Why Kafka Wrote the Story
Kafka wrote the story to explore the chaotic nature of the universe. The term “metamorphosis” centers on absurd, wild, and irrational nature of the world inhabited by human beings. For instance, Gregor turns into a giant insect. There is no physical and natural occurrence to explain his metamorphosis. Kafka wrote the story to show that the world does not explain the things that happen around us. They just happen.
The Concept of Human Nature
In the text, human nature happens to exhibit close connection and social ties between individuals in the universe. The ties happen through structures such as families. When Gregor changes into a giant insect, his caretaker attempts to have a close connection with him and find out the kind of food that he likes. However, human nature includes a certain extent of impatience. The family loses its patience when they find out that he does change back to his original form.
Consequences of Gregor’s Metamorphosis
Gregor’s metamorphosis alienates him from the rest of the society. When he turns into a giant insect, the he becomes different from the rest of the family. The change creates a psychological rift between him and the rest of the people around him.
His family has to deal with mixed emotions. They feel sympathetic towards Gregor while they also experience revulsion towards his new form. Grete sympathizes with him and even takes up the role of his caretaker. However, the stress wears down the family and makes them lose their patience. Instead of feeling the sympathy, Gregor’s presence becomes a menace and the family begins to resent simple things like his appearance.
Solutions available to Gregor’s family
The first solution available to his family is acceptance. They need to accept Gregor in his new form because he is one of their own. Since there is no one who understands the nature of his metamorphosis, it is unnecessary to hold prejudices against Gregor because it is not his fault.
The family also needs to keep its hope alive. They need to keep telling themselves that the problems will end and Gregor’s stressful circumstance will come to a halt. They need to take care of him instead of neglecting him.
What is Gregor’s perspective?
At first, Gregor’s fails to understand how the change came about in his physical appearance. He feels isolated from the other members of the society. He feels that he does not belong to his family in the beginning. However, the perception changes in the end and he begins to accept his new status. Gregor comfortably rests under the sofa by himself. The calm indicates that he accepts his new status.
Evaluation of Gregor’s family response
Based on the values of integrity and community, Gregor’s family did not respond in an appropriate manner. There was no need to lose patience when Gregor failed to return to his original form. In addition, they even contemplate to kill him because they find it stressful to live with him. In this context, the family fails to uphold the humanitarian value. The treatment implies that they my also discriminate certain groups of people in the society. Such groups include the physically and mentally challenged. The family fails to in upholding the value of integrity. They have hope of fewer money problems at the expense of Gregor’s death.
What would you do if put into the same situation as Gregor’s family?
If I were in Gregor’s shoes, the best option would be to leave home and find a better place. The new place should be home to other giant insects. They would readily accept my presence since I am one of them. The departure is preferable because it would relieve my family of the stress that they have to go through in taking care of me.
