In Franz Kafka's "The Metamorphosis", Gregor the protagonist is described to be a giant insect but it is arguable about whether he is really a bug or its just a metaphorical comparison. Kafka meshes the reality of Gregor's life to the fantasy of him transforming into a bug.
The beginning of the story starts out with descriptions of his transformation such as "He was lying on his hard, as it were armor-plated, back and when he lifted his head a little he could see his domelike brown belly divided into stiff arched segments on top of which the bed quilt could hardly keep in position and was about to slide off completely."(p. 89) He is described as a physical being with the parts of an insect. Along with that, his habits such as hiding under the couch, his inability to get out of bed due to his back, and his liking to fetid foods supports the notion that he may really have turned into an insect.
But then again, there is also the side where this metamorphosis is more symbolic than real. This "transformation" may symbolize the empty, boring life of Gregor. If he really was a bug, why would his family still care for him instead of trying to kill him? The transformation can be a comparison to Gregor's inability to work anymore. He may be deeply ill and like the description of an actual bug, he can be unable to get out of bed, has a change in appetite, and is growing to be more undesirable. In my opinion, Gregor is metaphorically changed into an insect to show the significance he plays in the family. He is finally turned into this vegetable that cannot do anything to provide for the family and we see how the family reacts to this. Possibly, his change reassures Gregor himself that he is needed in life and that all his work is worth it. Gregor is no longer useful and like a bug, he stays in the house doing nothing but waiting for death and taking up space. Once he had died, his family moved on to a better life making it seem as Gregor's life as a metaphorical bug seem insignificant.
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I agree that the metamorphosis is metaphorical, but I disagree that Gregor has any significance in his family, apart from his monetary worth. Gregor's whole life is insignificant; the fact that he works and makes a living for his family doesn't show his significance in the family. Gregor wants to believe that because he supports his family, his existence is significant and that he can feel that he's part of the family. However, once Gregor loses his ability to work, the way his family sort of ignores him (except for his sister, who later also got tired of taking care of him) shows that Gregor was never really part of the family.
ReplyDeleteMoreover, even before Gregor turned into a bug, he lived a bug-like life: he sleeps in all these different places, has irregular meals, and just keeps to himself for the most part (no friends and no life outside his work and his home).
I agree with you that Gregor must have turned into a bug because of his lifestyle. I think that it is quite evident that Gregor actually turns into a but rather than just a metaphor because of the distinct descriptions of his appearance. Not only do the descriptions show that he has actually turned into a bug but also the fact that he hides under the couch. I don't think Gregor would have been able to hide under the couch if he were human.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you in the fact that Gregor might have not really been a bug if not just really ill. You also provide more evidence, showing the side of Gregor really becoming a bug and this kinda changed my opinion that Gregor might have been a bug. Good job overall,your evidence of both sides where well descriptive and evidence shows you used text to support your ideas. One thing you could improve however, was the summary because you did miss some details that would have made a reader who didn't read the story a bit confused.
ReplyDeleteI am a bit unsure what the part of your post where Gregor's illness makes him like a bug and realistic at the same time means. Isn't that kind of contradictory? The part about him being a physical being instead of a bug also kind of does not make sense. Did you mean a human being? I liked the comparison of a bug's life ot that of an ill person as I hadn't thought of that before. Gregor's significance to his family only seemed to be for monetary purposes. Gregor's insignificance and inactivity also occured prior to his transformation. He was distant from the world as a human.
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