changes in his life. Gregor’s life before the changed into some sort of bug was like a bumble bee. He would go through life doing as others told him. In

Gregor was betrayed by society turning its back on him due to the transformation from human to a human-sized bug. After the metamorphosis, Gregor was pondering the idea of what people would think of him in his new form. He had high hopes that society would still accept him. "A man might find for a moment that he was unable to work, but that's exactly the right time to remember his past accomplishments and to consider that later on, when the obstacle has been removed, he's

He was very shocked by this change and couldn’t go to work and even tell his family about this. But his family soon came to know about his transformation into a big insect. They were surprised because they counted on him for the family’s income as he was the only source of money in the house. Gregor was transformed into an ultimate insect both psychologically and physically. This transformation into led to complete alienation which prevented him from working and providing his family with money. His transformation not only changed his life but also made his family’s economical condition bad. They used to have cooks and maids for household works but now they worked by their selves and also had people living in their house who paid them monthly rents. This shows how bad their economical condition had become.

He worries about not showing up to his job on time or losing it entirely because he knows that his family depends on it. Ultimately, Gregor is concerned about how his inability to continue as the provider will affect his family. He believes his role as provider is a responsibility that he must carry out in sickness and in health. Indeed, family provides a part of a person’s sense of self, but it is the decision of each individual of how much of an influence family is. In Gregor’s case, it was an overwhelming influence because he was more concerned about what would happen to his family instead of what would happen to him physically and emotionally as a consequence of his transformation into a bug. This overwhelming influence is psychologically unhealthy because it can cause Gregor and other individuals to be so focused on their family’s needs that they forget about their own needs. Likewise, the other extreme is also unhealthy – leaving one’s family on their own with no concern about what could happen to them. It would be more psychologically healthy for a middle ground where individuals are concerned about their family’s well being and attempt to help them only when their family is in the most need. Otherwise, individuals should only wish them well and work on tending to their own needs to be emotionally and physically healthy.

Before Gregor’s transformation into a bug, he experiences living a miserable life at both work and home. When Mr.Samsa’s business failed, Gregor took the job of a travel salesmen and was left with the responsibility of financially helping out the family. Despite the fact that Gregor had the desire to quit his job, he felt forced to come up with “the money to pay off… [his] parents’ debt” (138). In order for that to happen, Gregor would attend his demanding job everyday, and although his job was stressful, he worked extremely hard to get what he earned. For the past five years without ever missing a da, he estimated it will take another five to six years to completely pay off the debt. At first his family was very thankful for Gregor’s hard work, but as time passed they began to see it as his obligation and were so used to him providing for them that they became to appreciate his work less and less everyday. But when Gregor is not able to make it to work for the first time, his boss has the nerve to show up to his house and complain that his “productivity has... been very unsatisfactory”

The deterioration of Gregor's life was in part due to the ostracism associated with his being turned into a bug. Once his family found out what happened, they banished him to his room, and his parents could not even bear to look at him. Prior to his metamorphosis, Gregor was an integral part of the family. He provided the money by which the family survived. Yet as soon as he changed, he was labeled an outcast, who was useless to the family, and therefore not paid any attention. He felt this ostracism, and it made him not want to continue on in life, he gave up because he felt unloved.

In HTRLLAP by Thomas C. Foster he talks about how many authors include biblical allusions in their stories. The transformation of turning into an insect could actually symbolize his desire not to have to return to a job he hates. In part one it says, “Gregor goes back to bemoaning his life as a traveling salesmen.” The transformation into a bug can be seen as a freedom from the from what he thought to be a boring life.

When Gregor transformed into a bug many of his physical appearances changed. Gregor could really only lay on his back and it was difficult to do anything because he had short stubby arms and legs. “Instead of these, however, he had only small limbs which were incessantly moving with very different motions and which, in addition, he was unable to control” (Kafka 140). When his mother wanted to talk to him he refused because he didn't want her to see what he has transformed too. Another reason why is because Gregor was unable to get up to open the door and when he finally could get up he didn't have hands to unlock it so he had to use his mouth. Gregor then had a hard time getting through the door because of his large and the weird shape of his body. He wasn't a human anymore so he had to figure out a way to get through the door. “But to continue was difficult, particularly because he was so unusually wide” (Kafka 140). Before all this happened Gregor was a traveling salesman, this was a good job and he was able to pay for lots of the family's bills and he

            The next level is the need of feeling safe and Gregor certainly does not have anyone to rely on even before his transformation. His father has given him the responsibility to pay off his debts and Gregor had worked hard to do what is asked of him. He works in a job as a salesman and he absolutely hates his job. The indifference of Gregor’s family towards him crushes him  , “ But Gregor understood easily that it was not only consideration for him which

​Once Gregor transforms into a bug, his family, horrified by his appearance, lock him away to his room isolated from everyone and everything. The psychological distance put between him and his family is one of the consequences Gregor suffered

Gregor hears what his sister says and realizes it is time for him to go. His last thought before he dies is, “He thought of his family with tenderness and love. The decision that he must disappear was one that he held to even more strongly than his sister, if that were possible” (Kafka 814). Because

While Gregor has gone through a more physically based metamorphosis, his change to a bug is simply physical and has no effect on his emotional wellbeing. Near the end of the first sentence in the book, ' […] he discovered that in bed he had been changed into a monstrous verminous bug. ' It is shown that he has been turned into a bug, plain and simple. What is shown later on in the book further proves the point that his change is only physical. An example is this, 'He remembered his family with deep feeling and love.' Gregor's family is clearly very important to him and he has a lot of emotion towards them, primarily love. Emotions like love are not associated with bugs, rather feelings of disgust and hate are most commonly associated with them.

Gregor was the bread winner for the family, practically the man of the house, yet his father is still alive and well. When money was tight and stress was on the rise, he took on the role of becoming the main source of income for the family. Even though it meant talking on a job he is not overly thrilled about, he did so out of the kindness of his heart. Generosity is in his character and he loved helping out where he could. This made him feel like he was a valuable member of the family; one who could never be replaced or forgotten. Eventually earning the income became a burden he felt he had to do; he needed to be able to support his family (Charter p.479). However, Gregor remains calm and accepting despite all his hardships. Not once does he complain or question the transformation.

Can life with a dung beetle be all you’ve ever wanted? Well, in Franz Kafka’s short novel “The Metamorphosis”, Gregor Samsa, the main character, dedicates his entire life to working a job he absolutely hates to provide for a family who in return gives him nothing. When he wakes up one morning, he notices that he has transformed into a giant beetle. This doesn’t seem to faze him since his main priority is work, but throughout the story Gregor begins to find himself and finally develop an identity than he didn’t have prior to his transformation. He also begins to have a better understanding of the people around him.